[gracez]

I can't wait. I've been on SSRI's (now on 3rd) since Jan. and it's July. This third one of been on 9 weeks, Prozac, and just begged my pdoc to up it from 20 to 40 mg as I've felt no effect. I'm desperate. Today was told I have to wait 90 days for an SSRI to take effect. Really? That's a long time to wait. I have no hope for these SSRIs.

that is incredible! i would ask him if he would also wait for 90 days if he was in your situation. i would also consult a second opinion and perhaps consider getting a more proactive therapist.

[-jimi-]

It can take that long to reach full effect but it doesn't just come BAM! You usually start feeling a slight positive effect after 6-7 weeks.

Because of that it feels like you shouldn't have to wait more than 6 weeks or so. By 9 weeks if you haven't felt anything positive it's not going to happen, at least not on that dosage. If you had felt a slight improvement, then waiting a little more to keep dosages down would have made sense.

[fletch33]

SSRIs don't work for me. I've tried several of them with no improvement. I've been on a combo of Wellbutrin and Abilify for a long time now and that works for me (when I take them, that is). You might want to try an SNRI (Effexor is a good example) or perhaps an atypical antidepressant like Wellbutrin. Just a thought and something to talk to the pdoc about.

You may be one who is medication resistant. If you are, 90 days won't do it.

I'd thank him for his help and then go straight to the telephone and call another psychiatrist.

I've never heard of being told to wait 90 days to see if there's any improvement.

[adam_k]

SSRi's didn't work for me. I tried Zoloft, effexor, Prozac and viibryd. I started taking wellbutrin and it has helped me. I don't have many of the physical symptoms anymore. I can function a lot better it.

Even for me, upping the dose to 80mg of prozac still didn't work for me and I've been on it for longer than 8 weeks. You should ask him to change or up the dose if he doesn't then find another psychiatrist.

[jesusplay]

Hey if you're lucky maybe one of those SSRIs will trigger mania.

Paxil was amazing until It pooped out and I started rapid cycling my mood.

I was high as a kite, felt like a perpetual orgasm, best I've felt in years.

[gracez]

Thanks all so much for your replies.

I don't have a psychiatrist - no insurance and can't pay for one, there's not one accessible to the likes of me. I save up to see this pdoc. He's not well-versed in this, or it's not his speciality, but going there is my only choice. I've asked that clinic if they have anyone who they know is comfortable prescribing psychotropics but they can't come up w/ that info for me. It's not like having a psychiatrist who "follows" you or something like that.

Also when I saw him 2 weeks ago he told me a stupid joke about suicide (there's no better way to put it - he started by saying i have something very personal to share with you about a time i tried to kill myself). It was something about overeating at a Chinese restaurant. I had no idea in the beginning he was going to be telling a joke. And felt so uncomfortable, like it was inappropriate to tell such an inane "joke" to someone who actually is severely depressed and has had those thoughts.

That being said I will ask him if he can prescribe something else or up the dosage again.

Hearing the advice that slight positive effect after 6 - 8 weeks, and then it might be worth waiting...was really helpful.

It's unbearable having waited 7 months. already altogether with no effect. I know many people here would've had the same problem, sorry that you are also having to experience that.

I might be med resistant, blah. I have no hopes anymore after waiting this long. In the beginning I was so hopeful that they would help.

I will ask him about the possibility of trying me on another class of drugs, too.

Thank you all!

Ask him about Deplin. 70% of depressed people cannot utilize a B vitamin called
folate which the brain uses for serotonin activity---the "good feeling neurotransmitter".
(It's a lack of certain enzymes in the stomach that are missing, and Deplin provides the
perfect form for meeting the brain's needs for Vitamin B 9.)

Nothing really was effective for me either until I was prescribed Deplin. It's called
a food med and it can cross the blood-brain barrier providing nutrients the brain
needs. It is really effective for me at 15 mg. daily.

I hope you are able to be properly medicated sooner than 90 days. The least he
can do is to help you with an additional med such as Deplin that may prove to
be just what you might need. You can feel the difference in two weeks.

(Genetic testing is needed to determine if we're missing the enzymes, but my doctor
suggested trying it because it is useful, and if it worked, then we'd know that
I couldn't manufacture the enzymes to metabolize folate properly.)

Take care.

[herethennow]

my pdoc says im med resistant (and she's tried me on 3 drugs only :/) so i'm stuck with this as a "backup." i guess sometimes we need to seek other ways too.. if you can't afford a therapist have you considered self help?

[-jimi-]

I was also said to be med resistant. Came out they just tried the wrong stuff on me.