Establishing the optimal dose for antidepressant medication may require trial and error; as everyone’s body chemistry differs and medication takes time to reach full effect, finding your optimal antidepressant dose could take weeks or months.
If you are struggling to sleep, experiencing irritable outbursts or experiencing loss of libido, working with your physician to increase dosage level could help. But be wary; altering prescription dose without consulting healthcare professional could cause severe side effects.
Signs Your Antidepressant Dose Is Too Low
1. Mood Swings
At times, our mood may shift rapidly without warning, and this may be an indicator that your antidepressant dose is insufficient or that cyclothymia (sequences of extreme highs and extreme lows) exists.
Mood changes may also be brought on by other medical conditions or treatments for cancer such as multiple sclerosis or certain chemotherapy drugs, so it’s wise to speak with your doctor about any sudden changes in mood, as they could potentially lead to suicidal thoughts and behaviors if left untreated.
Mood swings may also lead to physical side effects, including weight gain and loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping or fatigue. To protect against serotonin syndrome and other potential complications from taking too much medication by mistake, any new or increased symptoms must be reported promptly to your healthcare provider in order to identify any new or intensified ones and treat accordingly.
2. Feelings of Hopelessness
Feelings of hopelessness are often an early indicator that an antidepressant dosage is insufficient. While hopelessness could have various causes, this symptom should prompt you to consult your physician or therapist immediately.
Some individuals experience trauma or life changes such as relationship difficulties or job troubles and feel emotionally exhausted as a result. An imbalance may also exist within their brain chemical levels.
Hope can be restored through various strategies; one such option is seeking treatment from a trained talk therapist such as those found at Harley Therapy.
3. Feelings of Energy
When experiencing sudden bursts of energy that don’t coincide with depression, this could be an indicator that your antidepressant dosage may be too low. You should consult with a health care professional in order to discuss this matter and determine an optimal new dose level.
Emotional energy is powerful, dynamic and life-affirming – it fuels life! High energy emotions often feel good but can also feel negative like anger and terror; while low-energy ones such as boredom, hopelessness or sadness tend to feel bad.
Searching for an antidepressant medication that alleviates your depression symptoms may take time and patience, but when energy shifts it’s essential to pay attention and pay heed. Use mind-body approaches such as brainspotting, somatic therapy or EMDR to tune into your feelings.
4. Increasing Symptoms
Most antidepressant medications usually take four to six weeks before showing noticeable results, so if your symptoms don’t improve in this timeframe it could be an indicator that a higher dosage might be required.
You should also keep an eye out for any alarming side effects like manic episodes or suicidal thoughts which might require extra monitoring.
Prescription medications are highly regulated and moderated for each individual, yet finding an optimal antidepressant dose may take time. Tracking side effects is an invaluable way of working with a psychiatric provider in finding your ideal antidepressant dose, so keep a record of them to help both of you narrow in on it together.
It’s also important to avoid self medicating with drugs or alcohol as this could limit its effectiveness of your treatment plan. For further support or recommendations contact a local psychiatric specialist – they will offer support that may help make life better!
5. Increasing Side Effects
Antidepressants can be life-altering for people suffering from mental illness, but finding the appropriate medication is often a trial-and-error process. Increases to dosage without first consulting with your physician could result in dangerous side effects like serotonin syndrome or overdose.
Higher doses of an antidepressant may lead to unwanted side effects, including dilated pupils, high blood pressure or rapid heart rate, agitation and muscle stiffness. Such side effects should be reported immediately to your physician as an indicator that the antidepressant is working and should be immediately reported as soon as possible.
If you are experiencing increased side effects from taking antidepressant medication, your doctor may suggest adding another medicine that enhances its effects, known as augmentative therapy or “augmentation,” such as Aripiprazole or Seroquel to augment or boost its effect.
These may prove more helpful for you; don’t give up! These options may actually prove more effective.
How Long Does It Take for an Antidepressant to Start Working
Antidepressants, when taken, demand patience, for their effects are not immediate. Expect a span of 1 to 2 weeks before the workings begin, yet true solace may linger further, requiring 4 to 8 weeks. However, a few may encounter slight relief earlier, perhaps in the form of better sleep.
The time it takes for antidepressants to display their influence varies, hinging on a multitude of factors: one’s symptoms, unique biology, and the weight of life’s burdens. It must be stressed that the experience of each individual with medication diverges.
If, after a dutiful span of two to four weeks, no benefits arise, or worse, a deepening of one’s distress, a doctor’s counsel must be sought. They might suggest an upsurge in dosage or a trial of alternative medication.
Persistence in taking the prescribed medication remains paramount, even if mild side effects greet you initially, as these transient afflictions typically fade swiftly. A course of treatment, spanning no less than half a year, becomes customary once you detect an inkling of respite.
What Are the Side Effects of Increasing an Antidepressant Dose
Increasing an antidepressant dose offers hope for battling depression, yet it waltzes with unwelcome companions – side effects. Striking equilibrium between relief and repercussions warrants a dance with a trusted healthcare guide. Behold the common side effects when upping the antidepressant dose:
Physical discomforts surface: Weight gain, memory fades, sexual function falters, gut twists in nausea or appetite’s demise. Aching heads, perspiration cascades, dizziness dances, hearts race, pupils expand, limbs lose rhythm, muscles stiffen, blood pressure surges, and bowels rebel.
Psychological tribulations follow: Restlessness rumbles, sleep eludes, footing falters, sweat streams, electric shocks spark inside the mind, and mild anxiety tiptoes.
Grasp the urgency to bare these burdens before the doctor or mental health guardian. Remember, the tempestuous side effects may fade as the body adjusts. Dare not meddle with dosage unaccompanied.
Seek counsel from a healthcare guide if adjustment beckons. Meddling alone risks the perilous realm of serotonin syndrome, overdose, and other untoward tangles.
