How do you know you're on the right meds?

[jessibella]

Hi All,

Just a question about anti-depressants.

How did you know you were taking the right one for you?

I have been struggling with PND since my little girl was born. She is around 5 1/2 months now and i'm still depressed. I'm not convinced that the meds I am taking are doing much for me.

I started taking Sertraline when she was 6 weeks but couldn't tolerate the side effects ( they made me so much more depressed verging on suicidal). I then tried Citalopram which seemed to help for a bit then I suddenly started being sick on them. Now I have been taking Mirtazapine for around 10 weeks, taking the Max dose of 45mg for just over two weeks. During this time I have still been experiencing mood swings from feeling OK to low and tearful. I still don't feel I could go to work (due back in May) and don't feel anywhere near back to my old self. I just don't know if these meds are helping me much or if I'm just expecting too much from them. What do you think? I'm worried that I won't get better if I don't take the right meds but I'm also worried that this is the best I can expect?

Perhaps nothing will work for me?

Thanks xx

[Weeble]

Hi

The ups and downs are a sign of recovery. When you start with this illness it's all the time down then gradually it starts to undulate. A really good book that explains it is "depression illness of the strong" by tim someone I think cantopher. On work, does your work have an occupational health? I found going back to work really helped recovery but in small steps a bit at a time.

Please don't worry about the drugs, regrettably when pni is severe they don't cure us they make it possible to recover. Use your cbt thoughts to counter your belief the drugs won't work.

Kat

[jessibella]

Thing is Kat for me it started up and down. Perhaps the downs were worse though and perhaps longer too. Then I had a dreadful blip at Xmas but even then there would OK moments. I'm not sure now. I just feel I'm stuck at 50% better.

[Weeble]

I am three years down the line, admittedly I have had another child since then. But that's how it is for me, ups and down, I have had a lot of blips and a few relapses but the general pattern is one of recovery.

I am sure some of the other girls will be along with some more thoughts

Kat