Tapering off anti depressants...

zabelli · ‎08-01-2014

I have been on anti depressants for 5yrs now and for the past 2months I have tried tapering down and eventually off. I'm not sure if this is a question or somewhere for me to 'talk' about it. I guess I'm interested to see if anyone else is/has experienced this. AD's did wonders for my mental health, it saved me. But I'm at a point in my life where I want to stand on my own two feet. Ever since tapering off though I have really bad days where I'm tunnel visioned and can't seem to pick myself up. I'm always on the verge of crying and my anxiety is crazy! I feel like my depression is back and that's my biggest fear. I don't know what feelings are real or what is just in my head as my mind adjusts to new seratonin levels. Do I continue with the reduction? Or give up and keep taking my meds for the rest of my life. I'm on a high dosage and the side effects are so bad 😞 I'm at a loss!!!!

Chris_B · ‎09-01-2014

Hi zabelli,

Welcome to the forums. Are you doing the tapering in consultation with your GP? There is a reaction associated with coming off some medications called 'discontinuation syndrome'. It could also be that the medication is necessary for you to control your moods.

The terrible irony of mood stabilising medications when you have ongoing issues with depression is that when they work, sometimes you feel like you don't need to take them anymore - I have been in this position myself - and we forget that there is a reason why we are on the meds in the first place.

However everyone's situation is different. Talking to your GP about your options regardless of what you decide to do next is a good idea. If the side effects are too much to cope with, then your GP needs to know this.

geoff · ‎10-01-2014

dear Zabelli, I agree with Christopher, because the problem is that people are top of the world so their misconception is that they don't need to take their antidepressants any more, so this is a trap that people fall into, because down the track they suddenly become depressed again.

Taking my AD's I feel good but if I miss a day or more down I go, back into the black pit, crying and feeling lousy, but as soon as I take my AD within 20 minutes it kicks in again and back on top.

So my question is why would you want to stop taking them if you are feeling good, just saying. Geoff.

Girl_Anachronism · ‎15-01-2014

HI Zabelli,

I haven't been on antidepressants at all until recently but I had to stop them. With advice from my GP and people at the hospital, after a bad reaction to said meds, I had to stop them cold turkey. Both depression and anxiety were aggravated by the withdrawal of sorts that I don't know how I got through it. THe scary thing is now for me knowing how much is me and how much is the aftereffects of the drugs, though they have should have worn off by now. As much as they help us, when you come off them some can make our symptoms worse.

I can only echo what others have said- talk to your GP about if you haven't already and if you do go ahead with it, with their input, have a plan in case the negative thoughts get to you. Have people you can trust and let them know that things might get a little crazier for a while. It's one hell of a ride.

Take Care

GA

Guest_3712 · ‎15-01-2014

Hi zabelli,

Your story is a mirror of mine . I too have been on AD for over 5years and i am desperate to get off them due to side effects etc. I am so scared of the repercussions though like you I question the benefits.

I have progressed in other areas and also want to 'stand on my own two feet' but after suffering depression for so long I don't think I can handle coming off them only to have it return after stopping meds.

How do you know what is real ? I don't know either, You see I don't know if the me on meds is me or not. I mean what will I be like off meds?

I see your post was a little while a go please let me know how you are going now

Take Care

Stressless.

lifejourney · ‎03-03-2014

15 years for me. I won't go into my story, however over the last year I have weaned off ...it took a long time and a lot of effort, the side effects were horrid! However I did it and i felt so very proud, happy, strong and free!

about 3 weeks before xmas i was off! however, around xmas i started having some down days ... when i spoke to someone or went for a run i felt much better, so i thought to myself if i only get into to see a 'therapist' i could cope ... one thing led to another and i didnt get to see anyone, i went back and to spoke to my gp who was only too happy to write a script for an AD convincing me i need them and couldnt do it without them ... so i started them again and had really bad side effects ... panic attacks and all sorts of stuff going on!?!?!? my gp swapped me to another that I hadnt taken before and that was a complete nightmare ... so much worse!! this experience scared me soo much, i feel i have a little phobia about head meds now! so i quit and said 'no thanks' ill try therapy and try to whether the storm until my emotions settle down ... after all after being on this things for 15 years, im sure my brain needs some form of re-adjustment?? and im in a very very different place than i was 15 years ago ... i have come sooo far and was happy!

anyway, i have started therapy, i have good days and BAD days...i do feel as though i am struggling almost to the point where i did prior to going on these things in the first place... although being on them i was never 'cured' just able to get through my emotional issues with a little more ease i guess...

honestly, i feel so lost and terrified at the moment ... like i cant do it, but i want to do it, but i cant go back on them because they really caused some serious side effects ... in some ways i wish i never came off them .. but then again if i can get through this i will be soo happy!