How do I know if my medication is working?

[Nora]

Sorry, this is gonna be in two parts.
So, I was on 10mg of citalopram for a month then my doctor's boosted it to twenty after I said I didn't feel like it was working then he said to come back in two weeks and if it's not working then, I'll have to try something else but, honestly I can't tell if it's working or not. Two issues here, I don't do much usually. I don't have what I'm gonna call a real job (i freelance a little which I do from home whenever I get work) and I'm not in education anymore so I don't get that morning dread I used to get. It's more of a dread when I do have to go somewhere and do something.

[Nora]

Two, im also really skeptical about virtually everything so there is the possibility that it's not working because I'm telling myself it won't work. So, in two weeks time, what do I tell him? The only improvement I can think has happened is that I went shopping and didn't think about the bad things that could happen in doing so but the next day my family went out and those kinda thoughts were straight back in mind.

[gypsylee]

Hi Nora,

The first time my meds kicked in I knew about it bigtime. I went from a zombie to social butterfly almost overnight. Everyone's brain chemistry is different though.

Over the years I've been on and off SSRIs and they can take a LONG time to work. I doubled my Prozac a few months ago and only last week I felt the familiar buzz of sociability. That's generally what happens to me - I start wanting to be around people and do things. They definitely aren't like the benzos which kick in straight away though and I've found I need to actually do something (this time it was a stressful trip) for them to start working. Weird.

All the best,
Gypsy x

[Anne1221]

If you have an increase it can take up to 6 to 8 weeks to get the full effect so give it time. I say it IS working for you because you told us of one success. Things should just continue to get better and better in that area. I always get better when I increase my medication, however, it also increases my appetite, unfortunately.

[Anne1221]

The only improvement I can think has happened is that I went shopping and didn't think about the bad things that could happen in doing so


Hey, that's good. Don't discount it. You'll gradually see more and more improvements.

[Nora]

Thanks guys.

Could it be that my doctor is being too opptomistic though? I mean, he's the guy in the know but he's telling me I should feel the effects after a week and i don't feel like I am getting positive effects (though I'm getting a lot of side effects which I probably should've told him about but didn't). Everything ive read about citalopram says it takes months but he's sounding like he wants to see a good response in weeks. I feel like it's making me worse. (The meds not him that is.)

[gypsylee]

Thanks guys.

Could it be that my doctor is being too opptomistic though? I mean, he's the guy in the know but he's telling me I should feel the effects after a week and i don't feel like I am getting positive effects (though I'm getting a lot of side effects which I probably should've told him about but didn't). Everything ive read about citalopram says it takes months but he's sounding like he wants to see a good response in weeks. I feel like it's making me worse. (The meds not him that is.)

Hell yes. Like I say, I've had to wait months. The first time I went on Prozac it took 3 weeks but it seems to take longer and longer. They do make most people worse for a week or two, to the extent I need benzos to cope with it, so now I just stay on them and might do for the rest of my life.

[Anne1221]

If my psychiatrist heard that your doctor said you will feel better in one week after an increase in your medication, he would tell you to see another doctor. He's top notch so you can trust what he says. Everyone always says you have to give it time. The fact that you are so worried about this, and so anxious about this increase tells me you need it!

I just hope you are luckier than me. The increase helped SO MUCH with my anxiety,but I started craving carbohydrates like crazy. Not good.

Gypsy, I'm right with you and plan to do the exact same thing! I am just plain worn out from fighting the anxiety, and the older I get the more anxious I am!

[martin05]

I agree with Anne. A week is pretty optimistic, but you never know!

In the past it's usually taken several weeks for me to feel the effects of SSRI increases. On citalopram, I even had to up my dose again to 30mg to really notice a sizeable change in mood.

To answer your question, how to know if your meds are working, the truth is, you stop asking those sorts of questions. You just seem to snap back into life again. Sort of like getting over a cold. One minute you're down in the dumps, next minute you're active and thinking about things other than health issues.

[Nora]

To answer your question, how to know if your meds are working, the truth is, you stop asking those sorts of questions. You just seem to snap back into life again. Sort of like getting over a cold. One minute you're down in the dumps, next minute you're active and thinking about things other than health issues.

This i get as a definitive answer to my question, issue is that I have never been great with people. For as long as I can remember, ive struggled taking the first step on my own and making friends but it's got to the point where it doesn't really bother me, I like my own company and although I'm the first one to criticise myself, I'm the only person I truly trust so I assume I know it's working when I stop worrying about stupid things. Although ive never been great with people, it's never really hindered me until the agoraphobia kicked in but a phobia is supposed to be an irrational fear and after you've been through something major, you don't see the fear as irrational (at least I dont) but maybe that's me making excuses for not trying hard enough to get sorted. It's been four years of me burying my head in the sand and now I'm scared of being unfixable.

[Anne1221]

I know it's working when I stop worrying about stupid things.

Sometimes years later, I'll run across something that reminds me about something I had worried about. And even I see how stupid it was to worry over it!

No one is ever unfixable. You just have to have determination to keep picking yourself up and keep trying.

[Ponder]

Learn to judge for yourself. Listen to your body. It's common for users look for validation in others to give themselves a moral boost. If your honest with yourself, your doctor and others plus have been doing everything else including have given it time ... and still your questioning yourself; then the obvious thing to do would be to try somthing else.

[INSTANTSPELL]

My name is Watson and i really want to let people know that Dr. Amigo is great and powerful because it is not easy for him to just rebuild a broken relationship within 48 hours. The fact remains that i read about his articles on the internet and i contacted him and through his help my broken relationship was restored with the only woman i ever loved. I just want to say i big thanks to Dr Amigo and make the world know his capability, he is able to cure all kinds of anxiety and depression Anyone can read about him on the internet as "Dr Amigo the online spell caster"

[martin05]

My name is Watson and i really want to let people know that Dr. Amigo is great and powerful because it is not easy for him to just rebuild a broken relationship within 48 hours. The fact remains that i read about his articles on the internet and i contacted him and through his help my broken relationship was restored with the only woman i ever loved. I just want to say i big thanks to Dr Amigo and make the world know his capability, he is able to cure all kinds of anxiety and depression Anyone can read about him on the internet as "Dr Amigo the online spell caster"

I asked Dr. Amigo if he could cast a spell to make me ruler of the Galaxy. He said don't be stupid, that's too hard to do, wish for something easier.

So I asked him if he could help me understand women.

Long story short, I now have a 25 foot throne and strike fear into Martians everywhere.

[gypsylee]

I asked Dr. Amigo if he could cast a spell to make me ruler of the Galaxy. He said don't be stupid, that's too hard to do, wish for something easier.

So I asked him if he could help me understand women.

Long story short, I now have a 25 foot throne and strike fear into Martians everywhere.

You already are Ruler of the Galaxy though ;)

But seriously WTF LOL!

Ok I googled Dr Amigo and please GTFO of here :)

[INSTANTSPELL]

Martin05 I am here nothing is too hard for Amigo to do. ask him for any kind of help he will perfect it all.