medication not working?

shellsalynne · 07-30-2005, 03:28 AM

Hi ladies, I just wanted to pass something along...

If you are on medication and do not notice any improvement, that medication may not be the right one. Please do not assume that you are hopeless. For example, Prozac makes women in my family walk on 40 ft overpasses

But Zoloft calms us. If your medication is not helping, and you have given it the 6-8 weeks necessary, call your Dr.

AND....
If you have been on a medication for a long time and feel you are having a relapse, you can get your dosage increased.

If you are maxed out on your dosage, or cannot tolerate the side effects of an increase, you should talk to your Dr. If you are currently on an SSRI and are no longer getting any benefit, talk to your Dr. You may need an antipsychotic, or you may need a combo therapy like adding trazadone. Trazadone in combination with an SSRI does not just double the effect, in some cases it multiplies the effect.

And if that does not work, and you have exhausted all options, your Dr. might recommend electroconvulsive therapy. It is nothing like what you saw in "one flew over the cuckoo's nest"! so try not to fret. it is very tame nowdays. and a muscle relaxant is given so there are no physical convulsions

Bottom line, talk to your doc, I know it is daunting at times to even try, but you have to let them know if the therapy they have prescribed is not working. And there are a LOT of options out there to help. Please try not to suffer when you hit a wall. different therapies work for different people. hope this helps for anyone who is in this situation

pink76mom · 07-30-2005, 05:33 PM

I agree with you. About 8 yrs ago, after trying every med and combo available I had a series of ECT's. It was a miracle for me and I was med free and very happy for almost 6yrs. I recently had to go back on meds.
My question is how much is the medication supposed to help. I know that my thoughts are not racing as much, I can distract myself most of the time, I still have some irriatbility (but I am preggo), and I am real sad sometimes. The doc leaves it up to me if I want to add another med. I am not sure that another one would help. I know that I need to heal some old wounds and that may help the depression also. How do I decide if I want to add an SSRI to my Wellbutrin???? I do not think that medication makes "it all better" but I do not know how much I should expect it to help. Thanks

zackaboosmom · 07-30-2005, 09:25 PM

I totally agree. A few years back it took my dr months to figure out the right meds for me..but it was all worth it in the end!

shellsalynne · 07-31-2005, 01:40 AM

Hi pink

I would say to let your spouse help you decide when enough is enough. For the simple reason that when you start going off the deep end, you do not always realize it, but DH might. But if your mind is slowing down, and you are able to get to sleep (as much as you can while preg) try to let it ride. Just try to manage what you can while preg, because your post-partum hormone shifts will knock you for a loop. But try not to be afraid to ask for help if you need it either. Some of this stuff may just be PG hormones and the heat. Try to stay cool, I know it is hard to be preg in the summer. Let your doc know if you are having trouble. And let DH know that you need him to be a lifegaurd for your mind

My DH always sees it happening before I do. They are wonderful for that

heather090702 · 07-31-2005, 01:47 PM

Excellent thread! When we are suffering depression, the fact that the meds are not working or not working as well as they used to can make us feel worse, so I'm thrilled you posted this!

Heather

Gunnie · 07-31-2005, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pink76mom

I agree with you. About 8 yrs ago, after trying every med and combo available I had a series of ECT's. It was a miracle for me and I was med free and very happy for almost 6yrs. I recently had to go back on meds.
My question is how much is the medication supposed to help. I know that my thoughts are not racing as much, I can distract myself most of the time, I still have some irriatbility (but I am preggo), and I am real sad sometimes. The doc leaves it up to me if I want to add another med. I am not sure that another one would help. I know that I need to heal some old wounds and that may help the depression also. How do I decide if I want to add an SSRI to my Wellbutrin???? I do not think that medication makes "it all better" but I do not know how much I should expect it to help. Thanks

If I'm guessing right, by ECT, you mean electroconvulsive therapy? My son is going through that now, and I can see a difference. He says he doesn't feel better, but we can see it. What I have been told is that after you receive the initial series of treatments, that when necessary, you get maintenance treatments. This is also something you can do while pregnant. Just thought I'd tell you that in case you are in need of something.