Posted by fallsfall on November 26, 2003, at 18:20:04
In reply to Re: Doctor Trying To Force SSRI On Me - Help!!, posted by Poet on November 26, 2003, at 15:50:38
Every person will have different side effects (or no side effects) from a given med. The drug company lists the side effects that they have seen from the many people who have tried the med. Even if they say that 90% of the people who tried it had a particular side effect, that doesn't mean that you would - you could be in the 10% who doesn't.
I think that when choosing a med to start, the doctor should talk about the more common side effects and see what you think about them. For instance, in my case I don't care if the med gives me constipation. Constipation is something I can control (with prunes and stool softeners), and is much less of a problem for me than depression. Hair loss, however, is NOT acceptable to me. Period. Each person will have their own opinions about what is and is not acceptable for side effects.
If a doctor has a GOOD reason for suggesting one med over another (i.e. they have found the one they like to work better with patients in your specific age range who have the same symptoms that you have, and also have other medical things in common with you), then it is often worth trying the med to see if the side effects that YOU get are tolerable for YOU.
Be aware that some side effects show up, but then go away in the first couple of weeks (or even the first couple of months), while other side effects are there for as long as you take the med. Try to be more tolerant of the temporary side effects.
I agree that therapy is a must with or without meds. If therapy alone will do it for you - go for it. If your depression is severe, please try meds.
Talk to your doctor until the two of you can AGREE on your treatment.
poster:fallsfall
thread:284109
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20031123/msgs/284226.html