I think I'm being diagnosed wrongly

[Whatssup]

I have been on and off antidepressants now for almost 4 years. I have periods of feeling great and then very quickly my MH deteriorates for no particular reason. More recently I've become noticeably disconnected from family and friends and feel chronic fatigue most days and a sense of emptiness which means I just can't even manage the smallest of tasks.

I can't help but feel that there is something more to my symptoms than depression. If the diagnosis is incorrect then that seems why medication isn't doing much (if anything some days)

[mysmugcat]

Just to say I was also diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome. I also have depression. I'm gathering you stayed on anti depressants for at least three weeks, I expect so. My depression doesn't really get better. Although it would be worse without meds.

[Whatssup in reply to mysmugcat]

Hi Mysmugcat, yes I've been on them for several months at a time.

My worry is the very quick change in my mood for no apparent reason. Feeling great one month and bedridden the next.

This episode has lasted 11 weeks already and although some days are getting slightly easier, recovery still feels a long way off.

I have many bi-polar symptoms but still keep being told depression.

Thank you for your response

[Olderal]

Hello Whatssup, no ,that sounds like depression to me. The fact is that most drugs for treating depression were discovered by serendippity and few of them ,if any, are totally effective. Usually they help a bit, and if you're lucky and your GP manages to find the optimum one for you it might help a bit extra but in the main you'll need to get what support you can from living heathily , keeping alcohol consumption low, no recreational drugs, support from family and friends , and most importantly your own strength and courage.

For most of us these, plus the small amount of help the medics can give, is enough to get us through life, and find a fair bit of happiness and content. Roll on the day when the medics can do more which I believe is not that far away. There is an awful lot of money being spent internationally in some major research programs to find real cures for mental health problems before they result in the collapse of the whole world wide health system. See my reply to the "Do things ever really get better ?" post for details.

Olderal

[Whatssup in reply to Olderal]

Thank you for your reply.

I have been on the same medication for nearly four years and at times it feels ineffective hence why I have been on and off it.

GP seems reluctant to change or increase the dose so I just continue wading through mud.

I will look at your reply/post.

👍

[blackcat64013]

There is a chance your medication is no longer working.

Most often, there’s something interfering with the effects of the antidepressant drug, could be a drug interaction or alcohol or some other drug.

Sometimes, though, the drug just stops working. Receptors in the brain become less sensitive to the effect of antidepressants over time, leading to a kind of tolerance. The biochemistry of this effect hasn’t been well studied, but it seems to be real enough in some patients who have no other explanations for a drug’s waning effect.

No matter what the reason, you need a meds check up from your doctor.

If your usual doctor is a primary care provider and doesn't know what to do, ask for a referral to a mental health specialist, your friendly psychiatrist.