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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Trevpr on October 11, 2012, at 23:25:56
What is this antidepressant effect I keep hearing about? I hear it being described not as the effect you get from a med right away, but an effect that takes several weeks to manifest. To me, this is confusing, since I've never felt such an effect. Like, if I dont acutely feel the effect of a med, I certainly dont weeks later. It has been my experience that if a med doesnt do anything the first few days, it certainly wont weeks later.
What does this effect feel like? For me, my symptoms are only apathy, inability to cry, numb emotions, anhedonia, and no libido, but I think many of you know this already. I dont feel particularly depressed, so would this effect even be useful in my case? I'm beginning to think that this anhedonia is permanent because it literally is constant and has been going on for 11 months now without any signs of changing. My libido is simply off as well. No meds have really touched it. Is it permanent do you think? Would parnate really be useful? I mean, its not like I need stimulation or energy, just emotional responsivity. What about this "antidepressant effect" that is supposed to magically appear all the sudden after several weeks?
Posted by Raisinb on October 12, 2012, at 5:44:30
In reply to 'Antidepressant Effect', posted by Trevpr on October 11, 2012, at 23:25:56
Like you, I have always had near-instant responses to meds, even the SSRIs that are supposed to take weeks. And I also have had the experience that if it didn't work right away, it wasn't going to. Every time I start Zoloft, for instance, I'm so calm and chill I can just sit and read books for days while being perfectly content.
I think every brain is different. My pdoc says I'm particularly sensitive to meds and that's why this happens.
Posted by CaffeinePoet on October 13, 2012, at 13:25:33
In reply to 'Antidepressant Effect', posted by Trevpr on October 11, 2012, at 23:25:56
> What is this antidepressant effect I keep hearing about? I hear it being described not as the effect you get from a med right away, but an effect that takes several weeks to manifest. To me, this is confusing, since I've never felt such an effect. Like, if I dont acutely feel the effect of a med, I certainly dont weeks later. It has been my experience that if a med doesnt do anything the first few days, it certainly wont weeks later.
>
> What does this effect feel like? For me, my symptoms are only apathy, inability to cry, numb emotions, anhedonia, and no libido, but I think many of you know this already. I dont feel particularly depressed, so would this effect even be useful in my case? I'm beginning to think that this anhedonia is permanent because it literally is constant and has been going on for 11 months now without any signs of changing. My libido is simply off as well. No meds have really touched it. Is it permanent do you think? Would parnate really be useful? I mean, its not like I need stimulation or energy, just emotional responsivity. What about this "antidepressant effect" that is supposed to magically appear all the sudden after several weeks?
I'm sorry that you've been feeling anhedonic for 6 months. Is that due to a medication side effect? Because if not it can be caused by depression for example.Antidepressant effects can take time, and might not even be 'felt' so much as that there will be more of a floor under your mood. For example, exercise can improve mood temporarily, and that is antidepressive, but regular exercise causes new brain cells to grow over weeks that can more readily handle stress -- making you stronger and less depressive.
Anyways -- I hope that you find a solution for the anhedonia soon.
This is the end of the thread.
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