As we pointed out in previous posts, antidepressants may be less effective in treating bipolar depression than in treating unipolar depression. However, there are steps you can take to improve the effectiveness of your antidepressant regardless of the type of depression you’re feeling:
- Stick with it. Antidepressants usually don’t kick in until you’ve been taking them for about two to six weeks. (Yes, when you’re depressed, two to six weeks can seem like an eternity.) Because side effects can occur almost immediately while the benefits may take longer to appear, people often stop taking their antidepressant before it has a chance to work. Most side effects should dissipate over the course of a few days or weeks. For tips on how to minimize the negative side effects, see “Managing Bipolar Medication Side Effects.”
- Remain in close contact with your doctor. Changing the dose or the times when you take your medications can often help minimize negative side effects while maximizing effectiveness, but don’t make adjustments without your doctor’s okay.
- Keep taking the medication even after you start feeling better. If you’ve experienced several bouts of deep, long-lasting depression in the past, taking a maintenance dose of an antidepressant may be necessary.
- Avoid alcohol, which can reduce the effectiveness of antidepressants.
- Avoid mixing in any medications your doctor has not prescribed, including herbal, “all-natural” remedies, as these medications may cause unpredictable interactions. Keep your doctor, pharmacist, and even your dentist informed about any and all medications you are taking, including your antidepressant.
- Obtain therapy. Studies show that antidepressants tend to be more effective, work faster, and their benefits last longer when medication is combined with psychotherapy (also known as talk therapy).
If one antidepressant doesn’t work or has unacceptable side effects, don’t give up on antidepressants altogether. Many antidepressants are available in several different classes, and some work better than others and can have different effects on different people. If your current medication’s not working, tell your doctor, “This isn’t working. We need to try something else.”
If your doctor is unavailable or you feel that he or she is not listening or not responding to what you’re saying, you may need to shop for another doctor. Changing doctors is no picnic (it often places you in a position of having to start over with someone new), but you may do better in the long run by finding someone who’s more available and responsive to your needs.
I feel that my psychiatrist, a very religious man I’ll add, has assaulted me with his treatment or lack of tratment. I am left with 2 permanent impairments. Why is that these doctors are not arrested like other folks who violently assault others and leave permanent damage to those assaulted. Is it their status…next under God?
Perhaps I sound ridiculous but I became angry that this human being that treated me so badly. And no doubt others. When I learned at what he had not been telling me about Abilify: all of possible side effects, the withdrawal, his lack of any help with getting off the drug even though there are at least 2 medications that relieve the withdrawal that some people get.
I just wish there was still a “town square” where he would wear a letter “D” upon his clothing. D standing for humanity deviant.
I’ve encountered a few lousy p-docs and therapists, too. At the NAMI meetings I attended in Indianapolis, the organizers encouraged us to speak openly about our doctors & therapists, both good and bad. This is as close to a “town square” as I can imagine. Of course, this practice can probably make you vulnerable to claims of slander or libel, but as long as you tell the truth, the law is (or at least should be) on your side.
My son’s psychiatrist worked with us to have him placed in an intensive in-patient program and then was conveniently unavailable to answer the phone or even return phone calls for three days. This guy was supposedly the best child and adolescent psychiatrist in the area. Everybody else I talked with raved about him, but in our case, the guy was a disaster.
I guess it just shows that even when you shop carefully for a professional, the person might not be the right one for you. You have to trust your instincts and be ready, willing, and able to jump ship if the person is not responsive to your needs or provides poor guidance.