Can SSRIs work within days?

[BrassicaBabe]

Dr Google and actual Dr says 4-6 weeks for anti depressants SSRI to take full effect.

But yesterday and today I feel remarkably different/better. It's only day 5 and 6 or taking tablets.

Can they be working already or is it all in my head?!

Hi, I've been on SSRI's several times over the last decade (still on them at a maintenance dose). I've always felt HUGELY improved within 5 days. Like, a completely different person. So glad they're working for you, well done for taking the plunge. They're marvellous things.

Thank you! Started tabs on Saturday. Monday I went to bed at 3pm; lying to DH that I was poorly. I was just so sad I couldn't function anymore that day. Today I had the motivation and energy to deep clean the kitchen! It's like night and day!

Someone I know reported good effects from day 2.

What you have done is take control, got help and are taking something with the promise of a better future and this is (probably) giving you some real positive feedback. You are taking charge and it feels good! Once you start doing small things the positives from that make you feel better so you do something else and on it goes. And maybe a small bit the tablet but in my opinion you are making yourself better, it's like a positive placebo effect.

I formed these opinions over decades of periodically getting low and using medicine to help me lift myself out of the trough. Once I could see through the fog to get help positivity kicked in. It's not linear sometimes so if you don't have a good day just be kind to yourself and reflect on the good days you just had. Good luck, things are going to get better

I woke up the next day after taking it at night and was like wow I feel something! Is it...er...joy? Motivation? Just something that is not misery! I think so much depends on what else is going on, if you have periods where you are in the cycle. It does not mean you won't get side effects, I was so tired for 3-4 weeks. My top tip is take it at exactly the same time every day more or less. When I have deviated by more than an hour I get some off kilter thinking the next day. Still have off days but only on low dose and have other conditions, mostly good days and so happy. Not sure I will ever be able to stop but that is to worry about post covid. Also if you think they stop working give it a week or two and see. Mine have always felt like they kicked back in.

So good to read this. Absolutely, SSRIs have always worked in about 7-10 days for me too. I don't dispute placebo effect, but I'm sure it's more than that for me.

Thanks everyone one. Interesting to hear. tbh I'll take feeling better from anywhere it wants to come from. Drugs or placebo. But it felt like the ADs must have kicked in the change was so marked.

I did the depression thing big style in my 20s. I'm now late 40s. This is different and not so "deep" thankfully. This is SAD on steroids. I'm normally a bit low in winter. But came to the conclusion there was no way I could live like this until the daffodils return.

Oh I also did the depression thing in my 20s (I blame the children!) and am now the wrong side of 45. Do you think it could be blamed in part to the special age we are reaching as women. I've had some friends struggle horribly with low moods and be very pleased to come out the other side. One or two also went quite crazy (their admission) and be happy to be past it too. I'm dreading working out which way I'm going to go!

And yes take a win where you can, I can't see how there can't be some effect early on, it just takes the rest of the time to build up to the full magic.

@ExCwmbranDweller you might be right! If it helps the doc who prescribed my AD is the menopause specialist I've been seeing since June. HRT helped some stuff from June. But I nose dived in October and it was clear to me that the lack of day light was hitting me much harder than usual.

I described my mood as 3/10. If 1/10 was where I went to bed and stopped functioning and 7/10 was my normal mood. (No one functions at 10/10 do they?! ). Currently I reckon I'm at least 5/10. Maybe even 6/10. I'll take that!!

Some of my friends have been knocked clean off their feet by it. Seems utterly cruel that we get this far, children start to bugger off and nature gives us this to contend with instead. The good news is that it's got a time limit, they've all come out the other side giving it the middle finger. Here's to a 7/10 sort of day.

Yes. I felt like a switch had been flicked on.

Still depressed and needed counselling but a huge weight lifted, the sky seemed more blue, the sun shined brighter, that kind of thing.

Also recommend Vit D. I used to get terrible SAD until I started that.

Be careful it's not a perimenopausal symptom.

But glad the anti ds work! That's the main thing.

Definitely felt better in the first week, though how much of that was to do with the feeling of having taken control of the situation is debatable.