As you can see, I'm doing fine/well etc. Just kidding, if you need them take them, as prescribed by your doctor. They know better than anyone else. Glad to hear they are proving their effectiveness for you. Or to be effective, anything that helps, and keeps you "in The Land of the Living!" ~is a good thing, as far as I am concerned. One reason why my initial p-doc had done that, I think, was in part that he feared the anxiety to be a potential problem in this regard just as much as the depression. (or such that it should not go untreated, I guess I don't know how 50/50 it was. . .) Anyway! Good luck going forward. As you can see, I'm doing fine/well etc. Just kidding, if you need them take them, as prescribed by your doctor. They know better than anyone else. Glad to hear they are proving their effectiveness for you. Or to be effective, anything that helps, and keeps you "in The Land of the Living!" ~is a good thing, as far as I am concerned. One reason why my initial p-doc had done that, I think, was in part that he feared the anxiety to be a potential problem in this regard just as much as the depression. (or such that it should not go untreated, I guess I don't know how 50/50 it was. . .) Anyway! Good luck going forward.
but I'd be a bad example to set or follow for anyone. One thing that helped me, was that almost immediately thereafter (or when all of this went down) I began, or immersed myself in a new line of work that was semi-related, in terms of the adult foster care, sphere - or world. And so this foray into primarily a few different types of people to help, was mental illness, brain injuries (traumatic) & chemical dependency. Thankfully, or fortunately, rather this gave me a shifted focus from myself, wherein I did not find myself being brought down by their conditions and their afflictions. But rather, uplifted. That said, not everybody was as lucky as me. Although I do think my teeny-tiny background in psych at the university, or college level helped, just in terms of not taking some of the more difficult to handle, and deal with behaviors - to heart, or personally. As that will wear/drag you down! 
Had my guy (first doctor) not retired, there's a strong chance I'd still be on them. Unless, I somehow found myself in the esteemed postion of having been (declared), "cured!" 
but I'd be a bad example to set or follow for anyone. One thing that helped me, was that almost immediately thereafter (or when all of this went down) I began, or immersed myself in a new line of work that was semi-related, in terms of the adult foster care, sphere - or world. And so this foray into primarily a few different types of people to help, was mental illness, brain injuries (traumatic) & chemical dependency. Thankfully, or fortunately, rather this gave me a shifted focus from myself, wherein I did not find myself being brought down by their conditions and their afflictions. But rather, uplifted. That said, not everybody was as lucky as me. Although I do think my teeny-tiny background in psych at the university, or college level helped, just in terms of not taking some of the more difficult to handle, and deal with behaviors - to heart, or personally. As that will wear/drag you down! Had my guy (first doctor) not retired, there's a strong chance I'd still be on them. Unless, I somehow found myself in the esteemed postion of having been (declared), "cured!"
You said you just started this new medication regime?? It's definitely a "process," trying to figure it all out. . . And there's nothing to be ashamed of, or feel badly about with that fact (if you've got to be on them long term). You never, know, once they get a better handle on things, they may be able to adjust something as well. I think... & this is going off a decade's old memory, but my psychiatrist said that in order to go off my AD's, he usually likes to see a one year absence of significant issues/problems/symptoms, etc. Which told me, "Good luck!" but what he did say was that if you did not do that, then sometimes what happens is that there is a risk of relapse (of depressive symptoms). Anyway, I don't unfortunately have any advice to give on the long term implications of what you're going through. Other than to say that, if it meant taking them, and being okay, versus not, and being forced to face the consequences & ramifications of that, then I'd happily, or gladly take them. I would be embarrassed not one iota! If this was for like a heart condition, or whatever, and then you had to take pills for that from your cardiologist, it'd probably be fine in your mind, right? Well think of this as just taking a pill, or pills for your brain. Shouldn't be an issue.
but she did have, "crippling anxiety!" Could sometimes not even go out into public, crowds and such (though I never saw her this way). I know she used to have to like, sit outside the arena for my Dad's basketball games growing up - due to the audience, "at times." Quite the free spirit & happy otherwise, not afraid to speak her mind. And because she had red hair, it only just got a little lighter (as opposed to going gray!) . . : ) but she did have, "crippling anxiety!" Could sometimes not even go out into public, crowds and such (though I never saw her this way). I know she used to have to like, sit outside the arena for my Dad's basketball games growing up - due to the audience, "at times." Quite the free spirit & happy otherwise, not afraid to speak her mind. And because she had red hair, it only just got a little lighter (as opposed to going gray!) . . : )