Antidepressants Not Working

The antidepressants I am taking are not helping. My therapist feels I need to add talk therapy to my treatment. While I am looking for a counselor my depression is very severe. I don't know what to do.

Hello, blueangel2014. I no longer suffer in silence. I would tell the psychiatrist he/she is not being very helpful. You need relief now. If the psychiatrist will not help you, I would seek a second opinion.

Hello blueangel2014, welcome to Psych Central.

Trying to find the right combination of medication can take time and it is up to your psychiatrist to work out the combination that works for you. The best treatment for depression is a combination of medication and psychotherapy to learn coping strategies. So your psychiatrist is right in suggesting psychotherapy but the medication needs to be adjusted also. If you depression is so severe that you feel suicidal, please go to emergency care.

There are so many medications to choose from now. Antidepressants didn't work for me, either, as I can't tolerate being drowsy. I'm doing better on Lithium as it doesn't have the drowsy side effect, and that might work for you. There are new meds such as Abilify, and Lamictol that might be better for you. Most therapists and clinics agree that meds and talk therapy combined are the best way to go for relief. Maybe a more specific diagnosis would help in choosing medicine, as "depression" covers a lot of territory.

I hear you. I've been on five different antidepressants over the last 20+ years, and am on another new one, starting last week. Changing meds can be rough; there's an adjustment period and weird new side effects to experience. For me, the drugs work for a little while, it seems, then stop. I've been to several therapists, but have decided just this week that I want to find a psychiatrist--someone to oversee the ever-changing meds, who can at least recommend the right kind of emotional therapy.

Don't give up. Somewhere out there is the exact right combo of IRL support and appropriate medication. I'm still looking, myself. Good luck! And don't forget, for as bad as it can get, it always gets better, at least for a little while.

I hope you get help real soon as I hope I do!

My PDoc, has expressed that he believes it's a combination of medication and talk therapy that is therapeutic.

While you await, your counseling appointments, PC is a good place of support to reach out to others who understand and show compassion.



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