Anti depressants question

[MissBellyBoop]

How long dose it take antidepressant medication to really take effect? ive been going thu allot of stress lately and my doctor gave me some to try. Its been like 2 and a half weeks I think ive been taking them every night as prescribed. And its helping my sleep that's nice but today I all of a sudden got slammed with a wave of depression and stress like I hit a wall all at once and just couldn't cope anymore! is this normal? this is the 1st time I have ever used medications like this so was looking for some feedback Thanks.

[betterdeal]

It depends on the anti-depressant, but generally the take a 1-3 weeks to ramp up to full effect. Different types have different effects on different people so it's probably best to try the one you are on for a few more weeks. Some may have a weird "bump" when they start to take effect and that can be quite unsettling. If you're feeling fragile you might feel down when that occurs.

 

My recommendation is to augment your medication with exercise, healthy diet and doing nice things for yourself, such as having a hot bubble bath, using aromatherapy oils to make your place smell nice (lavender is soothing), getting a haircut or a massage. Treating yourself in other words. And positive self-talk helps a lot too, so say nice things to yourself, leave post-it notes around the house with things like "You are lovely" on them. It's weird, but it works

[BrettLost]

Hello,

 

I was prescibed them for 6mnths, could'nt get past this "bump" Betterdeal speaks of at about day 3 - 4. On this day i had 10min full crying, then nothing, then 2 mins later down again, all day. Was enough to convince me off of them.

 

Maybe I could have swapped meds... maybe il just tough it out.

[Feelin Frisky]

My experience was that I was able after a couple of weeks to e much more clearly and objectively and thus decide which thoughts and feelings to entertain. It didn't deliver me peace in any other way--just clarity and power to choose. And I no longer chose the patterns which led to disgust and sadness. Don't expect a miracle, give it more time and think of how you would have handled the things have have come up if you were not under the med. If you find absolutely no difference or you feel somehow worse, then a change of med is in order. It's always a trial and error guessing game.

[writergal]

Brett sorry to hear you're going through a rough patch in your life. Antidepressants can take anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks to fully absorb and cycle through. During that time you will experience side effects such as that wave of depression. Of course I don't believe in antidepressants, having tried one myself after the death of my father. All it did was kill my thyroid gland and now I've been on a thyroid-medication replacement for more than a decade.

 

I truly believe you can overcome whatever stressors in your life without resorting to drugs. Antidepressants just change your brain chemistry and give you side effects, but they don't actually change the way you think, or how you cope with problems which is the root of depression (when we lack the resources to cope with a problem). An antidepressant is NOT a resource, or the solution.

 

To deal with my grief, I tried an antidepressant for 3 months. It took me 9 months to get completely weaned off it because during the weaning stage I had severe panic attacks, crying fits, the shakes and other physical symptoms which the doctor told me was my body's way of withdrawl. I never want to go through that again which is why I'm an advocate of alternative medicine.

 

What you really need other than an antidepressant are resources that will provide you with information that will teach you how to cope with whatever you are going through. If it's job loss there are job-network support groups for example. If it's relationship loss, there are counselors, support groups, grief counselors, fun activities, hobbies, volunteering, church involvement, whatever your faith/non-faith is.

 

Then there is physical activity and changing what you eat. Studies have shown exercise to release endorphins and those effect the brain's serotonin levels the same way an antidepressant claims to (which it doesn't by the way - don't believe the hype). I noticed that as soon as I changed my diet (stopped eating carbs and started to eat more veggies and protein) that my mood improved 100%; plus I was swimming at my local gym every day after work. It took me 2 years after my father's death before I felt back to normal because I had to get off the stupid antidepressant that killed my thyroid, and then I had to discipline myself with exercise, weekly visits to a grief counselor, and eating less junk food and more organic real food. Then I started volunteering and being more social and felt SO much better - all without relying on antidepressants. My mother is on 3 different antidepressants and it's made her worse than she was before my father's death. She uses one med for sleep, one med for arthritis, and one med for mood stabilization. As a result she can't sleep, she's had multiple surgeries for her arthritis problems and she's still a mean, grouchy woman that she was before my father died, who is more antisocial than ever.

 

Here's an article that debunks antidepressants. It addresses the most 5 common myths that pharmaceutical companies use as selling points for why people need to be on drugs. There are TONS of books and articles with valid scientific data out there that prove antidepressants don't work. Here's the article link. It's an article that ran in the U.S. publication Newsweek: http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2010/01/28/the-depressing-news-about-antidepressants.html

Edited November 26, 2011 by writergal

[D-Lish]

It takes about 4-6 weeks for the full effect to come to fruition. The problem is that you might have to try out a few AD's in order to find the right one for you. What works really well for one person won't work the same way for someone else. I had to try on several AD's before finding the right prescription.

 

What I take right now for depression and anxiety works well, but it took me a while to find the right mix.

[writergal]

Here's another good resource that argues antidepressants are a corporate scam (and I believe they are).

 

http://highboldtage.wordpress.com/2009/11/20/ssri-antidepressants-the-biggest-corporate-scam-of-all-time/

 

The worst thing about antidepressants is that they are addictive, and they alter your brain chemistry in a way that narcotics change the brain of a drug addict.

 

GlaxoSmithKline is one of the largest pharmaceutical manufacturers of antidepressants. Doctors push people to take antidepressants because they get kickbacks from companies like GlaxoSmithKline.

 

Exercise, eat more nutritiously, change your sleep schedule and socialize more. You'll see a total improvement in your mood and the only side effects will be positive; healthier lifestyle, lose weight, and you're social life will improve. It just takes time and there's no withdrawl side effects!

Edited November 26, 2011 by writergal

[MissBellyBoop]

Here's another good resource that argues antidepressants are a corporate scam (and I believe they are).

 

http://highboldtage.wordpress.com/2009/11/20/ssri-antidepressants-the-biggest-corporate-scam-of-all-time/

 

The worst thing about antidepressants is that they are addictive, and they alter your brain chemistry in a way that narcotics change the brain of a drug addict.

 

GlaxoSmithKline is one of the largest pharmaceutical manufacturers of antidepressants. Doctors push people to take antidepressants because they get kickbacks from companies like GlaxoSmithKline.

 

Exercise, eat more nutritiously, change your sleep schedule and socialize more. You'll see a total improvement in your mood and the only side effects will be positive; healthier lifestyle, lose weight, and you're social life will improve. It just takes time and there's no withdrawl side effects!

 

I can see you disagree with medication and can respect that in your situation it clearly didn't work for you. But I think it can work if used correctly and the right combination as others are saying. Just wondering how you know how much I weigh? as you say "lose weight, and you're social life will improve" lol My social life is good I like it as it is..I keep my circle of friends very limited as ive found that works better for me in general.

 

Now today I feel fine well fine for me I guess my head feels clear and I can think clearly again its like the black cloud just floated away and everything is clearer today and I can cope with life again.

 

I think my main issue is my moms death she passed away of supposed "natural" causes a few month's ago some in the family myself included wondered if it wasn't a over dose suicide but we will never know I like to think it wasn't. I wasn't around when she passed as I live over seas and I wasn't able to make it back cause of financial issues.

 

So I never really got much closure I guess ive always been a "little unstable" but I think that was the tipping point after that I just shut down and didn't want to deal with anything and as we all know you can't go thu life like that ok well thanks to anyone who took the time to respond..

[writergal]

I can see you disagree with medication and can respect that in your situation it clearly didn't work for you. But I think it can work if used correctly and the right combination as others are saying. Just wondering how you know how much I weigh? as you say "lose weight, and you're social life will improve" lol My social life is good I like it as it is..I keep my circle of friends very limited as ive found that works better for me in general.

 

Now today I feel fine well fine for me I guess my head feels clear and I can think clearly again its like the black cloud just floated away and everything is clearer today and I can cope with life again.

 

I think my main issue is my moms death she passed away of supposed "natural" causes a few month's ago some in the family myself included wondered if it wasn't a over dose suicide but we will never know I like to think it wasn't. I wasn't around when she passed as I live over seas and I wasn't able to make it back cause of financial issues.

 

So I never really got much closure I guess ive always been a "little unstable" but I think that was the tipping point after that I just shut down and didn't want to deal with anything and as we all know you can't go thu life like that ok well thanks to anyone who took the time to respond..

 

Hi MissBellyBoop:

 

Oh, my weight comment wasn't directed towards you personally. It's just a general statement about feeling better when you eat better. That's all I meant.

 

Death of a parent/any loved one is always difficult to recover from; especially when you're overseas and can't attend the funeral. I'm really sorry for your loss.

 

I can understand why you would repress the feelings of sadness etc. in response to your mother's death, which causes an emotional shut down that you describe. I had the same reaction when my father died because he was the emotionally stable adult in my life, whereas my mother is bipolar and at times impossible to be around. So when my father died, my siblings and I ran as far away from our mother as we could, and sought other people and resources for emotional support since we knew she is incapable of that.

 

Can you video skype with your relatives overseas to help you get some closure? Video skype is free as far as I know. As long as you have a computer you can do it.

 

Grief has five stages, so just seek out emotional support right now wherever you can. Then you'll begin to feel better. If you want to go with an antidepressant that's totally fine. I didn't mean to put down anyone who chooses antidepressants for emotional support. I was trying to present alternatives in case the antidepressant wasn't a good option for you.

 

But try exercise. That's free and only has good side effects. I am glad I had my daily swim routine during my recovery from my father's death. That helped me process the high anxiety I experienced and exhausted me so that I was able to sleep at night without taking any medication like my mother did.

[MissBellyBoop]

Hi MissBellyBoop:

 

Oh, my weight comment wasn't directed towards you personally. It's just a general statement about feeling better when you eat better. That's all I meant.

 

Death of a parent/any loved one is always difficult to recover from; especially when you're overseas and can't attend the funeral. I'm really sorry for your loss.

 

I can understand why you would repress the feelings of sadness etc. in response to your mother's death, which causes an emotional shut down that you describe. I had the same reaction when my father died because he was the emotionally stable adult in my life, whereas my mother is bipolar and at times impossible to be around. So when my father died, my siblings and I ran as far away from our mother as we could, and sought other people and resources for emotional support since we knew she is incapable of that.

 

Can you video skype with your relatives overseas to help you get some closure? Video skype is free as far as I know. As long as you have a computer you can do it.

 

Grief has five stages, so just seek out emotional support right now wherever you can. Then you'll begin to feel better. If you want to go with an antidepressant that's totally fine. I didn't mean to put down anyone who chooses antidepressants for emotional support. I was trying to present alternatives in case the antidepressant wasn't a good option for you.

 

But try exercise. That's free and only has good side effects. I am glad I had my daily swim routine during my recovery from my father's death. That helped me process the high anxiety I experienced and exhausted me so that I was able to sleep at night without taking any medication like my mother did.

 

 

I see you meant in general now I just thought it funny to make a personal statement about a strangers weight no offence taken my mistake.. I speak to family on the phone on a reg basis so that helps. My mum wasn't well for a while (not acting herself) even I could tell thu phone conversations her personality was changing.

 

She was always so together in her own way and so strong then to see that fade away slowly was hard. And I now looking back feel bad cause I didn't call her as much as I should have. But again its so hard to see some one change like that.

 

Almost in a way it was like the person I knew had passed long before the body gave in if that makes sense. So now I have regrets and almost blame myself maybe in some ways tho I know I shouldn't. Im sorry to hear about your dad writergal I lost mine when I was in my teens so mom was my last living parent its kinda hard.. I just want to move on but its still there..

[writergal]

No problem MissBellyBoop. I lost my father when I was 21, and I'm 40 now. It took me I think 10 years to go through all 5 stages of grief. I still think about him but my emotional pain over his death is long gone, now replaced by acceptance.

 

My mother is 67 and her mother died of Alzheimers at the age of 71. I hope it isn't genetic. If I'm still single the day my mother passes (hopefully not for a long time despite the fact that she drives me crazy with her bipolar issues), I'm sure I will need to see a grief counselor and ramp up my physical activities.

 

I know what you're going through when you lose your last living parent. People in my age group who still have both parents have no clue what it's like to grow up with one parent (esp. when that parent is a lousy parent).

 

Since you talk to your relatives on the phone you should continue to do that. I only suggest the Video Skype because seeing their faces may provide even more comfort and ease.

 

You shouldn't blame yourself for not calling your mother enough. That's in the past now and won't do you any good to dwell on "what if."

 

It will get easier with time but right now you're just in the beginning stages of grief so your anxiety and everything is a normal reaction.

[Forever Learning]

WriterGal you have given excellent, balanced, kindhearted and very thoughtful advice on this thread. Thank you!

 

I was on anti-depressants for 5 years in my early twenties, which was in the early 1990's. I didn't want to be on them, or any medication for that matter. They didn't help me all that much. I still had angst about problems and resentments from childhood that were not resolved, and depressed me.

 

So I weaned myself off the anti-depressants and decided to 'will myself' to be happy. I had mixed success with that. The core issue was still issues from childhood and teen years, along with self esteem issues.

 

Ultimately, I discovered a few things that really helped me with depression. Eating healthy and exercising is a great help with depression. Taking B vitamins (along with a good multi vitamin in general) is essential for me. If I go a week without taking my vitamins, I do experience a more depressed mood. The vitamins that come in pill form do NOT seem to be as absorbable for the body, as a powdered vitamin. So now I take a powdered vitamin mix ( here in the USA I take one made by "Nature's Way", called "Alive!" Whole Food Energizer. I really like it, I feel noticeably better within an hour after taking it).

 

Healthy eating is a big factor in my mood, such as eating more fruits and vegetables, along with adequate protein intake (organic foods do seem to make a difference in helping elevate my moods, there must be toxins in pesticides that depress mood, is my experience)

 

The other big factor is adequate daily exercise. I read a study recently that said exercise was as effective as anti-depressants in elevating mood for many depressed people. Scientific studies have now proved that, strange as it may sound at first glance. The brain releases chemicals upon sustained exercise, that elevate mood, and are essential for continued elevated mood during the course of a 24 hour day.

 

Lastly, adequate sleep is essential. No need to elaborate much on that, other then, the brain needs to run it's course during sleep of a variety of brain wave patterns to reset itself correctly, heal, de-stress, repair, grow.

 

Light box therapy helps some peoople. You can google 'light box' to learn about that one, it's pretty common knowledge at this point.

 

But if you go the route of vitamins, healthy eating, and exercise, you've won half the battle (for many people). The other half of the battle, is confronting the issues that are eating at you. That is done through therapy, along with reading all you can, about this very interesting and amazing thing we are all experiencing, called 'being human'. Once you find you are not alone in your misery/ insecurities/ pain/ weirdness in life, things seem to lighten up a bit.

 

If anti-depressants help people, then by all means, they should be used. No doubt about that. I am only saying there were some other factors that were useful to me as well, dietary, sleep, and exercise, along with changing faulty cognitive thought processes through therapy and lots of reading and self-education about life in general, other people's plights, etc.

 

And of course, a big dose of gratitude is the cherry on top of the whole deal in feeling good about life and what I do have to be thankful for in my life. I try to have an attitude of gratitude whenever possible. This could be the single biggest factor in my success against depression.

 

Cheers everyone!