How does ssri make you feel

The most common factors that affect your risk of serotonin syndrome, per the Cleveland Clinic, are:. As a result, a medication that once worked well at quelling your sadness, anxiety, and other symptom no longer has that power. Sometimes, Hullett says, increasing the dose under supervision by your doctor may help. In other cases, trying a different medication or treatment is helpful. Specific warning signs to watch for include feeling agitated or restless, pacing or constant movement, hand wringing, or feeling generally out of control.

Thomas says. Options include another depression medication or the addition of counseling, psychotherapy, mood-boosting cardio exercise, or light therapy to your treatment regimen.

The combination of medication and other mood-brightening treatments can speed your recovery and reduce your overall time on antidepressants, she says. If you feel unusually elated or you become very terse with your spouse, feel noticeably more irritable, or have an uncharacteristic bout of road rage, you probably need to change your antidepressant, he advises. You may experience some depressive symptoms when discontinuing antidepressants, but this does not mean the depression is returning. Instead keep them in a box safely out of reach of children in your bedroom or kitchen cupboard.

The medication prescribed to you by your doctor is individually tailored to help you; other medications may not be suitable and can have adverse affects. Take the prescribed dose Studies show that people who take the prescribed dose at the times recommended by their doctor are more likely to feel better than those who take too little or too much.

So make sure that you follow the directions on the pack to get the best benefit from your medication. Will I ever stop taking medication? When medication starts working and you feel better it can be tempting to stop taking it. Before stopping or reducing any medication it is important to discuss your reasons with your doctor, who can advise on the best ways to reduce the dose safely.

Always let the doctor know if you have problems when reducing the dose, as there are ways to help minimise any discomfort you may experience in this withdrawal period. Are antidepressants safe in pregnancy? It is important to let your doctor know if you think you may be pregnant or if you are breastfeeding. Babies are sensitive to medication and your doctor can advise you about the safest ones to use.

It is important to ask your doctor about any concerns you have. SANE Australia also produces a range of easy-to-read publications and multimedia resources on mental illness. For more information about this topic see:. Skip to main content 18 Email us Visit forums Chat to us. Antidepressant medication. Listen to this page. How do antidepressant medications help? Why are antidepressant medications prescribed?

How long do they take to work? What else do we know about antidepressants? They are not the only thing that helps people get better Taking antidepressant medication is one important step in getting better but is rarely enough on its own.

When John started taking fluoxetine he felt he the benefits He says try that, well… Oh right, tell me about how that made you feel. Did it? It felt normal. Ah right. It took about three weeks to get into the system but after that it was a pleasure to take. So how different does it make you feel? Does it feel like it gives you a bit of perspective on things? Yes, yes. Well no it sounds quite a powerful feeling. Yes it was good yes. Victoria started to feel calmer and happier almost immediately And did you have any side effects at all from it?

Generally speaking, those with more severe blunting symptoms viewed it more negatively. Similarly, an online survey of 1, antidepressant users from 38 countries aimed to identify the most common adverse side effects of treatment. All three of the most commonly reported negative side effects of antidepressants can be considered forms of emotional blunting. A smaller study from New Zealand involving people on long-term antidepressant therapy found that Related side effects included sexual difficulties Finally, a Canadian study involving participants, Given that not everyone on antidepressants will develop emotional blunting, it has been difficult for scientists to tease out a precise reason for this effect.

Some experts have even questioned whether blunting is a side effect of antidepressant treatment or perhaps a partial failure of the drug itself. While it would seem fair to assume that serotonin plays a role in the effect given the lower incidence among Wellbutrin users , most scientists believe that a single hormone cannot be to blame.

It is likely that the imbalance of all three key hormones—serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine—may trigger the effect of emotional blunting and that those with an underlying hormonal deficit will fare worse.

Much more research is needed before any conclusions can be drawn. The good news is that emotional blunting can be treated. Among some of the options to consider:. If you find the side effect intolerable, do not stop treatment without first speaking with your doctor. Doing so may lead to a rebound of depression symptoms or trigger the opposite effect, including anxiety, agitation, and sleeplessness. Experiencing emotional blunting while on antidepressants doesn't mean that you can't reap the benefits of treatment.

In some cases, a simple dose reduction may help clear some of the numbness. At other times, you can learn to cope by making some positive lifestyle changes that enhance your physical fitness and, in turn, your emotional well-being.

Continue working with your doctor to find the right formula of medications, therapy, and lifestyle to overcome and manage your depression over the long term.

Everything feels more challenging when you're dealing with depression.