How long does the worsening of anxiety and depression last when starting and antidepressant

Question

I have posted on here about the AD's worsening my anxiety and depression. I was just wondering how long should this last. I cannot make it past 4 days and I feel like I am going to die. I get nausous,dizzy, bad hot flashes and my anxiety and depression goes through the roof. I feel like I am going to go crazy when I am on them. I know I need meds but what do you do when you don't tolerate them? Should the worsening of symptoms last a long time or what should I expect if I decide to tough it out?

mama23babies · Answer

I only take it when I have to and that's alot more when I try the AD's. I haven't taken any in almost 2 weeks,but I havent been on meds either and I really need them. My anxiety and panic attacks are more than I am willing to tolerate at times.

Brian0357 · Answer

Have you tried taking it? I try and only take mine before I go to bed so I can sleep but sometimes I have had to take one during the day too. You should at least try it though, my doctor seems to think taking it for a few weeks while the other meds kick in is ok so I trust her.

mama23babies · Answer

I can't make it past 4 days either. I still have zoloft. I am thinking about taking 1/2 of what I was prescribed. My psyc. says it's normal for them to make you worse in the beginning, but why? I can't take it, but I know I need some kind of med to work for me. I too have .5 xanax and it works great to stop an attack but I don't want to take it everyday and become addicted. 

My family too is suffering. I have 3 small children who don't understand what I am going through. My husband has been off work with me for almost a month now b/c I am so afraid to be alone with the kids and have an attack. I  gotta somehow get my life back.

P.S. Babble all you want.It's nice to have support and to vent once in awhile. Good luck to you.

mama23babies · Answer

I am glad you are tough enough to stick it out. I hope that I can tolerate it this time. I am tired of living with panic attacks. I just dont know why something that is supposed to make us better has to make us worse in the beginning. We're already going through so much and we take the meds and it makes it so much worse. Good luck with the lexapro. I hope it helps. I too have xanax. I just don't know if it will help as bad as I get on th e meds.

Brian0357 · Answer

I am not sure, I am on day 6 of lexapro and I am in the midst of having an attack. I have xanex and take it when I need to calm down but sometimes you just need to deal with it. Stick it out and see how you feel. I am not going to give up this easy and you shouldnt either!

Beauty035 · Answer

I have been suffering with what the doctors call "Anxiety attacks" for 9 months now! It all started In January when i woke up and i couldn't move my left arm at all it was Dead, within 10 minutes i up  was able to move it again . But every-night after that it happened, then the right arm, and leg. 

Day 5 i couldn't take it anymore and went to the ER they did CT, MRI scans of my head/neck..said i didn't have MS, no Stroke...Nero says i have Arthritis in my neck!

I go see another Nero who now says my spinal cord is completely straight..he also says he has never seen that before but proceeds to tell me don't worry about it. Then decides he wants to do a nerve conduction test...which he did & now says i have Ulnar Neuropathy in both elbows...WTF??!!!

i tried Paxil .10> once a day..every time i took it i felt very weird, everything looked cartoon like...? after 4 days i couldn't take it anymore& stopped. I was also prescribed Xanax .5 and i still have them and refuse to take them. I tried Paxil again in June 1 a day x 4 days...& same thing happened! I'm tired, frustrated,i lost my job, my family is suffering, no vacation...nothing! I just don't want to become dependant/addicted to any meds. I'm sure this wasn't much help, but it felt good talking about it to someone who kinda feels the same way =)

Sorry for babbling i just couldn't help it.

I wish you all the best & hope you stick with it, cause it just might work. I just don't have the patience to wait.

Any suggestions are welcome =)