Antidepressant not working

[Sigh_Sigh_Sigh]

I've been on Sertraline for a few weeks now and I don't feel any better, only more tired and no appetite for anything in life. I feel suicide is the only option now as I doubt anything else will help.

 

[Rumi]

I've been on Sertraline for a few weeks now and I don't feel any better, only more tired and no appetite for anything in life. I feel suicide is the only option now as I doubt anything else will help.

It sounds like you want to get better. I wouldn't CTB just because a particular treatment has no effect on you.

There are other kinds of treatments that doctors will prescribe if SSRI's aren't working. ECT and atypical anti-depressants treat depression more effectively than SSRIs, but doctors wont initially prescribe them because of harmful side-effects, and because SSRI's and talk therapy are effective for most people.

 

[FuneralGrey]

I've been on Sertraline for a few weeks now and I don't feel any better, only more tired and no appetite for anything in life. I feel suicide is the only option now as I doubt anything else will help.

Obviously I can't comment on the specifics of your situation because I don't know what else you've been through, treatment-wise or otherwise.

A few thoughts: sertraline takes a very long time before you start to feel the effects. The general rule is 4-8 weeks, but you usually need to slowly work your way up to a "therapeutic" dose too, so that's 4-8 weeks after reaching the higher dose, not since treatment began. As Rumi mentioned, there are also lots of other medications available, such as other SSRIs and lots of non-SSRI antidepressants.

I want to mention one last very important thing, and it's the topic of some debate in the medical community, but I believe without a doubt that it is real: SSRIs (like sertraline) can cause suicidality. It's especially true in teens and children, but it happens to young adults and adults too. It can increase your chance of wanting to ctb and taking actions to do so. This effect can go away after some time, or some doctors will stop the medication if you're experiencing a worsening of suicidal thoughts. You can talk about it with your own healthcare provider, just know that it is possible you're experiencing a medication side effect that doesn't reflect your "true" feelings, if that makes sense.

Hope this helps. You deserve to find relief.

 

[Pengu]

I've been on Sertraline for a few weeks now and I don't feel any better, only more tired and no appetite for anything in life. I feel suicide is the only option now as I doubt anything else will help.

Sertraline takes a few months to give results, I have been on it for like 5 months now but it will only stabilise your mood. U will have to make changes in your routine yourself and psychotherapy is extremely important for medicines to work. U can also get rtms sessions done to stabilise your mood and re wire the Neuron connections. If ur still not happy with sertraline u can try benzodiazepine it worked the best for me . Unfortunately I had to shift back to sertraline as it makes u very sleepy and I couldn't study at all. All the best I hope u recover fast and find happiness in your life <3

 

[SunflowerBrains]

I've been on Sertraline for a few weeks now and I don't feel any better, only more tired and no appetite for anything in life. I feel suicide is the only option now as I doubt anything else will help.

Please talk to your psychiatrist (Or just the one who prescribed you the meds). They could raise your dose or try something else. One medication isn't for everyone, we all have to do some trial and error to get the right prescription. I hope things get better <3

 

[LittleJem]

12 weeks to test a med. Join support group on FB, read success stories and give it more time. You might also need dose raised. Prozac took 5 or 8 weeks to help me ( can't remember which) and it was better at 12 weeks. Good luck

 

[Pengu]

Obviously I can't comment on the specifics of your situation because I don't know what else you've been through, treatment-wise or otherwise.

A few thoughts: sertraline takes a very long time before you start to feel the effects. The general rule is 4-8 weeks, but you usually need to slowly work your way up to a "therapeutic" dose too, so that's 4-8 weeks after reaching the higher dose, not since treatment began. As Rumi mentioned, there are also lots of other medications available, such as other SSRIs and lots of non-SSRI antidepressants.

I want to mention one last very important thing, and it's the topic of some debate in the medical community, but I believe without a doubt that it is real: SSRIs (like sertraline) can cause suicidality. It's especially true in teens and children, but it happens to young adults and adults too. It can increase your chance of wanting to ctb and taking actions to do so. This effect can go away after some time, or some doctors will stop the medication if you're experiencing a worsening of suicidal thoughts. You can talk about it with your own healthcare provider, just know that it is possible you're experiencing a medication side effect that doesn't reflect your "true" feelings, if that makes sense.

Hope this helps. You deserve to find relief.

Omg yess it does. Sometimes some antidepressants make it worse or they do cure your depression but causes mania. When my sis was doing her internship there was a patient who was getting treated for depression in her hospital and he was being given a tc antidepressant which actually did cure his depression but he became a maniac instead. SSRI's can cause symptoms of mania too. I personally take paroxetine ( is an SSRI) 25 mg as it is the most common medicine to treat ocd and depression in young adults and I did start showing symptoms of mania. I would get really excited and couldn't control myself sometimes. It caused restlessness and was very tiring. Bottom line is whichever medicine you choose to continue consult with your doctor as they know the best.