Please, do NOT stay on antidepressants because you fear the withdrawal

[Lyssie]

Re: Please, do NOT stay on antidepressants because you fear the withdrawal

I get about 2 hours a day of vigorous exercise. When I don't take meds, I stop caring, stop eating, stop sleeping, stop being able to focus... while it may be more effective for *SOME* people, it is not more effective for everyone.

Your son's doctor apparently did not give out the proper information. This doesn't mean that every doctor does that.

As a side note, doctors typically prescribe zoloft before wellbutrin before lexapro since lexapro is quite a heavy anti-depressant to be giving out like candy. All of these drugs need to be monitored while you taper on/off of them.

[heatherm422]

Re: Please, do NOT stay on antidepressants because you fear the withdrawal

I agree that everyone is different and respond to different treatments. Although the issues that initially led to me being put on anti-depressants have resolved themselves, I haven't been able to be completely free of the medication yet. It is very reassuring that it can be done though because I do worry about that alot.

[Joviness]

Re: Please, do NOT stay on antidepressants because you fear the withdrawal

If you have been on anti-depressants and no longer need them, but fear the withdrawal .. let me tell you, IT CAN BE DONE ..

For several months, I put off the cessation of Effexor because I had heard and read so many horror stories about people who tried to get off this evil drug.

I wanted off it soooooooooooooooooo bad since the issues that led to my depression had resolved, but I was sooooooooo afraid. Afraid of all the hellacious stories I have read about the withdrawal.

Finally ..

After much thought, alot of prayer, and alot of determination, I can say there is LIFE AFTER ANTI-DEPRESSANTS! If and when you are ready to get these pills out of your life once and for all .. here are a few tips that may help:

Taper gradually but steadily. In my particular case, I reduced my dose by 50% for 10 days initially. The side effects I noticed were: dizziness (which I found manageable by taking OTC motion sickness meds), nightmares in technicolor ... not much you can do about them except WAIT THEM OUT .. a little nausea after eating .. reduced by eating smaller meals .. drinking lots and lots and lots of water really helped. Serious migraine headache for 2-3 days ... hang tough with 8 hour tylenol and knowing that THIS TOO SHALL PASS...

Once the headache eased, I found that good doses of cardiovascular exercise really helped take the edge off my short-fuse .. (apparently the withdrawal makes you feel very agitated for a few days until your body adjusts ..) Anyway, a good workout really helped that part.

Take every hour without the meds as a victory in and of itself. That's what I did .. I literally counted down every hour I was medication free ... which gave me the power to HANG IN THERE ....

Anyway, now its been nearly 3 weeks Effexor-free and I am literally a new person. And ... IF I CAN DO IT .. SO CAN YOU!!!



Betty

I agree...it can be done...I took myself of last year and I'm actually doing much better...anti depressents made my life much worse...

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