When the drugs don't work

What do you do then?

Because I bang on about anxiety and I’m very open about my use of SSRI medication, people will often message me when they’re starting a new antidepressant, or if they’re a few weeks in, experiencing some rough side effects and looking for reassurance. I’ll always try to reassure these messengers, even though these drugs affect everyone differently and what’s right for me might not be right for you. Or vice versa. 

I’ve been on Sertraline for a year now. This medication has been in the news recently, after Thomas Kingston, the husband of Lady Gabriella Windsor, took his life after a short spell on both Sertraline and Citalopram. Kingston had come off both medications by the time of his death, but his parents attribute his tragic action to the medication and are calling for doctors to more clearly explain that in rare cases, SSRI’s can initially cause suicidal feelings. I sort of knew that was a possibility when I began taking them, but I didn’t read the leaflet - too worried that a list of scary side effects would put me off taking even one pill. A lot of people say this to me. They are scared of the side effects, even when they are living in hell.