Do you find medication helpful in your situation?

[chloe40]

It can be difficult to find the right treatment for anxiety and depression, along with other mental health issues, it can be a matter of trial and error.

What's your experience?

Chloe

[I_LOVE_TACOS]

Ugggghhhh! I hate to say this, but I’ve been on medications for 30 years and I have never completely found true happiness. I have Treatment Resistant MDD with social anxiety and it is a beast!

I have found some hope though. I found a renowned psychiatrist about 95 miles from me who is a certified administrator of Spravato. I have read that some patients notice a lift in depression within 2-6 hours; however, some have said it doesn’t do anything at all for them. I’m doing my best to stay optimistic about it!

Everybody keep your heads up! Just getting out of bed is a HUGE accomplishment! Be proud of yourself!🖤

[chloe40 Administrator in reply to I_LOVE_TACOS]

Hi I_LOVE_TACOS

Great to have you with us.

That sounds awful for you, truly sorry.

Though I am glad that you've found a renowned psychiatrist, this sounds encouraging. I haven't heard of this med before, it sounds amazing if it works. I really hope you have success with this, please let us know.

Take care

Chloe

[I_LOVE_TACOS in reply to chloe40]

Thank you! I’m really encouraged now that I have found a provider near me who can administer the medication. Here’s a link to Spravato’s website if anyone would like to learn about it…

spravato.com/

[Just_breathe_1]

Medication kept me alive long enough for therapy to start working in all honesty. I’m still on a range of antidepressant/anti-epileptic/sleeping meds and still in bi-weekly therapy, but therapy helped a lot. BPD/MDD/Severe anxiety diagnosis for me.

I was lucky in that my psychiatrists went through medications quite quickly to find the right one (Zoloft/Sertraline). I wouldn’t want to relive that ever again.

[chloe40 Administrator in reply to Just_breathe_1]

Hi Just_breathe_1

Welcome, great to have you here.

You've really been through it haven't you?

I'm really pleased you've had such a positive experience, your medical team really seem on the ball, which is great.

I totally get that!

I'm a great believer in the right medication plus therapy really helps, so you've come up trumps.

Look after yourself

x

[PurpleEllie]

I think I must have been on every medication known to psychiatry over the last 40 something years and none of them really work. The combo I’m on at the moment is 220 mg Venlafaxine AM and 30 mg Mirtazapine PM and this has kept me reasonably stable for the past 3 years or so. Unfortunately I have long given up on the pursuit of being “happy”, just don’t think it’s in my genetic makeup. I’ll settle for “stable” which is a lot better than my usual rollercoaster. I’ve also come to terms with the fact that I need medication to be able to function, so no more desperate attempts to come off them. That has taken a long time, but has now brought me a little peace. Hope you all can find the peace you’re looking for. Take care.

[chloe40 Administrator]

Hi PurpleEllie

I read your post and thought, you really are courageous and so sensible.

A lot of us go through that roller coaster of feeling better so I'll come off meds, only to feel bad again, so thank you so much for sending that message to all of us.

If we need medication and it works, accept it and leave well alone, I'll heed this message!

x

[Dolphin14]

chloe

It certainly was trial and error. I think it was well over a year before my meds were adjusted.

This was a very difficult time but well worth it. Once I was stable on the meds I could focus on therapy

❤️🐬

[chloe40 Administrator]

It does take a good while to get the meds at the right dosage, I sometimes think that once we're prescribed meds, we think 'that's it, we'll be fine' For some it is, but generally it takes a while as you know Dolphin14

x

[LifeAfterDiagnosis]

I've been trying for 40 years, with mostly misses. 🙁 First one I ever tried (nortriptyline) was a hit, in that it worked for about six months. The other one that worked well for 2-3 years - until it didn't - was an amphetamine, believe it or not.

[chloe40 Administrator]

Sorry to read this LifeAfterDiagnosis

I just hope something turns up to help relieve your distress, it must be horrible for you at times.

Take care

Chloe

[LifeAfterDiagnosis in reply to chloe40]

Thank you so much! I just started an antipsychotic for the first time; hopefully I'll see some results.

[chloe40 Administrator in reply to LifeAfterDiagnosis]

Hi LifeAfterDiagnosis

I really hope you do too!

Please do keep in touch and let us know how you're coping and just to say 'hi'

[88cev88]

Antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and anti-anxiety meds have been pretty helpful for me once I found the right ones. Unfortunately I can’t take antidepressants for medical reasons even though I have severe depression.

[chloe40 Administrator in reply to 88cev88]

Hi 88cev88

Good to have you with us!

It does take a while to find the right ones, but I'm really pleased Antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and anti-anxiety are helping now.

Shame about the anti-depressant meds, that must be hard for you, but hope at some point in the future, something will be safe enough for you.

Chloe

[88cev88 in reply to chloe40]

Yes, thank you!

[Hidden]

My GP surgery has announced earlier in the year that it will be taking those patients slowly off antidepressants who have been on them for a very long time and that includes me. I'm without any now and in addition, I started treatment for my leukaemia in April. I'm at a loss to understand how they expect people to cope.

[chloe40 Administrator]

Hi Hidden

Good to have you join us !

Yes, I remember GP's doing this, some people were able to remain on them but others not.

I'm really sorry to read about your diagnosis, that must have been a real shock for you.

If you feel you need a replacement medication, maybe a chat with your GP would be in order.

Take care

Chloe