When My Antidepressants Stopped Working | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

When My Antidepressants Stopped Working

I had to find a new medication all over again.

725
When My Antidepressants Stopped Working
Reader's Digest

I recently saw my doctor for yet another medication change. You see, I've been on antidepressants for about a year and a half now. I've struggled with bouts of depression for many years, but my sophomore year of college I'd had enough and I asked my doctor about antidepressants. After explaining my symptoms and taking a few tests she agreed that I'd probably benefit from taking antidepressants. I started my journey with antidepressants by taking a commonly known medication called Lexapro. It took a few months to find the right dosage, but after that it to make my depression manageable. I still had bad days once in a while, but for the most part I felt normal.

That all changed last fall when my depression came back in full force like a hurricane. I don't know if my body started rejecting the medication I was currently on or if something else was going on, so I decided to make an appointment with my doctor. At the appointment they took some blood to see if anything showed up there, but they came back normal, so we decided to give the Lexapro one more chance by upping the dose. Unfortunately it didn't help, so then we switched to Zoloft and upped the dose on that after a month. I was on the upped dose of Zoloft for two months and it actually made my depression worse rather than better. After going through all these medication changes and the side effects that go along with them I was about ready to give up on antidepressants. It's not that I'm against them because I've heard countless stories about how once you find the right one it can make a world of difference, but I started feeling really hopeless because I thought I'd never be able to manage my depression.

A few weeks ago I ended up mustering up the courage to make an appointment with my doctor to discuss my medication. Part of me didn't want to see her because I just didn't have any fight left in me, but then the rest of me knew I had to do it if I wanted to get better, so I had an appointment with her three days ago. Every time I go they give me a depression questionnaire, so I filled it out and my doctor said I fell into the moderate to severe depression area. I know my depression is bad, but it's mind boggling hearing someone else say that about me.

After we talked a little we came to the conclusion that I wanted to try a different medication, so she put me on Prozac. I have no idea if it's going to work or not, but I have to have hope that eventually we'll find something that works. The biggest thing that I wish people would understand about clinical depression is it's an actual chemical imbalance in your brain. It's not just always focusing on the negative things happening in the world. I wish I could explain my depression in simple terms so my loved ones could understand what I'm going through, but I truly feel like it's something you can only understand if you've been through it. So to everyone out there that doesn't see the need for antidepressants, I hope you never have to experience depression, but I also hope that you can be accepting of those who take antidepressants to manage their depression.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

182817
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

9530
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

454063
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

24232
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments