Am I ready to stop?

[Lovelysmile]

How do I know if I am ready to stop taking my medication?

Since June 2012 I have been taking anti-depressants, I went from 20mg to 150mg within months as I wanted to feel nothing but numbness. If I forget to take them in the morning as I'm in a rush to get to work I start to feel really light headed and am sick for the whole day.

i haven't been taking them for a year and I feel like that. I'm scared that if I don't try to stop taking them now that it would be too late in a few years time.

Any advice would be appreciated,

[The_Real_David_Charles]

Dear Lovelysmile,

Are you sure you're not "light headed and ...sick for the whole day" for another reason, i.e. pregnancy ?    Lol.

You can't get med dosage advice from me.    It's too individual.  Do a blood test or chase up your GP with the full story.  Even social pressures and finance play a big part in depression so you're better off getting a full review if you have time.

Why are you scared ?    You already know and have experienced that meds help and other factors can be good for you too.   The worst thing that can happen is that you suffer a psychiatric admission but that won't happen to you as there is good awareness.     Why would "a few years time" be "too late" to stop the meds ?   The only time to do it is when it's the right time.

Stand firm and smile at the sunset.

Adios, David.

[geoff]

hello, your question is one that only your doctor could give you the answer to, however when those who are taking antidepressants start to feel well, they believe that they can stop.

This is a big problem, because people are only feeling well because of their medication, and as soon as they stop, their depression returns, so it's a sea-saw affect, and because you are taking a big dose of them, I would be very weary.

I have been taking mine for about 20 years, and will be taking them for the rest of my life, I accept that.

You could just cut back on the dosage as time passes by, but just be careful, otherwise the beast will return, as I would want to feel 'normal' rather than being depressed, there is no option. Geoff.

[The_Real_David_Charles]

Dear Lovelysmile & Geoff (Father of the Board),

It's like you need an antidepressant for the antidepressant.

I would add that, as a bipolar guy, some antidepressant's kicked in too much and triggered a manic episode.     Normally when this kind of thing happens (or other anomalies) the GP or psychiatrist will say "Oh yeah, that happens some time too".  A bit of advance warning would have saved me a 9 month manic admission once. Just saying.

Adios, David.

PS  Not taking the correct dose is the ultimate rebellion.  But like most rebellions you are left in a worse state and your health might take longer to get there.