Antidepressants working for a few days then stop working?

I suffer from treatment resistant depression. I have been on several antidepressants, antipychotics (Zyprexa) and lamotrigine. After only a few days, each one of these medications will work for me and I will be 100% better but this will only last a few days and then they stop working and my brutal depression comes back and they never work again. Has anyone experienced this and/or does anyone have some advice for this.

 

Thanks Shift

Thanks for the responses Maree. My diagnosis is agitated treatment resistant Major Depression. I stay on each medication I try for over two months with no response; However my brutal depression, (literally like a switch coming on) goes completely away after a few days on the medication and lasts for a few days; at which time the switch goes off and I am back in the pain and darkness and the switch never comes back on. There is no way this is a placebo response. It is to profound a change and has not happened with all medications. Would love any advice.
shift

Shift,
I agree with Jordan you can not rely solely on meds. You have to sit down and figure out what sparked your depression and try to heal from that.
I also got very frustrated with taking meds at first because I wanted a quick feel better pill. Valium and Prozac did that,but I was walking around like a zombie and did not deal with what was going on mentally.
Healing is a long road,and counseling and meds can be a good combo when you continue with a strict treatment.

Stay strong and keep us posted

Shy

Hi Shift,  Actually there is a gene in the body that causes some people to be treatment resistant to antidepressants/antipsychostic medication.  It is very important that your doctor or hopefully the physician that is treating you is a psychiatrist is knowledgeable regarding these matters.  Here is the link on this... http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/dec2004/nimh-14.htm

Here is an article on stratgies for medication management for those who are treatment resistant.  It doesnt really relate to the gene factor but what I am posting here is trying to tell you not to give up hope here.  There are people who have this very same problem and are able to find the right treatment.  Please keep posting and letting us know how your doing. http://www.aafp.org/afp/981200ap/cadieux.html

 

Hi there,

As far as I am aware anti-depressants take some time to 'kick-in'. My doctor told me it woul be 4-6 weeks, but this could be different for different meeds and different people. The feeling you get initally (Where you feel great) could simply be expectation. You have something that you have been told will make you better and because you expect it to, it does but the feeling only lasts for a short period of time so potentially, this is what you are describing. As for treatment, I believe that meds are simply a coping mechanism for depression. For some people it allows them to cope to the point where they feel they are able to deal with the root cause by themselves (Hence, the drug can be seem as the 'cure') but for others, they need that little bit of extra help in the form of 'talking medicine' (I cant remember where I heard that phrase but I think its great!   If you are resistant to meds then I would definately look into talking medicine either in the form of self-help or professional counselling.

I hope this helps

Darren

Hi Shift,
I know that this is an old thread, but I came across it now, and it clearly describes exactly what my wife is going through now. She gets onto medication for depression, it works within a few days for a few days and then stops.
Did you ever resolve this issue for yourself?

A response would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Elemm

Welcome to the forum Elemm

Is your wife seeing a psychiatrist?

I found out personally, that my psychiatrist, who is also an MD knows more about depression meds.

It is true that depression medication is trial and error for most people, it was for me also. However, when I started to see Dr. Blackburn. I was quickly stabilized and had a PRN. to take if needed.

I wish you and your wife peace and strength
Trina

Hi Trina,

My wife has been seeing a top rate psychiatrist for 10 years now. She was on the same meds for 5 years, worked great but then stopped working. Then, on and off a bunch of different meds in the last 6 - 8 months the different meds that we've tried, work very quickly, in days rather than weeks, but then they stop working just as quick, within 3 - 7 days and we are back to square one.

Elemm