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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

...To think that antidepressants can stop working?

27 replies

BigSoftPillow · 16/08/2020 21:37

Just wondering if anyone has experience of their antidepressants not being effective and more?
Ds has been taking sertraline for almost 7 months now. It took a month or so before he noticed a difference but they seemed to help and he was back to his old self.
The last few weeks I've noticed he is quiet,shuts himself in his room etc
Ironically he was fine during lockdown!
He has said to me today he is going to see the GP as he feels the AD arnt working anymore. I'm proud that he has recognised this as it was a real struggle to even get him to the GP 8 months ago!
Is this a common thing? Will the GP just up the dose?
He started on 25mg and went to 50mg after 2 weeks.
TIA

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Original poster

BigSoftPillow · 16/08/2020 21:38

Didn't mean to activate voting!!

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mynameiscalypso · 16/08/2020 21:39

Is he still on 50mg? That's a pretty low dose so definitely worth trying a higher dose. I do think they can stop working but it's best to try tweaking first.

Starbuggy · 16/08/2020 21:40

It’s definitely a thing! I’ve been on ADs for over a decade and after a few years on one it stops being as effective. It took six months of trial and error a few years ago to get me on my current one, the experiment phase was horrific but my current meds have honestly saved my life.

The GP probably will try increasing the dose first. If that doesn’t help then they’ll probably switch him to a different AD.

Original poster

BigSoftPillow · 16/08/2020 21:44

That's a comfort to know thanks.
Yes he is still on 50mg
Thing is our GP is still not seeing patients due to covid so he will have to speak to him on the phone which he wont like.

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Livelovebehappy · 16/08/2020 21:46

I’m on 20mg. And have been for the last five years after a gradual reduction. But I sometimes wonder if they are actually doing anything, as it seems a low dosage.

Peachypips78 · 16/08/2020 21:54

50mg is the lowest therapeutic dose. How old is he? Depending on his age he can increase the dose.

You quite often get better initially on a lower dose but then dip again and need to increase until you get to the dose that will work long term.

Peachypips78 · 16/08/2020 21:58

Forgot to say- don't change meds after such a short time- you just haven't got the dose right. A couple of months of improvement is a really good sign they will suit him, so just tweak the dose.

If you change now you will be in for a rollercoaster of mood changes for no real benefit. It could really throw his recovery.

If he'd been on them for more than five years then maybe, but not a few months.

dwiz8 · 16/08/2020 21:59

They definitely can

DH has had to change prescription about 3 times in the last 10 years, finds one that works really well then about 4-5 years later will need something different as it has become less effective

Iwantacookie · 16/08/2020 22:09

I'm not sure if they stop working so much or if you get used to that amount.
I've been on 150mg of sertraline for the last 5 years and lately (not sure if its lockdown related) they just seem to be a placebo.
Ide definitely recommend speaking to the dr. They will know best.

PinkSnowAndStars · 16/08/2020 22:16

Yes - I noticed a problem at the beginning of lockdown. I was on 40mg of fluoxetine. I’d been fine for 18 months.

My GP upped me to 60mg and I nosedived completely within days. She then swapped me to mirtazapine and I’ve been fine ever since.

Good on your son for noticing there is a problem and addressing it.

Original poster

BigSoftPillow · 16/08/2020 22:31

Thanks again.
Hes 23, he says he doesn't want to take a large dose but I said if it helps surely thats the main thing.
I Think hes a bit muddled tbh
It was such a struggle to get him to take them in the first place I'm proud he come to me to say he doesn't feel they are working.

Incidentally,will going from 50 to 100 make him have awful side effects?

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Cloudfrost · 16/08/2020 22:55

Yes absolutely antidepressants reduce in effectiveness or stop working all together, usually after a long time. However, as he is only on a low dose, first step will be to increase the dosage. Usually the dosage starts very low and is increased over time till you find the correct amount, as its too much for your body to cope with big dose straight away. 100mg sentraline is a good dose to be not high not low, and it's probably what the GP will prescribe. They max amount you can be given is 200mg

And yes he will gk through the side effects phase again,

@Iwantacookie it sounds like you should definitely speak to your GP, as u may need an increase or swap to different AD. I was also on 150mg for a couple of years, and in June asked gp to switch to something different. I was offered an increase to max dose, but I refused and asked for a switch. I noticed that if I had forgotten to take my pills over a weekend, my anxiety would rise but I would be less angry, whereas when I took the M properly, anxiety/depression wasn't present but I would have anger management issues and a lot of aggression/lack of patience. Anger and aggression are often signs that the AD aren't working properly

Original poster

BigSoftPillow · 16/08/2020 23:05

Thankyou @Cloudfrost and pp for your views.
I will try and encourage him to ring the GP, he seems to have changed his mind since he told me but that's him all over bless him.

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Original poster

BigSoftPillow · 17/08/2020 07:40

Oh I didn't think we would be back here again. He was doing so well and seems to have taken a nose dive, it seems to have happened all of a sudden, is that normal?
I worry so much about him, I hate the thought of him being as depressed as he was before.

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Aria20 · 17/08/2020 07:49

He def needs to increase, sounds like the exact length of time I was on them before needing to increase. 50mg is the lowest dose and always the starting point. I didn't get horrible side effects when increasing just heartburn for a couple of days.

Original poster

BigSoftPillow · 17/08/2020 07:58

@Aria20 thankyou that's reassuring, hes backtracking a bit and says he cant be doing with all the hassle of seeing the GP but I will try to encourage him.

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Original poster

BigSoftPillow · 17/08/2020 08:04

Something else I've realised....all during lockdown he didn't have any alcohol and was back to his old self,but now he has started going out drinking again and feels the AD arnt working....coincidence?

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Lightsabre · 17/08/2020 08:09

You can drin on Sertraline but alcohol in itself is a depressant. If he has seen an improvement up to now then the dose needs to be increased. He might experience some side effects but they shouldn't be as severe as when he started. He could go up in 25 units.

iCrochetSoIDontKillPeople · 17/08/2020 08:17

I was on 50mg and tried (and failed) to taper off over the past 8 years... I really do feel the difference when I try to stop... not immediately but after several weeks.

They really do work... I've managed to cut down to 25mg a day and do feel the drop, but it's live-able with. PM me if you want anymore info/help.

iCrochetSoIDontKillPeople · 17/08/2020 08:19

Also, they definitely plateau after a while, but don't stop working. (I know because I've thought countless times 'oh they don't feel like they're working, I'll come off' then when I stop I REALLY feel the difference!

DeathMetalMum · 17/08/2020 08:24

Get him to speak to his GP it does sound like his dose needs adjusting 50mg is on the low side.

I also wouldn't reccomend tapering his dose without discussing with the GP either.

hopeforlucky3 · 17/08/2020 08:26

I've changed ADs 4 times. I was on Citalopram 40mg for 7 years before I needed a "change" then tried fluoxetine, sertraline and I am now on mirtazapine 30mg. I find the Mirtazapine better as its quarter sedative which means I get a better nights sleep and feel better for the day ahead.

Your GP may want to up his dose initially but if things don't improve I would suggest a change. Is he doing any CBT? I find also that keeping active and maintaining a good diet helps massively.

Hope your sons feeling better soon, I understand his struggle.

hopeforlucky3 · 17/08/2020 08:27

quite sedative not quarter!

FranklyDearIDontRiverdance · 17/08/2020 08:30

50mg stopped working for me, although I was on it longer than necessary because of lockdown. When I started on them, the GP said it would be 6-8weeks on 50mg and then move to 100mg.

I’m now on 100mg - I did 75mg for a couple of weeks because I felt sick again when I went straight from 50 to 100mg. I’m fine on 100mg now.

Original poster

BigSoftPillow · 17/08/2020 19:26

Update. The GP has said he can go ahead and up the dose to 100mg. Hes got to.give it 2 weeks and see if he feels better.
Hes not too keen on going through all the side effects again tho😖

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