Switching antidepressants

[Newlife73]

I feel like I am going through hell each day. Trying to pass each day until the Lexapro kicks in. Months of tapering then trying something else to only have bad effects. I can't take it anymore!!! My mom is literally taking care of me, my kids, and catering to my husband so I can get through each day. This is ridiculous.

Have any of you experienced a low like this switching antidepressants? I have been on several antidpressents over the years and have never been through this. Usually I taper and increase and it works. It's like my brain isn't making connections (confusion) and negative thoughts bombard me all day. Does it really take 4 weeks for an antidepressant to kick in or can relief come sooner?

Have any of you or know of anyone that have overcome social anxiety or social phobia?

[JAYnLA]

I had a bad experience with Lexapro and in retrospect I let it go on too long. What are you experiencing?

[Newlife73 in reply to JAYnLA]

My social anxiety is off the charts and my depression.

Background...I was on Effexor for a couple of years. It seemed to stop working so I asked my psychiatrist for something else. My Psychologist recommended I take wellbutrin because he thought I had ADHD. I think my symptoms of anxiety were confusing him. It may have looked like ADHD but I don't think I have have ADHD. Weeks of Wellbutrin were hell. Weened myself off that 2 weeks ago. The Psychiatrist recommended 1/2 pill for 1 week then a full. I am on my 2nd day of 1 full pill but I feel nothing. This is all taking FOREVER and I can no longer function. I was on Paxil for years and it worked but I had to get off of it because I was having restless leg syptoms at night.

[JAYnLA in reply to Newlife73]

Thanks for the details. I'm not hearing that you're having a 'bad' reaction to Lexapro, just that it's not kicking in yet. Unfortunately these meds do take time. In the meantime it's all about reaching out, using your coping skills and learning new ones. Know that, though your social anxiety is through the roof at the moment, it will subside again. If you can work on accepting the pain you're in right now it will help. This is hard - I've struggled with it - but when I do it, it works. I strongly recommend that you look for books or audiobooks by Dr. Claire Weekes. They will really help you during this time of transition. Thanks for opening up with us.

[Newlife73 in reply to JAYnLA]

Thank you for the tips. I will check out Dr. Weekes.

[Heart17 in reply to Newlife73]

You sound exactly how I was a few years ago. My Mum took care of me and my kids while I went through the worst time I’d ever been through. I couldn’t function, the extreme constant anxiety then led to the depression coming. The guilt of not being a Mum to my kids properly was chewing me up. Constant trial and error of tablets when your like that is terrible. I know for me that Lyrica was brilliant, after about half hour of taking in the anxiety slowly started to disappear. I still take it now. I’m also on Quetiapine, which to be honest both of these saved me. But the Quetiapine has caused a lot of weight gain. I know it’s hard to see at the moment but you will get better and soon you will be carrying on with your life like you used to. You will be ok again 🙂

[Newlife73 in reply to Heart17]

Thank you for your support by making a comment. It's nice to know that someone else was in my shoes!! I am feeling like a crappy parent right now. Hopefully they are young enough they aren't notice what's going on. I don't want to affect them but I have to get better to be a good mom.

[Heart17 in reply to Newlife73]

Your not a crappy Mum, your just going through a tough time at the moment. You kids are being taken care of by your Mum so try and focus on getting better. I hope your meds work soon. Take care 🙂