Im 16 amd think its just making things worse. They keep adjusting it but suicidal thoughts get worse and more. They insist I just need to find the right dosage but it doesn't help. Could it be making it worse?? I feel awful! Jess x

[Hope-Full]

In my mind, yes, it could. I went through eight different meds before we found the right one for me, and one of them made me completely suicidal. It was really strange, actually, because the thoughts kept popping into my head and I was confused, because I didn't feel that depressed or anxious, and couldn't understand where the thoughts were coming from. Once I went off that med (was on it for 6 weeks) within 2 days my mind cleared up and the thoughts were gone.

Some meds don't work for some, but work well for others. It is definitely a lot of trial and error to find one that works for you - don't give up, Jess! You'll find the right one eventually! (And hopefully sooner rather than later!)

Yeah it can. Maybe you could lower the dosage, it could help or switch to another which could help you.

[gma45]

How long have you been taking it? Are you seeing a therapist too? I would talk with your Dr. and make sure he understands how this med is making you feel. Tell him your thoughts. I hope you feel better soon!

[pgrundy]

It could. Who do you mean when you say 'they'? Did a psychiatrist prescribe it or was it your regular doctor?

I think it's really important to be evaluated by a psychiatrist and follow up regularly until the right med or combination of meds is found. I've let GPs prescribe for me twice over the past seven years and got very sick both times. The second time it was Prozac and I ended up in the hospital. So now I know I CAN'T let a GP try to handle this. They just aren't equipped.

Prozac isn't a bad med, but for some people it can cause problems. Can you tell your parents or call your doctor's office? I think you shouldn't be left with this bad feeling and suicidal thoughts while on meds. That seems like a reason to do something different, like, now.

Good luck! Please come back and tell us how you are doing.

Thanks for replying! I've been on it for a while, and by then I mean my psychiatrist and cpn. I tell them and they lowered my dose gradually to 10mg from 20 but still rubbish. :/ I thought they'd know what to do about it. Jess x

[nicoleb2]

It can definitely make you feel more suicidal. That is the reason for the warning that anti-depressants carry.
I have been on a couple of different meds that have made me increasingly suicidal.
It is VERY important to stress to your providers just how bad the med is making you feel and that you are scared to continue taking it

[alwaysrejoice]

I was on Prozac when I was about your age and it made me feel violent. I just wanted to throw things! There are a ton of other options out there, keep trying.

[Beholden]

I hope you talk with your P doc etc again. Medicine is supported to help, not harm.

Here is a suggestion, keep a journal and show it to them. Please stay safe and post to all of us here if that helps you.

At 16 years old, antidep. medication is 'tricky' from everything I've read. Maybe since they have lowered your dose they are planning to switch you to something else???? Do you know what your medical plan is from your P doc? Has your P doc got you doing talk therapy or group therapy or anything else or just prescribe pills and leave you to figure it out for yourself?

Dont' give up because it is sometimes trial and error as to which medicine helps.

I see a cpn every week, and see dr rai every 3-6 weeks. He said last time he thinks well raise it back up to 15 again I'm like ?? If 10 and 20 make it worse how can 15 possibly help?! I don't no, seeing my cpn for therapy eery week does NOTHInG. She's totally rubbish but I'd feel too guilty admitting it :/ I don't no what to do because I keep a journal for them to read that shows how bad it gets but their idea is just to increase or lower the dosage so now I don't no how to make them see it's not helping jess x

[mel80]

Simple answer is yes.I know this as i had a rare reaction to prozac 10yrs ago and was promptly taken off it then put on arrow pax made suicidality 10 times worse.Was made to take a high dose of that bad idea.Why are the doc's not listening too you ?thats a real worry hope you don't act on them.

[pgrundy]

Have you told them both you have increased thoughts of suicide? If not, please do it. It sounds like they aren't listening to you at all. I can't see why they'd stick with a med that is making you worse, especially at 16.

There are so many other meds and combinations of meds. I hope you will be more insistent with them. Are you in the UK? Here in the US if you say you are suicidal and you might be a danger to yourself it's the law that they HAVE to do something, and they should.

Come back and let us know how this turns out, and please stay safe.

[Beholden]

What do your parents have to say about what's going on? Do you have someone else you can go to that you feel safe with

[jk2833]

Originally Posted by Jess95

Im 16 amd think its just making things worse. They keep adjusting it but suicidal thoughts get worse and more. They insist I just need to find the right dosage but it doesn't help. Could it be making it worse?? I feel awful! Jess x

Hi Jess I'm going to be totally honest with you here prozac was great initially for the first few months, then I was plagued by suicidal thoughts for months,I then ended up in hospital from attempted suicide I was very close to death apparently.
I stopped the prozac and read the side effects,I wish I had looked at them before.
If you feel that your worse speak to your dr about changing them,yes you have to give medication time to work but don't carry on taking them just in hope that they may work.
Take care
JK

[JenIsAlwaysSick]

Absolutely. In fact, according to the last sheet I was given about Prozac from my pharmacist, prozac can make your depressed and suicidal feels worse instead of better. This is true of any antidepressant as well, according to a handout I received by the FDA.

http://alwayssick.com/2011/09/19/ant...-from-the-fda/

When the doctor increased my dose of prozac from 40mg (which I have been taking for 3 years but wasn't helping anymore) to 60mg, I was worse within a week. I had crying spells for not reason, similar to when I had postpartum depression. I had no energy. I was irritable, anxious, had racing thoughts, and my appetite was suppressed. Basically, I was back to where I was before I ever took any meds, and it was BAD.

http://alwayssick.com/2011/10/05/the-drugs-dont-work/

It's sometimes okay to just trust your doctor, but if he/she isn't aware of these potential problems, not only should you not listen to them, but you should find another doctor because they aren't up to speed on the more recent findings on anti-depressants.

Good luck. I hope you feel better soon.

I recently had my prozac dose upped because

I tell them how bad it is, my cpn just sits there like she's really uncomfortable and doesn't know what to do, dr rai just seems to rely on what she says, and as she's useless we get nowhere at all! I dont tell m parents anything, they get angry at me for being depressed so it's not worth it because it only makes me feel worse!
Jk2833 -- I was the same I thought it was helping at first, then i just seemed to hit a wall and it wasn't helping anymore!
Pgrundy -- yes I'm in the uk, I tell them I feel suicidal and they do nothing!
Jess x

[ECHOES]

Seeing a counsellor sounds like it would be a good idea. Something/s in your life cause are causing you a lot of pain. The sui thoughts are a way of quantifying that pain: "I am in *this much* pain..."

Like medication for a physical ailment, they can only do so much. Pain medication helps with pain from a fractured arm, but the fractured arm needs to be repaired.

[Miss Laura]

Hey Jess,

I know I have said this before to you but try and google "free counselling" in your area. I managed to get 8 sessions through "Insight Counselling" unsure if this is just a Scottish Organisations or if it is UK based. See if this helps. I would also recommend that you write all your thoughts and feelings down in your journal and make sure CPN and Psych read it. What I usually do is open my journal to that page and say "I think you should read this as I can't talk just yet" that always seems to work for me and then we take it from there. I only lasted 1 month on Prozac then I had to change as I felt awful and was more dangerous to myself than I had been in the pass.

Don't give up!!