How do you know an SSRI is working?

Question

Hi,
I suffer from anxiety attacks and am taking 50 mg Luvox daily for anxiety. How do i know when the medicine is working? So far ive been taking it for 8 days. Is there some sort of feeling im supposed to get? I dont know what to look for to know that its working. I had a panic attack two days ago so i know its not working yet. Is it supposed to be a happy sensation or what?

Answer 1

Ok, I am really amused an RN said that ssri's are not for anxiety, lol. The thing with ssri's is that they have an average half life of about 24 hrs. This means that if you took 50mg, 24 hrs later you will have 25mg in your body. SSRI's normally take about 2-3 weeks until you start feeling anything, and up to 6 weeks until you feel the full effect. Normally people who feel something before that are feeling whats called a placebo effect (you can't really change the way chemistry says a drug works). You don't feel any special feelings that an SSRI is working because it is a gradual change between about weeks 2-3 until the full effect kicks in around 6 weeks. You know it's working when you feel less anxiety. I'm sure your doctor wants to see you in about 2 months?? If not, he should have scheduled one, so give him a call. Take the meds as prescribed, at that appointment tell the doctor how you feel. He'll determine whether to change dosage or meds. I would also consider some type of therapy. I do not think it's really necessary to see a psychiatrist unless you see a therapist and this problem persists. Ms. nurse said to see a psychiatrist...you've only been on the meds for 8 days...give them some time. You'll know if they're working or not, trust me.

Answer 2

your anxiety level should be lessening. 8 days is technically too early to make an assessment, but my experience is that by now you would be feeling some change. if this is your first SSRI trial, stay on it 4 to 6 weeks, then consider trying another.
you should also consider using a fast acting drug for the anxiety attacks that occur while the ssri is building up in your system like xanax or ativan. they work within about 15 minutes and the effect lasts about 3 hours.
all the best.

edit: i entirely disagree with the first post...SSRIs are the first course of drugs used with OCD... an anxiety disorder.

Answer 3

No. No happy sensations. After approx. 6 wks you should be able to really tell about the panic attacks. I've been battling panic for many years. I've been on and off many SSRI's. Luvox had the least side effects for me. SSRI's don't work immediately so don't get your hopes up just yet. It will take time. I never experienced a "happy" feeling...only "flatline" type feelings which in all actuallity means feeling NOTHING! That's why I only stay on them for a certain period as determined by my phys. doctor. I hate not feeling anything at all but they do seem to help tremendously with panic / anxiety disorders. Hang in there. You'll get to feeling better pretty soon. You can email me if you have any other questions. God bless!

Answer 4

SSRIs work very gradually. They build up in your system and take 3 to 4 weeks to start working their best. It's not an instantaneous thing. Just keep following your doctors orders. SSRIs work as well as any class of drug for what they're supposed to do.

Answer 5

Hi Mike, Another in this same class is Prozac. Some SSRI's do and don't work. It's often trial and error because of the mechanisms involved and including dosage changes. Work with a psychiatrist please. Cipram, cipramil or citalopram is another, again seek the advice of your psychiatrist. Also there are the tricyclics which work well with some persons, just an older class of meds with some additional side effects, although not necessarily so. Good luck and God's speed. Barry H

Answer 6

ssri's are for depression, not anxiety. what they do is enable you to think more clearly, no, they are not "happy pills". In fact, quite often, when depression is controlled by the ssri, anxiety can get worse as it is often the root cause of the depression which was earlier masking the worst of the panic/anxiety symptoms. I suggest you talk to a psychiatrist, rather than a family doctor, furthermore, there are classes available to learn how to cope with the symptoms of panic without the use of anxiolitic medications.