Change of medication am I still depressed?

[Abs1992]

I change from fluoxetine to venlafaxine a few weeks ago now, I think a month. It felt like it was working at first I felt ‘normal’ again and things were good. The last couple of weeks especially the last few days I’ve felt quite down again. I especially struggle in the mornings, just feel so tired don’t want to get up. Try getting up to exercise as I am wanting to lose weight and need to get fit for job I want but I just have no motivation and just want to sleep in as long as possible. Don’t know if it’s the stress I’m feeling due to house purchase - should be going through this week but delays happening. I know it’s going to happen soon though and it’s my first home and I should be excited but I’m just exhausted. Then the stress I feel when I don’t get up and exercise makes me feel anxious because if I don’t get fit the future goals I have won’t work out.. it’s so hard to explain. Just can’t tell if I’m just having a bad week or if these new medication isn’t working?

If it's only been a few weeks it's really too early to say for certain your meds are just not working. It's rare that someone in a depressive mood just suddenly feels a million times better because they started taking an anti-depressant, it's not like taking a painkiller to treat a headache, it's usually a longer-term improvement, but sometimes with blips and relapses along the way.

Are you due to go back to see your doctor any time soon when you could discuss this with them? Did you change the meds because you felt the Fluoxetine had stopped working?

Yes the fluoxetine seemed to stop working I had quite a serious episode of depression and had been on them for quite a long time. I’m worried now as I need a repeat prescription of the venlafaxine but they weren’t on the repeat list so I’ve had to contact the doctor (can’t phone the one I go to now it has to be this online nhs form) but will be taking my last one today and so scared about the withdrawal - physical mainly, the brain zaps and lightheaded ness I got when I missed one day were awful. Hopefully the doctor will get in touch soon so I can get some more :(

Well, it could be that you are still in the low that you experienced while still on Fluoxetine, and perhaps the dosage of venlafaxine isn't quite right for you yet rather than it just being an ineffectual medicine. I think you need to discuss this with your doctor.

Presumably if there's likely to be a delay in getting your prescription, the doctor might be able to issue an emergency script when you talk to them, even if it's just so that you can go and pick up enough medicine to tide you over for a few days until you get your regular supply.