Adverse life events, depression, venlafaxine (once loved but now hated) and cranial electrotherapy

[medindexer]

I've just joined. I've had depression from 2004 (and kept it at bay it seemed with antidepressants. However from 2012 I had a series of majorly adverse life events. I coped it seemed. It was only when the pressure abated that I succumbed to a deep depression.

Except I'm not sure if the cause of that dive from relative happiness, was a doctor who (on visiting to say I was feeling a bit down) advised me to stop venlafaxine (abruptly over maybe 2 weeks assuring me there'd be no problem) and take fluoxetine. I crashed. I can never be certain if the cause was the sudden venlafaxine withdrawal. 3 years on from the crash, I'm still struggling.

Now I'm from a science background all my working life and have generally not been a person inclined to throw my support wholeheartedly behind the nonmedical models. But I'm beginning to think, as I scan the recent literature, that Venlafaxine has an especially difficult withdrawal problem (relating probably to it's very short half-life). I've also realised, that I've accepted being on antidepressants for a v long time (15 years). And I'm beginning to think that long-term use is potentially very harmful. It looks as if most studies extolling use of antidepressants are not long-term so they won't detect adverse long-term effects.

I'm not a happy bunny about this, so I'm just opening my membership on this topic, and hope I'll get some feedback.

Oh yes, I've worked out a withdrawal schedule for myself based on articles suggesting venlafaxine withdrawal over many months. And I'm trying a device called the alpha-stim-AID (cranial electrotherapy). It uses very low level currents - thus not like ECT I hasten to add.

I'd be glad to hear any comments on my post

[Stilltrying_]

I'm coming off my meds personally but everyone is different. Some swear by them. It's natural that after a period of intense stress we will be depressed of course. I went through this when my dad who is 96 became very ill. I coped at the time but then when the pressure was off a bit i crashed. I've now picked up again as things have steadied out. This wasn't really related to meds at all. My own feelings about my own meds is that they are basically central nervous system depressants and why do I still need them after all these years? I've been on meds since I was 18 but I think they were just something the psychiatrist gave me to try and cope but the real reasons with me are all down to extreme emotional and psychological abuse as a child which I am now finally recovering from.

For you it could be completely different so really only you know whether it's worth trying to withdraw from them. They may have a totally different effect on your brain that they do on mine. My own brain responds well to rest, exercise, yoga, peace and quiet and fathoming out how my abusive past has cast a massive shadow over my whole life up until now. I have been free of the abuser for the past 5 years now and I feel it is time for me to move on and make something of my life.

Your brain could have a chemical deficit which AD's will make all the difference to . So really all I would say is research and discuss and you will need to reach your own conclusions I think.

[Hidden]

Would love to hear how it goes for you. Coming off that drug was very hard fir me. I did ok then life hit hard again a year later. It’s a struggle. I fully believe cardio and weights help a lot. I can’t do it from my health right now. It sucks. I also think your gut is a big issue it produces serotonin mines a mess from stress and drugs. Makes me a mess. I also believe amino acids are key. When you take away something that produces something you need you need to give it time to fill again. So short term be it 6 months to a year or three if long lasting hormone issues in my opinion is key. & I think some people just don’t produce enough it’s genetic as well. So burn out causes that too it’s important we put ourselves health first at any cost. I messed up. I know why. I just have to do the drugs again. & if I can get healthier and if can move more I’ll get better. It’s worth trying I wish I had the cash to do it.

[medindexer in reply to Hidden]

Thx for both of your replies. The theoretical science behind the actions of ADs has never been proved it seems. Nor has long-term use been assessed much. I feel myself moving over to the anti-antidepressant lobby!

We shall see.

[tiredswedge]

I have been on Welbutrin since the age of twenty, thirty years ago. The only long term side effect I've seen is it becoming less effective. I have been going on and off other meds to piggyback off the Welbutrin. Nothing in the drug area has gotten me to "normal". Just to functioning from day to day. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation TMS has been pretty incredible. You should look into that.

[lillyofthevalley37]

I am very concerned about SSRI antidepressants I think they are doing major damage esp to young people to whom they dish them out like sweets

Serotonin syndrome is not recognised unless you are about to die from it yet I believe it is a growing silent epidemic

Also serotonin is not anti depressant it is pro deppression

Dopamine the polar opposite of serotonin is an anti depressant yet they never dish it out