Survey: How long till the meds helped?

scaredviolet · Post by **scaredviolet** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 8:11 am

I am suffering from anxiety/OCD/obsessive thoughts. Just wondering how long it took until your SSRI's started to help the condition. Thank you for your input!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 10:29 am

SV -

I think it differs for every person. For me, it took several weeks. But I've heard of other folks noticing changes in as little as a couple days. It's really hard to say how long it will take for you. It all depends on your body chemistry and how sensitive you are to medications.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 12:47 am

I'm in the middle of a medicine change right now and I must say I am going through hell at points. It couldn't have happened at a worse time either. I just got a job 2 months ago and was doing great until about 3 weeks ago. I have been weening off Cymbalta (cause we can't afford it and was doing great) and decided to do without the anti-depressant and see how I did. I should not have done that. So now I just re-started another anti-depressant (Celexa) on Tuesday. I've been freaking out. My anxiety about my job and finances is definitely my trigger factor. Now I just called in sick last night for the first time and don't plan on going in today.

I know what my problems are, I just don't seem to be able to withstand the constant anxiety at this time. I am on 1.5 mg of Xanax a day and have been for almost 2 years. I think that does needs to go up a bit too.

I did the program years ago and just dug out the companion book to re-read yesterday.

Good luck to those of you who are going through medicine changes right now. I will keep you all in my prayers.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 4:27 am

Hi there. it can take anywhere from 2 to 8 weeks to really feel the full benefits for the meds. I unfortunately am in the higher end of that and I usually don't really notice much until between 5 and 8 weeks. But the important thing is, they DO start working. So try not to get discouraged if you read those posts from people saying they felt better in couple days or a week and you seem to be taking longer.(cause that's always how I felt.) Sometimes I think when people say they felt better in days, it's kind of a placebo thing. They know they're doing something about the problem, so that in turn makes them feel better. Hang in there, it's worth the wait!