Withdrawal symptoms antidepressants

[Anonymously_Me]

Hi, so I've had anxiety/depression for about 10 years, started taking antidepressants in 2009 and decided to have a break from them this year since I was at an OK place in my life and I was no where as near as bad as I was in 2009.

I went to the GP about it and had it organised to ween it off slowly (as the affects of stopping medication suddenly is harmful) and that if I start to feel really down and it get's bad again that I will just go back on it.

Anyway, I weened it of within a few months. I was very careful with it and had it organised on my calendar and all,

And a couple of days after I completely stopped it, I just cry constantly. everyday and over nothing. I have been quite moody as well and it's just like how I was back in 2009 in some ways. I've heard before that other people have had withdrawal symptoms from stopping antidepressants so I was wondering if anyone has had a similar experience and when, or if, these symptoms stopped?

I was going to wait until it had been a month to see if my body adjusts, so far it's been a few weeks. I don't really want to back on the antidepressants either, I know they help, but I don't like the idea that I have to live my whole life depending on something, I want to be in charge of my mind. But I don't know if this is my depression and anxiety coming back to it's worse, or if it's just my body getting used to not taking the medications. Any advice would be appreciated 🙂

[Croix]

Dear Anonymously Me~

I'd like to welcome here and say going off meds can be a very difficult thing though I think you have done everything right and it is a real pity the symptoms have started to reappear.

I'm not sure anyone here can answer your question. After all everyone is unique and reacts in differing ways to medication and to its withdrawal. As you have been tailing off under supervision and if it was me I'd go back to the doctor and say what is happening. This will not only give you the best opinion available but also ensure your condition is being closely monitored.

I'd not wait a month. If your doctor thought it was worth hanging on then you can still do so and at least some of the doubt would be gone.

If it turns out that you do need to be on meds to live a decent life it is not that terrible a thing. Many people do, I'm one. Actually it took me a long time to find the right one, and occasionally even now it needs adjusting, however it has made a huge difference. In a way taking meds is being in charge of your mind. You could say you are taking the steps needed to make it behave as you want.

I hope you get things sorted quickly and feel better

Croix

[SheWrites]

Hi Anonymously Me.

first of all, a big hug as coming off a med can be very challenging physically and emotionally. I went through this through December and January.

Your reaction is very much like mine was. I was teary all day, every day and had a range of other symptoms, including anxiety. I do recommend seeing your GP and keeping them in the loop with your symptoms. Mine took about 4-6 weeks to settle.

The withdrawal/discontinuation symptoms can be horrid but they won’t last forever. Your nervous system is doing a massive re-boot right now and self care is super important.

Try to be kind to yourself and not expect too much for the next few weeks. Wishing you peace.

[geoff]

Hello Anonymously Me, and can I also welcome you.

There has been much discussion whether or not people could stop taking their medication, however my feelings are that while you were taking the AD's you have felt better, so you believe that you can cope in not taking them.

Many people have said that once they stopped them after they too believed they were doing great, they began to fall back into the hole and once again had to start them again.

I know myself if I miss a day I become flat, and whether you have stopped taking them is making you feel like this, only time will tell, I certainly hope you can overcome it and get on with your life, but for me to have a pill a day is just like having a headache tablet or perhaps one for your blood pressure etc.

The final decision is yours to make, but please think of living a better life.

Best Wishes.

[Anonymously_Me]

Thank you all for the replies. I actually started feeling a bit better a day after I posted so I think I will see how I go and if it really gets bad then I will go back on them. I've been practicing breathing exercises lately when I get all worked up that have actually been helping and a lot of self talk and self care.

My GP also recommended I join this online self-help site called mood-gym when I started going off them so I'll see if that helps.