The correct dose of antidepressants?

[LtBenson]

I was wondering how you know if you're on the right dose of antidepressants?

I was diagnosed in february and was on fluoxetine for 2 weeks which gave me horrendous anxiety, then switched to venlafaxine, which gave me insomnia and mild anxiety but was much more manageable. I was already stressed with work and also the pandemic so it was hard to tell what was affecting what.

I've been furloughed so work stress has been removed which obviously helped.

My dosage was increased to 75mg twice a day and I do feel better than I did. I still think about suicide tho and wonder if it would solve everyone's problems? I struggle to sleep & get up, and with low motivation, but maybe I'm just lazy? Should I increase the dose again? Doctor says depends how I feel but I don't know how I should feel? Would it cause any harm to increase the tablets?

Hi OP
Im sorry to hear you have been struggling lately. You are 100% right to reach out for help from anywhere thats supportive. Be aware that your medication is a type of medication that lists suicidal thoughts as a possible early side-effect so bear it in mind that those thoughts, while awful and distressing, will pass. Have you been referred to a specialist mental health team? That might be something you could ask your Gp for. Your mediction at that dosage is not at the maxiumum dose so there is the ability for it to be increased by your Dr if needed. Only do this with their supervision though and most of all, have some reliable supports ready and available to you if distressing thoughts occur or someone you can talk to about these thoughts. Remember this will improve for you. Its just needs some time and tweaking by specialists to find the right balance +/- therapy for you. Better days are to come. Take care.

ADs are very much trial and error because they work differently for different people. I take the highest possible dose of an AD that isn't routinely prescribed anymore because of its side effects. I've never had a days trouble with it. Give me Sertraline though, the gentlest, most widely tolerated AD out there and I'm sick as a dog. It depends on the person, totally pot luck. Experiment. Raising the dose has improved things a little so have them bump it a little more. If it doesn't work, just drop back down or try something else. No harm done. Amount of pill hopping I've done, trying to find one that works...