Going on medication

[prob1996]

I was diagnosed with G.A.D. ( generalizzed anxiety disorder) and was doing CBT. My therapist recently decided that my therapy wasn't enough and now is putting me on meds to help along with the therapy. I'm really kinda nervous and I know all medication is different. It all reacts differently with different people. I'm so unsure about this. They say it is to help me but I'm just not sure what to expect. I"m being prescribed a low dose of citaloparm a SSRI anti-depressent.

So my questions are:

1) Did going on medication change u for the better? or worse?

2) What side effects did u experience?

3) Do u regret going on the medication?

4) Do you're friends & family notice a difference?

5) Are you generally happier?


Thanks for your responses!!!

[Kaius]

Okay well i was put on treatment for Social Anxiety Disorder but I decided to reply anyhow cause i guess it could still help:


1) Did going on medication change u for the better? or worse?
It took a while to get the dosage right and stuff but it did help me change. I'm coping better in social situations and I dont freak out in the middle of crowds or busy places anymore and im coping with stressful time easier.
2) What side effects did u experience?
It made me tired at first and i got some pretty bad headaches which brought on nausea. But after about 2 weeks i was fine unless they upped the dose or changed the type of medication.
3) Do u regret going on the medication?
Not at all. Its helped in so many ways although i did find after a month during the first dose of medication i actually started to notice they stopped working but after a change and a dosage increase i found it stuck more.
4) Do your friends & family notice a difference?
I'm not sure tbh they haven't really noticed it but I suppose im easier to leave the house with now.
5) Are you generally happier?
I wouldnt say happier overall but during social or stressful situations I think im able to let myself go a bit more and im not as uptight.

[Weeping]

Well I was on meds because of Depression but oh well. I started exactly 2 years ago (after being in a psych ward) and stopped in March or April this year. Sertraline (also known as Zoloft).

Did going on medication change u for the better? or worse?
- Well I guess that I didn't think that it actually helped me a lot, but now I think that it actually did. Well I did get better a while after I started taking it, but I thought it was because of other things.

What side effects did u experience?
- I honestly don't think that I got any side effects, and if I did it was some minor one like.. getting a headache or something (which I got extremely often anyways). So no.

Do u regret going on the medication?
- No, I don't. It helped me get better. Though I didn't really get to choose if I wanted to go on them or not.

Do you're friends & family notice a difference?
- Indeed. I think most people who were around me at my lows has said at least something about it since I got better.

Are you generally happier?
- Yeah.. Well I've fallen back a bit pretty recently, but it's still way better than it used to be. I have my ups and downs.



However, I really do think that it's worth giving it a try. And even if it don't work/you get some stupid side effect/etc at first, don't stop taking it immediately, since it might take a while for your body to get used to it and stuff.
If it still doesn't work after a longer while, talk to your therapist about it so that you can try some other kind.
And try not being like "well this wont work anyways, so there's no point, blahblah" cause that doesn't "help it to help you".

I'm here if you ever need/want anyone to talk to!
:hug:

[prob1996]

Thank you guys for your responses! It's not an easy topic to talk about so I really appreciate your help!!! :D:D:D

[love is louder]

hey Parker, just noesying through your profile after replying to you and found this!
i started on this because i dont think the doctor knew what to do with me!

So my answers are:

1) Did going on medication change u for the better? or worse?
it didnt affect me at all. then he doubled my dosage and the same thing happened.
i was on it for nearly three months. i think this is kind of doctors first step for anything like GAD

2) What side effects did u experience?
none at all

3) Do u regret going on the medication?
kind of. i am always weary of medication. especially the stuff that messes with the chemicals in your brain. my therapist told me that there is no threat of being addicted to these so hopefully that will give you some comfort.

4) Do you're friends & family notice a difference?
nope, also my friends and family didnt know i was taking it.

5) Are you generally happier?
no affect
but to be honest i dont think they where right for me. every body takes to medication in different ways so dont let that put you off! im guessing your going back every month to review? just tell him the truth and if hes a good doctor he will sort you out.
also it might be a good idea to keep a diary. just of any side affects or of anything you have noticed in general that has changed about your mood and your anxiety.

good luck!

Thanks for your responses!!!

[lordmac001]

I think there was some improvement on the medications--maybe. I wasn't as much like a roller coaster as I have been in the past. Sometimes there was sadness. But I've been kind of on and off because of some doubts and comments other people have made. I thought for awhile I had factitious disorder and was imagining it all. I'm sort of on that page now.