Quitting antidepressants after a few days

[marageorge]

I've been diagnosed with depression and my psychiatrist gave me an antidepressant and antipsychotic. After 2 days of drinking both, I stopped the antipsychotic because I think it was too much for me. So I went on another 2 nights of drinking the antidepressant only. On my 4th night, I woke up and I can't breathe. I was hyperventilating. Got rushed to the ER only to find out that that was normal. But I feel like it wasn't. I have been having brain zaps. Sometimes I feel like I can't breathe. My body sometimes goes numb. And I haven't been sleeping, have been overthinking and I think my situation only got worse. Can someone please help me? Will this go away? I mean I only took it for 4 nights. I just want to be okay again.

[Hidden]

They told you hyperventilating or inability to breathe was normal? That doesn’t sound right. Were you hyperventilating as in panic or as a reaction to the side effects? Being frightened when you feel unwell is a normal reaction. Hard to say without more info on what happened.

It sounds like too much medication at one time, perhaps the doc needed to start you on smaller doses of your meds and make small increases over time. And or combination does not suit you well.

You will be okay, try and stop freaking out, you are breathing but if shortness of breath is of high concern this is a medical emergency. Try to remain as calm as possible. Each hour that passes the meds will leave your body, but call your doctor ASAP.

[Feistygurl]

Is this seratonin syndrome?

[Hidden]

Talk to your psychiatrist.

[Jeff1943]

marageorge, you are denying yourself the opportunity to gain respite from your depression by stopping the medication after just 4 days.

As someone else has pointed out, if the ER doctors said your breathing problem was alright they were saying it was anxiety and not caused by the med.

You say you stopped the antipsychotic after only 2 days because it was too much for you. I suggest the person qualified to decide the correct dosage is your doctor rather than yourself.

These medications take several weeks to give you their full benefit. There may be some small side effects but these quickly pass as your body gets used to them.

We are lucky enough to live in the 21st century when medications are available to lift the veil of depression. All these meds are tried and tested extensively before they are dispensed to the public.

Your doctor went to medical school for 5 years and gets hours of practical experience every day.

If it was me I would give the meds more of a chance. They will control your depression and psychosis (without doing you harm) but not in 4 days.