Anti-depressant - time to effect?

[SecretShadow]

How long should it take for anti-depressants to cause signifigant emotional side effects (feeling out of control, suicide...)? Is that possible within the first couple days of doses?

Long story short, I think an ex-girlfriend played me like a fiddle (thank God shes an ex).

 

[Nebor]

I thought anti-depressants were supposed to make you feel in control and NOT want to kill yourself?

 

[SecretShadow]

Originally posted by: Nebor
I thought anti-depressants were supposed to make you feel in control and NOT want to kill yourself?

I thought so too...appaently she had this reaction to them.

 

[Regs]

Wow. It varies from a case to case basis of course. Medication alone for some one in that much of a hole is really not recommended. If the patient becomes dependent on drugs alone to make them happy without any self-preservation for themselves to get better, then it could only take 1-2 weeks. All that matters is their state of mind. If they can't deal with their problems and then figure out how medication alone is not going to help, usually at that point they will lose it.

 

[SLU MD]

2 weeks to notice a difference, 4 weeks to full effect.

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: SecretShadow

Originally posted by: Nebor
I thought anti-depressants were supposed to make you feel in control and NOT want to kill yourself?

I thought so too...appaently she had this reaction to them.

Well then give her some booze, it should perk her right up. Plus then you can have sex with her without her even knowing.





Disclaimer: Do not take my post seriously.

 

[Cdubneeddeal]

Originally posted by: SecretShadow
How long should it take for anti-depressants to cause signifigant emotional side effects (feeling out of control, suicide...)? Is that possible within the first couple days of doses?

Long story short, I think an ex-girlfriend played me like a fiddle (thank God shes an ex).

Is the anti-depressant for her or you?

 

[Wag]

Depends. They don't always work. Sometimes mood stabilizers are better depending upon your diagnosis.

If you are feeling suicidle, talk to your doctor immediately!

 

[imported_michaelpatrick33]

Anti-depressants like any other drug (or substance for that matter) can have a wide range of affects on each individual. For the majority of cases most anti-depressants (SSRI's especially) have been shown to be more beneficial than harmful in adults so they are legal and prescribed however individuals can have immediate adverse reactions to them. Maybe she did and maybe she didn't play you like a fiddle but reactions can occur very fast.

 

[SecretShadow]

Originally posted by: Cdubneeddeal

Originally posted by: SecretShadow
How long should it take for anti-depressants to cause signifigant emotional side effects (feeling out of control, suicide...)? Is that possible within the first couple days of doses?

Long story short, I think an ex-girlfriend played me like a fiddle (thank God shes an ex).

Is the anti-depressant for her or you?

It was for her, this was like 6 months ago.

Originally posted by: michaelpatrick33
Anti-depressants like any other drug (or substance for that matter) can have a wide range of affects on each individual. For the majority of cases most anti-depressants (SSRI's especially) have been shown to be more beneficial than harmful in adults so they are legal and prescribed however individuals can have immediate adverse reactions to them. Maybe she did and maybe she didn't play you like a fiddle but reactions can occur very fast.

What kind of reactions? How fast? How common is it?

 

[Triumph]

I suggest you look up anti-depressants on webMD or a similar website. You'll just get alot of half- and mis-information here.

 

[moshquerade]

did she see a psychiatrist or seek counseling first? too many regular docs are prescribing anti-depressants as a quick fix. counseling should be the FIRST mode of treatment.

i know a 17 y/o who committed suicide shortly after being on anti-deps. they are finding out that sometimes these meds perk you up just enough to give you the ambition to kill yourself.

 

[homercles337]

Originally posted by: SecretShadow

Originally posted by: Nebor
I thought anti-depressants were supposed to make you feel in control and NOT want to kill yourself?

I thought so too...appaently she had this reaction to them.

Yes, this can happen. Its actually more common in severely depressed individuals though. As the SSRIs begin to elevate mood some individuals can find a renewed motivation--one that was absent due to the depression. This is bad if their lack of motivation while depressed was hinged on hurting themselves. Sounds like its time for a visit to the therapist/hospital for her.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: SecretShadow
What kind of reactions? How fast? How common is it?

Wellbutrin gave me a minutes-long siezure about a week after I started taking it. 1/1000 chance of that happening, but had I been driving, I would have crashed because I was unconscious for the entire duration of the seizure. Let's just say that I'm quite wary of any antidepressants now.
I had used Celexa before the Wellbutrin, and all it did was make me tired, and I yawned constantly when standing up, like once a minute.

Originally posted by: moshquerade
i know a 17 y/o who committed suicide shortly after being on anti-deps. they are finding out that sometimes these meds perk you up just enough to give you the ambition to kill yourself.

I've heard that too.
When you're just so dejected and down, you just don't even feel like suicide would solve anything, or that you'd try and fail anyway. Then the medication comes and you feel confidence for the first time in a very long while. And it can be years since feeling that way, so it can be overwhelming, and the result can, as mosh said, be suidice.

 

[torpid]

Was she just starting meds of any kind for the first time? I had a GF once that was switching meds and had to be med-free for a period before going on the new meds, which then took 2 weeks to kick into full gear. She was super duper depressed during that period.

 

[Ausm]

2 to 4 weeks


Ausm

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: moshquerade
did she see a psychiatrist or seek counseling first? too many regular docs are prescribing anti-depressants as a quick fix. counseling should be the FIRST mode of treatment.

i know a 17 y/o who committed suicide shortly after being on anti-deps. they are finding out that sometimes these meds perk you up just enough to give you the ambition to kill yourself.

That's really messed up, but really funny.

 

[0]

What I don't understand about these SSRIs, is the fact that they boost seratonin by blocking its destruction (re-uptake) in the brain. Fine. But the question begs to be asked: Why don't they work on increasing the level of seratonin naturally? These chemicals have side effects that are not fully understood.

Seratonin can be boosted in the brain (regardless of you brain's uptake) by diet - and enhanced with supplements. Most cultures that rely on seafood have low levels of depression, and high levels of seratonin. The opposite is also true. Fish oil supplements and 5-HTP can boost one's level of seratonin and you won't be messing with chemicals that block re-uptake and do a host of other ills. I would try something like that before going on the serious meds. And yes, I know of people who do this.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: Nebor

Originally posted by: moshquerade
did she see a psychiatrist or seek counseling first? too many regular docs are prescribing anti-depressants as a quick fix. counseling should be the FIRST mode of treatment.

i know a 17 y/o who committed suicide shortly after being on anti-deps. they are finding out that sometimes these meds perk you up just enough to give you the ambition to kill yourself.

That's really messed up, but really funny.

Morbidly ironic? Yes. Funny? No. Not at all.

 

[tweakmm]

Unless one is in very small minority of people with a true chemical imbalance, anti-depressants are truly the worst drugs period.
Nasty little buggers they are.

 

[Elderly Newt]

Look it up on a reputable website.. or better yet, talk to your pharmacist. Or doctor.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: tweakmm
Unless one is in very small minority of people with a true chemical imbalance, anti-depressants are truly the worst drugs period.
Nasty little buggers they are.

"very small minority" - true!

it seems that every other medical history i read shows a patient on anti-depressants.
they are being ridiculously over prescribed.

 

[49erinnc]

Originally posted by: moshquerade

i know a 17 y/o who committed suicide shortly after being on anti-deps. they are finding out that sometimes these meds perk you up just enough to give you the ambition to kill yourself.

Very true. When I was going through a separation, the doctor put me on antidepressants. And one of the first things he told me was that the medicine could actually give me just enough drive to end my life if that's something I had been considering prior to my appointment. Fortunately, the meds helped me but they turned me into a lifeless, apathetic zombie so I had to stop taking them after a couple months.

The percentage of people with adverse effects from antidepressants is very, very small. However, if you know anyone who has started taking them recently, it's always a good idea to monitor their demeanor as best you can.

 

[tweakmm]

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: tweakmm
Unless one is in very small minority of people with a true chemical imbalance, anti-depressants are truly the worst drugs period.
Nasty little buggers they are.

"very small minority" - true!
it seems that every other medical history i read shows a patient on anti-depressants.
they are being ridiculously over prescribed.

:thumbsup: to the phamaceutical industry.
:thumbsup: to bribing doctors with pens and catered food.

(Although I'd be lying through my teeth if I said I haven't benefited from the corruption:laugh: )

 

[torpid]

Don't be so optimistic, tweak. Sometimes it doesn't even take a pen, but merely a notepad with the logo.