Why do antidepressants make me feel worse?
15 Answers
Moderated by Maria Wasielewski, Master of Arts in Counseling and Guidance, University of Arizona
Updated: Apr 16, 2021
Anonymous
on
Nov 21, 2017
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Why do anti-depressant pills make me feel worse than better
Struggling with depression?
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Anonymous
on
Mar 12, 2015
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Because you need a person to be better, not a pill. We need real love from another one that wants to be with us.
Espirit203
on
Oct 3, 2016
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They are helping your bodies hormones to work so your hormones may feel strange for a short period. You may also feel uncomfortable about using medication for a mental illness.
Sadie
on
Jan 21, 2015
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That's a really common side effect in the beginning. They give you more energy, but if you're still depressed that energy goes into being more depressed. A few times, I had to be in the hospital for a few days while waiting for them to kick in. Give it a few weeks (if you can) and be sure you're working with a counselor in that time who can monitor you. If you're not seeing results, you may think about trying something new.
Dan21
on
Jun 14, 2015
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I experienced this, antidepressants don't just limit depression, they limit the other end of the scale as well so you don't feel as low but you also don't quite get as high. But for me I just didn't like the feeling that my emotions were being artificially controlled.
bluelotus99
on
Apr 11, 2016
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in some conditions, like bipolar, antidepressants are not a good solution. they might ignite the hyper effect or increase mania. every condition has a different treatment so you should communicate clearly with your doctor, telling them precisely how you feel.
SnowInOctober
on
May 3, 2016
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I believe that it's acknowledging the fact that you're taking antidepressants makes you feel worse.
swornout
on
May 5, 2015
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It's a side affect, even says so on commercials and bottles. I don't know the specifics, though. Sorry, dear.
freefromworries
on
Oct 31, 2016
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Sometimes you need to try a few different dosages and medications to find the one that is right for you! Antidepressants are really tough and you need to figure out exactly what will benefit you the most. It's very important to keep a careful eye on how you're feeling and make sure you tell your doctor everything so you can make sure you start feeling better!
nightFlower81
on
May 20, 2015
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First thing to know is that not all antidepressants are the same. It may be that you need a different medication or a different dose. It could just be a matter of side effects. If you feel that your antidepressants are making you feel worse it is absolutely important that you talk to your prescribing physician to find what will best work for you.
Batman94
on
Jul 6, 2015
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If you have just started on the anti depressant then you may just be experiencing side effects. They often get a bit better with time.
Anonymous
on
Dec 29, 2015
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I'm not sure this has ever happened to me, but medically speaking, it takes a while for them to kick in, for your brain to get used to them, for the chemicals to come to an equilibrium.
Anonymous
on
Nov 10, 2020
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When I first started my antidepressants, they made me feel a lot worse for a few weeks before they started working. I was told this was a common side effect by my doctor. However, if you find that your antidepressants aren't helping, please tell your doctor. Some medications do not work for some people and it is so common to try a few types of antidepressants to find the one right for you and your body. Don't lose faith in them; I know it is frustrating when they don't seem to be working, but you will find the right one for you and it well help so much.
Anonymous
on
Dec 29, 2015
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they're different kinds for different people. Maybe the medicine your taking right now isn't for you
Robin13
on
Sep 27, 2016
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One of the effects of antidepressants is that they might make you feel worse before better. However if this persists for more than a month, and it's not getting any better then you should talk to a doctor.