Is My Antidepressant Medication Working?
Finding the right depression treatment plays a big role in determining whether your recover from this mental illness will be a success or not. Taking antidepressant is one way to help treat depression and after just taking one dose, some people can already feel the difference. However, what happens when your medication does not work? In this article, we are going to tell you how to check if your antidepressant medication is working for you.
Immediately Feeling Better
Responding quickly to antidepressant medication earlier is not necessarily a good thing. It usually takes between 2-12 weeks to set in, while users are set to experience its full effects after the 6 week mark. Anything earlier than the 2A week mark is usually a side effect of the medication or a placebo effect that you are experiencing.
No Improvement after 3 Months
If you have yet to experience any effect of your antidepressant medication after 3 months, then it could be a clear sign that your medication is not working for you. It could be time to try something else but seek the advice of a medical practitioner or your mental health specialist before you do this. Do not stop taking the dosage assigned to you.
Feeling Energetic yet Sad
If your antidepressant medication is making you feel energetic, yet you still feel sad, it means that the medication is starting to take effect but not in the correct manner. If you feel these symptoms, seek advice of your medical doctor immediately.
Not Feeling the Same Effects You Used To Experience
If you have used an antidepressant medication for a long period of time, your body might begin to become accustomed to its effects. This is called developing a tolerance to it, which means that in order to experience the effects you felt when you first began using the antidepressants, you will have to take more and more of it. Your doctor might need to increase your dosage but never make this decision yourself.
Your Depression Becomes Worse
If your antidepressant medication is causing your depression to become worse, well then it’s a no brainer. You will need to see the doctor that prescribed you this medication and tell them that it’s not working properly so that they can reassess you and determine which treatment is best suited to your needs. The symptoms to look out for is constantly feeling irritated and agitated, restless and constantly wanting to move around.
Dangerous Mood Swings
If your antidepressant medication is causing you to have violent and dangerous mood swings, then it could be a sign that you have bipolar disorder, which is depression and mania combined. Bipolar disorder involves periods of moods which includes constantly feeling elation to suddenly feeling sad and down. If you find that this is happening to you, then it could be time to change the medication you’re taking and to see your mental health specialist. If you are able to relate to any of the above, then its best that you seek professional depression help as soon as possible. Call us now and let one of our qualified counsellors provide you with free and expert advice.