How long before SJW takes effect ? - http://www.sjwinfo.org Forums
Topic Title: How long before SJW takes effect ?
| |  "How long before SJW takes effect ?"
, Sun 24 Feb 09:45
Hello there,
First of all thanks to Kelly for the creation and management of this site - this is a great resource.
I have moderate depression that nonetheless can rule my life, and have recently weaned myself off an SSRI - Celexa, and am completely free of it for 2/3 weeks now. I was suffering bad withdrawal symptoms for 2 weeks or so which for the most part had faded, only to be find that in the last week, my mood was deteriorating badly with a lot of anxiety, irritability, tearfulness and negativity coming back. Yesterday I took two SJW (300mg ea) and I noticed that yesterday evening my mood had improved considerably, and I am feeling much more "chipper" today too. I'm aware of the general effects of SSRIs and how they take some time to build in your system - and I had thought SJW is the same and would take some time to show a difference ?
Is this the case for most of you and should I put this change of mood down to "just feeling better" - perhaps turning a corner on the dreadful withdrawal symptoms you can get from SSRIs, or could it be the SJW ? I'm mindful of placebo effects too, though I've never been subject to them in the past.
Any insight appreciated...thank you.
Aisling.
Posts: 0 | | Registered: Sun 24 Feb 2002 9:40 |
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| |  "Re(1):How long before SJW takes effect ?"
, Sun 24 Feb 15:19
Hi there:
It usually takes about 4 or 5 weeks for SJW to take full effect. Remember that SJW is not actually an SSRI, but it's thought to act similarly to one.
A possible reason that you felt a fairly instant effect is that your body is used to the effects of the medication you were taking before, and because of this rects quicker to medications which have similar effects (when I was prescribed Seroxat last year, my GP said that it would probably work quicker because my system was already used to SJW)....also its possible that a trace of it is still in your system even after a few weeks and that the SJW is simply acting alongside this. It could also be as you rightly observe a kind of placebo, but give it a few days and you'll know for sure.
Good luck
David
Posts: 99 | | Registered: Sat 13 Oct 2001 17:39 |
| | | "Re(2):How long before SJW takes effect ?" , Sun 24 Feb 19:11
Thank you for taking the time to reply David - I really appreciate it. I will stick with it for a while anyway and see how I go. I know SJW isn't a known SSRI. Based on the predicted "half life" of Celexa, I should be long free of the drug itself - but who knows how long it takes for the *effect* the drugs have to wear off. It may well be bumping this up as you say - I hadn't thought of it that way.
I very much like the idea of this mood without the powerful SSRIs, but I am wary that it may be short lived. I'm a European living in America and am surprised how quick they are to prescribe relatively strong drugs over here for various complaints - not that they're not needed - it just seems people often want a "quick fix" whereas in Europe people seem to me to be more willing to explore lifestyle changes and natural remedies. But that could be just the impression I have. I like the attitude of this whole site and people on the board - it fits with my mentality to the whole thing.
I will monitor it either way - thank you again.
Aisling.
Posts: 1 | | Registered: Sun 24 Feb 2002 9:40 |
| | | "Re(3):How long before SJW takes effect ?" , Mon 25 Feb 11:32
Well, David and I are again in complete agreement on your first post. I would just add that I too had that feeling the first couple of days I started SJW, I felt real good too. And I had not been taking anything for my anxiety. No SSRI's or MAO's or anything. So, there seems to be this placebo effect for many people. Of course, the term "placebo effect" might not be completely accurate given the amount of people I have seen report this phenomena. Glad it seems to be working for you. Good luck.
Posts: 67 | | Registered: Thu 10 Jan 2002 11:38 |
| | | "Re(4):How long before SJW takes effect ?" , Wed 27 Feb 03:32
i started taking sjw 7 days ago , 2 days after i took it i felt like i didnt have a problem atall. NOw after a few moredays i have come down with a bump, it does not seem to be helping me much now, it feels like i am al on my own again,Has anyone else felt like this
sarah jayne
Posts: 12 | | Registered: Tue 19 Feb 2002 12:15 |
| | | "Re(5):How long before SJW takes effect ?" , Wed 27 Feb 06:36
Nope, your not alone. That is pretty standard in my experience. Very strange how SJW and other SSRI or MAO type remedies work. In that they seem to hurt before they help. Or at least don't help for a period of time. There are some scientific reasons for this which I am not all too familiar with. But, it just has to do with your body adjusting to SJW. Basically, it is changing the way your brain deals with serotonin. And serotonin plays a huge part in your mood and several other areas. So, when there are changes in the levels of serotonin your brain is used to, there will be some adjustment time. In my experience, this lasts about 1-2 weeks. Then, you start to really feel the positive effects around the 4th week.
So, my advice would be to just hang in there. It's definitely worth it in the long run. Good luck!
Posts: 68 | | Registered: Thu 10 Jan 2002 11:38 |
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