here is my experience with meds (well, part of my experience, otherwise this would be a very long post

i live alone, so that has to be considered. unless you are in a hospital, or similar setting, and someone else is handing you your medication and is watching you take it, there really is no way of making sure things like oregon mentioned are not happening, like just filling the prescriptions, not taking the pills, and stockpiling. an individual really has to want to get better, to endure the first few days of side effects, and to wait out the 3 to 4 weeks it takes for the medicine to take effect in order to take the medication as it is prescribed.

my current psyche doc does not know of past overdoses (didn't want to bore her with the details), but she is aware of the possibility, asks me regularly if i am feeling suicidal, and makes herself or colleagues available to talk with if needed.

i am currently on my fourth month of using effexor xr. i'm at a relatively low dose, but it seems to be working (fingers crossed). i never took meds correctly before, either not taking them or taking too much, but this time is different. maybe it's my age, maybe it's the new people i've surrounded myself with, but i really wanted to get "better" this time.

i think that's the key. the person really has to want to get better before they start taking their treatment, whatever it may be, or their life seriously.

just me,

splash