What are the effects of taking anti-depressant drugs for first-timers?

Question

Do them really numb the emotions and an over-imaginative mind?

Would it be possible to ask for stronger potency ones if the person knows that the milder types would not work on him?

Would appreciate it if those with first-hand experience could answer this as well...Many thanks in advance.

Answer 1

After 15 years of being in and out of the mental health system, the one thing I've learned is you have to be your own advocate- no one will look after your health. Sad, but true. My pdoc just gave me a prescription for desiprimine (old anti-depressant) to help me sleep- 25mg. Come to find out, by my research, MINIMUM therapeutic dose is 100mg! I had to fight for it.

No anti-depressants have ever affected me except they dull the libido. I tell the docs I need a higher dose, I have a high metabolism and 6 months later when I'm in the hospital for suicide attempt, they raise the dose. They cut my lithium in half and I fell into the worst depression in 10 years. Fought and got that back.

Do your research, most companies give dosage ranges and recommended doses for different conditions. It's all on the internet. Are you thin? Heavy? Do you exercise? Do you take other psych meds? All these have an effect on dosage. If you can, get another doc, or add a psychologist. They go to bat for you.

Good luck, hope it all works out.

Answer 2

They affect everyone differently. That's why doctors are constantly monitoring your mood and replacing one drug with another. It's very common to hear people describe how they feel as numb and flat. No ups, no downs, not much of anything. I know I felt kind of like a zombie.

It also takes a long time for the drugs to kick in, so you don't know right away how they are affecting you. By the time they do anything, you're pretty much hooked - although all the drug manufacturers will say they aren't addictive. If you're going to switch to something else, you have to wean off the first one over time and then start the process all over again. Not fun.

Dose is also tricky to balance. Some people react to very low doses and others need more. The doctor is always going to start low and then increase the dosage if he or see isn't seeing much benefit. Again, this has to be done over time.

So this ends up being a very long, drawn-out process that takes months and months. If you're lucky - and I truly think it's more luck than skill on the part of the doctor - you'll find a medication and a dosage that will make you feel better. But the frustrating process of getting there can make it feel like you're traveling through h**l to get there.

Good luck. Sorry I couldn't be more positive.