'%3e%3cpath%20d='M18.1275%2019.4574H9.64406L7.23721%2025.7665H0.535156L9.55128%203.73926H18.2836L27.2834%2025.7676H20.5333L18.1275%2019.4574ZM13.7264%208.01919C13.2352%209.40217%2012.5803%2011.177%2012.052%2012.5971L11.3163%2014.5793H16.4575L15.7185%2012.5655C15.2087%2011.1639%2014.5516%209.3978%2014.0539%208.01919H13.7264Z'%20fill='%23222222'/%3e%3cpath%20d='M29.5195%203.10938H35.5612V25.7665H29.5195V3.10938Z'%20fill='%23222222'/%3e%3cpath%20d='M39.5898%2010.0332H45.6479V25.7678H39.5898V10.0332Z'%20fill='%23222222'/%3e%3cpath%20d='M49.6562%203.10938H55.6979V16.8923L55.7765%2016.9075L60.4025%2010.0319H67.5139L61.6141%2017.8364L67.861%2025.7665H60.576L55.7765%2018.8439L55.6979%2018.8592V25.7665H49.6562V3.10938Z'%20fill='%23222222'/%3e%3cpath%20d='M79.9824%2019.2785C79.6986%2020.2576%2078.7609%2020.9627%2077.5133%2021.157C75.8072%2021.4234%2074.4865%2020.5992%2073.9669%2018.7011L85.5121%2016.8978C84.9784%2011.6464%2081.0925%208.98853%2075.8531%209.80719C70.474%2010.6477%2067.4799%2014.5226%2068.221%2019.2643C68.9589%2023.9907%2072.9834%2026.8178%2078.3942%2025.9729C82.9743%2025.2579%2086.1594%2022.2791%2086.1136%2018.3147L79.9824%2019.2785ZM76.5866%2013.7062C77.9074%2013.5686%2078.8985%2014.1341%2079.3995%2015.2485L73.9822%2015.8107C74.3566%2014.61%2075.2604%2013.8437%2076.5866%2013.7062Z'%20fill='%23222222'/%3e%3cpath%20d='M42.6056%207.87737C40.3156%207.87737%2038.5898%206.37214%2038.5898%204.37571C38.5898%202.38147%2040.3167%200.878418%2042.6056%200.878418C44.8946%200.878418%2046.6214%202.38147%2046.6214%204.37571C46.6225%206.37214%2044.8957%207.87737%2042.6056%207.87737Z'%20fill='%23222222'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0'%3e%3crect%20width='85.5768'%20height='25.243'%20fill='white'%20transform='translate(0.535156%200.878418)'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
Sign In
Join a Community That Understands You
Get answers from those who share your health journey
Cece7's Post
Cece7
Updated 1y ago
Struggling with Anxiety and Antidepressants: Should I Increase My Dosage?
I’ve been on a new antidepressant for 2 months now and have seen such better results in this time than I ever did with my past medication. The issue is, I haven’t been able to go more than 15 min from my house since November due to my anxiety levels and dissociation. Before this medication, I wasn’t able to consistently make it past 5 min from my house. My question is, do you think I should ask my doctor to go up in dosage or should I give therapy more time now that I’m on a better medication? How did you know if going up was the right choice vs seeing if exposure therapy or healing on the other end was going to fix the issue more than the medication? I’m just so tired of not being able to do things like normal yet so really don’t know what the right thing to do is. I don’t have side effects at my current dose and worried going up could cause something to happen on that end too.
Can you help? Connect today
'%3e%3cpath%20d='M19.9989%2017.668C29.9347%2017.668%2038%2025.7333%2038%2035.669V47.9566C38%2053.2994%2033.6627%2057.6367%2028.3199%2057.6367H11.6801C6.3373%2057.6367%202%2053.2994%202%2047.9566V35.669C2%2025.7333%2010.0653%2017.668%2020.0011%2017.668H19.9989Z'%20fill='%23FFC1C1'/%3e%3cpath%20d='M27.8832%2012.2617H11.4798C10.0092%2012.2617%208.81696%2013.4539%208.81696%2014.9246C8.81696%2016.3953%2010.0092%2017.5875%2011.4798%2017.5875H27.8832C29.3538%2017.5875%2030.5461%2016.3953%2030.5461%2014.9246C30.5461%2013.4539%2029.3538%2012.2617%2027.8832%2012.2617Z'%20fill='%23FF6D90'/%3e%3cpath%20d='M19.6815%2012.2606C20.858%2012.2606%2021.8118%2011.3068%2021.8118%2010.1303C21.8118%208.95377%2020.858%208%2019.6815%208C18.505%208%2017.5512%208.95377%2017.5512%2010.1303C17.5512%2011.3068%2018.505%2012.2606%2019.6815%2012.2606Z'%20fill='%23FFC1C1'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cpath%20fill-rule='evenodd'%20clip-rule='evenodd'%20d='M24.0178%2028.0116C24.6677%2027.9246%2025.2715%2028.3376%2025.3662%2028.9339C25.3863%2029.0603%2025.4778%2029.3091%2025.6667%2029.5059C25.8226%2029.6683%2026.0595%2029.8174%2026.5%2029.8174C26.9405%2029.8174%2027.1774%2029.6683%2027.3333%2029.5059C27.5222%2029.3091%2027.6137%2029.0603%2027.6338%2028.9339C27.7285%2028.3376%2028.3323%2027.9246%2028.9822%2028.0116C29.6321%2028.0985%2030.0822%2028.6525%2029.9874%2029.2489C29.9112%2029.7283%2029.6561%2030.3881%2029.1181%2030.9485C28.5471%2031.5434%2027.6769%2032%2026.5%2032C25.3231%2032%2024.4529%2031.5434%2023.8819%2030.9485C23.3439%2030.3881%2023.0888%2029.7283%2023.0126%2029.2489C22.9178%2028.6525%2023.3679%2028.0985%2024.0178%2028.0116Z'%20fill='%23453D3D'%20stroke='%23FFC1C1'%20stroke-width='0.5'%20stroke-linecap='round'/%3e%3cpath%20fill-rule='evenodd'%20clip-rule='evenodd'%20d='M11.0178%2028.0116C11.6677%2027.9246%2012.2715%2028.3376%2012.3662%2028.9339C12.3863%2029.0603%2012.4778%2029.3091%2012.6667%2029.5059C12.8226%2029.6683%2013.0595%2029.8174%2013.5%2029.8174C13.9405%2029.8174%2014.1774%2029.6683%2014.3333%2029.5059C14.5222%2029.3091%2014.6137%2029.0603%2014.6338%2028.9339C14.7285%2028.3376%2015.3323%2027.9246%2015.9822%2028.0116C16.6321%2028.0985%2017.0822%2028.6525%2016.9874%2029.2489C16.9112%2029.7283%2016.6561%2030.3881%2016.1181%2030.9485C15.5471%2031.5434%2014.6769%2032%2013.5%2032C12.3231%2032%2011.4529%2031.5434%2010.8819%2030.9485C10.3439%2030.3881%2010.0888%2029.7283%2010.0126%2029.2489C9.91782%2028.6525%2010.3679%2028.0985%2011.0178%2028.0116Z'%20fill='%23453D3D'%20stroke='%23FFC1C1'%20stroke-width='0.5'%20stroke-linecap='round'/%3e%3c/svg%3e){kind=small}
alara
2y
in the past when i was in a similar situation i had my doctor up the dose for a little. we ended up going back down but i’m glad i tried it because now i’m sure i’m on the right dose!!
Cece7
2y
how does it feel going back down? Do you have any annoying side effects in that switch? Also how were you sure it was too high of a dose? Trying to figure this whole thing out. Haha medication kinda freaks me out but I need it of course.
anemone
2y
as alara said, you can always go back down if you up your dose and don't like it. an anxiety medication might help too - never used it myself but i was recommended ativan since it's supposedly got less side effects than xanax. i have other friends with ptsd who use anxiety meds for outings too. you could see what your doctor thinks about adding an anxiety medication to your meds.
also, are you in other therapy than just outside world exposure? not sure if telehealth therapy works for you (absolutely not for me) but if so, that's a in-home option?
Cece7
2y
The annoying part is I tried Ativan as well with my medication but my psychiatrist thinks I might have a slight allergy to it since it gives me a rash every time i used it. So annoying since it was really helpful. So now my psychiatrist is hesitant about anxiety meds from that angle just because she doesn’t want me to have any issues. And yes I’ve been in therapy consistently since 2019! The past few months have been my first time really dedicating to meds because therapy alone hasn’t been working. My therapist allows video calls so that’s been so helpful!!
Dancingthroughshadow
2y
I would up your dosage because like others have said you can always decrease your dosage :) I’m so glad it’s been helping you!
Cece7
2y
thank you!
Rosita
2y
Medicine can only help to a certain point and the rest is up to us. Continue therapy,keep taking your meds and talk to your psychiatrist ,journal keep doing whatever gives you joy.
ambll1031
2y
I would stay on the dosage and continue therapy but maybe also try a comfort item. I've found that bringing a meaning item with me or even a book or sketch pad with to where when I get overwhelmed I stop and hold or think about the item. Read a chapter or sketch something you see.
Cece7
2y
Thank you everyone for your responses they were really helpful! My psychiatrist raised my dosage to the next level but she thinks that after this point I shouldn’t have to go any higher so I’m hoping that is the case! 😌
Cece7
2y
Definitely continuing trauma therapy weekly as well. It’s been so helpful in my healing and will be doing it for many years I’m sure.
The content in this post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Free unlimited access
to all community content
Find others who are
medically similar to you
Pose questions and join
meaningful discussions
Alike is a transformative platform that goes beyond just bringing together patients; it meticulously connects individuals based on multiple critical factors, such as age, gender, comorbidities, medications, diet, and more, fostering a community of knowledge, support and empathy.
© 2020-2024 Alike, Inc