Anxiety from side effects of medication

[willreacho2u]

Hello community, my name is Chris and I just wanted to know if other folks have anxiety about the side effects of medications used to treat anxiety and depression. It appears to me that the medications I'm currently on (which I won't name ) causes severe fatigue (which prevents me from driving and sometimes sexual dysfunction).

Anyone else have such concerns in regards to "anxiety " produced by anti- anxiety/anti- depression drugs?

[Agora1]

Hi Chris, The concerns are there for any of us having to go on a new medication. It's a part of our anxiety which makes us leery and distrustful of anything that is new. We must expect to experience some side effects with medication since it is a powerful drug working on the chemicals in our brain. The goal is to get us to a place where we can function properly with the least amount of side effects as possible. Most SSRIs take about 4-6 weeks to reach full efficacy in the brain as well as a little longer if the dosage has been upped during that time.

With many SSRIs can come sexual dysfunction. Benzos can cause severe fatigue until your body gets use to it and even then sometimes if the dose is high enough, you walk around in a stupor going from nighttime sleep to napping on and off during the day.

Working closely with your doctor can help him find the right med and the right dose. Being put on the right medication for you with the least amount of side effects is a trial and error basis....Everyone responds differently. But when the response is good, you are given back your life, Medication doesn't need to be a lifetime sentence. Being on it short term along with therapy can be beneficial in getting you back on track.

Finding different modalities to adopt will help when you are weaned off the meds. The goal should be working on yourself, changing your way of thinking. Accepting anxiety and adapting to your life through positive responses is a part of the healing process. It takes time but is well worth the effort.

So I would say, talk with your doctor about your symptoms, meds may be able to be adjusted. You are not alone with this issue. Any one of us who has been on medication has had to go through this adjustment period good or bad. Take care, one day at a time. Know that we are always here to support each other. Wishing you better days. x

[willreacho2u in reply to Agora1]

Thank You Agora 1. Your explanation sounds like you're a professional in the medical field!

Anyway, I do wish my own psychologist explained to me in depth what "type" of side-effects I've might have experienced while taking those specific medications. If the Doctor explained to me as well as you wrote, I must admit to you I would have explored different alternatives due to the fact both side-effects caught me completely surprised. This unfortunately created new anxieties about" re-surfacing" of both.

[Agora1 in reply to willreacho2u]

I think a lot of times, doctors don't want to put ideas in your mind before you even try it. They know how difficult it is to just get us to take the med. The idea of these types of medications is to calm us down both physically and emotionally. If it interferes with functioning properly then we need to let the doctor know. I didn't know that years ago when I was put on a very low dose of a Benzo and left on it. I adapted to needing a nap every afternoon. *3 hr nap at that.

When the medication no longer worked, I decided the time had come for me to wean off it. I remember after being off the med, feeling alive inside again. My mind was clear, I was no longer tired but I knew I had to somehow handle my anxiety. I turned to meditation and deep breathing after trying many different methods out there. These worked best for me.

Medication has it's time and place in our anxious lives. While we sort out our issues and learn other techniques to allow us to function, meds become an important part of that respite we so need. Addressing the issues that are causing our mental stress is important while on medication. Be up front with your psychologist, ask questions. It's your body, your mind that is being affected. Come to the forum as often as you need to for support and understanding until things stabilize for you. (and they will).