Anyone ever get frustrated with side effects of different meds and wonder if it would b better dealing with depression without them!
Stopping all antidepressants - Anxiety and Depre...
Stopping all antidepressants
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87 Replies
•
I take antidepressants for situational depression. It doesn’t help clinical depression at all so I guess you could say I don’t take meds for it. I’m not willing to try a bunch of meds that will throw off my system for something I know is inescapable. I’d rather deal with it.
• in reply toNeuronerdDoaty
Those are my thoughts right now. Ive got “ moderate clinical depression”. I know stopping meds will not go well with doc, therapist and hubby as I’m “ easier to deal with” on drugs. I do think I feel better with them but not convinced that outweighs the side effects
NeuronerdDoaty• in reply to
Just be sure you have good coping skills. Good luck to you
• in reply toNeuronerdDoaty
Thanks. I’m not going to stop right now as Im getting ready for a knee replacement on 9/5. Once the dust settles and Ive discussed it with “ the authorities”, lol. I think it’s worth a try. What’s the worst thing that can happen? I get more depressed? Last time that happened I bought a german shepherd puppy... 😂😉
NeuronerdDoaty• in reply to
Awww! I’d def wait until after the surgery. Keep the balance you have going on now. Good luck with surgery🙏💛
• in reply toNeuronerdDoaty
Thankyou❤️
copasedic• in reply to
I think some meds need to be weaned off slowly. Make sure you check with your Dr. about that.
• in reply tocopasedic
I definitely will. I’m not 100% on stopping them. I know I need them for getting thru knee surgery recovery. I think I would like to make it a future goal after all the dust settles. I will only do it with docs blessing. Ive never been suicidal or anything self harm and so I’m thinking if it turns out to be a bad decision, at least I will know and not be so ambivalent about the drugs.
There was an excellent programme on UK s channel 4 the other week called despatches which was all about young people on antidepressants you can.see it on catch up if you live in UK
Terrible how young people are put on drugs, they talk about the awful side effects brain zaps etc
• in reply tolillyofthevalley37
I’m in the US, but I will look for it. Thanks!
That’s tough, hope you find some relief that’s helpful
kitty7• in reply to
Hello: I've seen more than once, here, that antidepressants are so difficult to wean yourself off of. For at least four years I was taking Effexor and it stopped working. I was so scared after I read some of the posts regarding coming off of especially Effexor. I must say that I had no terrible side effects during weaning myself off of Effexor. Now I have to find another antidepressant that will work for me. I've been on antidepressants most of my adult life and I feel better on them. Good luck and I hope you'll feel better soon. 🦉
• in reply tokitty7
Thankyou!
Ive never been on anything but antidepressants. My doc is having me try L Theanine( a natural product) for anxiety. I’m not sure it does anything for me. Anxiety isn’t a huge problem, thankfully
That’s good to hear
Curious... what side effects did you experience.
• in reply to
Doc upped the Zoloft from 50 to 100mg and I felt a little zombie like.I think it helped the depression but I felt subdued. Also zero interest in sex, but we are older so that wasn’t a deal breaker. Doc said I could give Wellbutrin a try as it was a little stimulating. I really liked the way it made me feel, more energetic and like my old self but it was really affecting my sleep. I kept waking up every 1-2 hours plus it made the ringing in my ears louder. So I’m kind of thinking going back to Zoloft 50 mg might be the answer.
That’s rough. I slept great with Zoloft. They say 50 mg is a starting dose. My husband is on 100 mg with no problems
50 is a starting dose and I tried it for 3 months and couldn’t sleep. Are you both taking it strictly for depression?
• in reply to
Primary reason is depression, my anxiety is mild
I think you are wise to wait until after your surgery. I had mine done in December and was amazed to find out that Post Total Knee Replacement Surgery Depression is a thing. Google it. I did not like the combination of antidepressants and necessary pain killers but I got through it. Have you considered talking to your “authorities,” in a few months when you’re further along post surgery, about different antidepressant? In my case, my people in charge (shrink, counselor, etc) had to work with me so I could find correct meds whose side effects didn’t outweigh positive results. We have finally seemed to hit the mark and the thought of being that depressed again makes me nauseous. My diagnosis, however, changed from mild to major somewhere over the past decade. Hope I’ve added additional perspectives. Good luck with the knee.
• in reply toLilyAnnepuppy
Yes you have added needed perspective. I’m really hoping the chronic knee pain is affecting my depression more than we know. In my ideal world, a year from now I will be painlessly walking, enjoying life and depression will be in my rear view mirror, lol. If Im delusional, don’t tell me😂
LilyAnnepuppy• in reply to
Hey, what do I know? You may have your ideal world. I recently turned 70 and it was a big deal for me. Some of my counseling focused on how that milestone affected my depression, but unfortunately the aging of my brain chemistry also played a part in the depression progression. Life is preferable to the alternative, but this aging crap is for the birds sometimes. How is your other knee 
• in reply toLilyAnnepuppy
Yes yes and yes. On X-ray it is equally bone on bone but it isn’t hurting( yet). Ive heard that might change when it has to work harder for awhile. I love to see a few folks here in my age category. Wish there was a way to identify ages here but that would be discriminatory or something more politically incorrect, lol.
LilyAnnepuppy• in reply to
For me politically correct is often above my pay grade. You don’t get to be our age and hold back a lot of thoughts. We don’t have the time. 🙃
• in reply toLilyAnnepuppy
True!!!
LilyAnnepuppy• in reply to
And yes the chronic knee and leg pain was depressing.
Yes. I quit an antipsychotic and anti anxiety med after seven years. I got tired of being a zombie with zero emotions. I am alot better with no meds.
• in reply to
Yes that is the thought going thru my head. I believe once I’m over my surgery this fall, I’m going to go for it.
• in reply to
You can do it. It is hard. You may have to taper. Check with your doctor.
• in reply to
I definitely will. I weaned off Zoloft a few years back, not much fun. Thanks for the support!
Reemfali• in reply to
Wow ! Amazing good friends you
Yes, I have wanted to do this for a long time but each time something will happen to make me feel I need them. I have sweating at night that disturbs sleep and gained lots of weight when I started them. I changed from one to another and that was a big mistake because it shot my BP to over 200 and I had to go to ER and had kidney dysfunction. The psychiatrist didn't even look at my medical records to see I had hypertension and this med clearly stated not use it with HB. Then she started me on another I can get from my internist because I will never go back to her again! The scare made me much more anxious, and I am still suffering from it. I now have a tremor as well. There is a book out now that puts together all the facts on antidepressants; they are primarily placebos but can be harmful. Nevertheless some people really need them but they are greatly overused. One must stop slowly like cutting down over six months. You might be interested in the book Lost Connections by Johann Han on Kindle
• in reply toJunella
Thankyou! I will check that book out
Hi Hoski
I sometimes find it difficult to sleep on my antidepressant, Effexor, but they work so well for me and I have such a positive outlook on them I would not consider stopping. Mine too is an SNRI. I think yours also inhibits the reuptake of dopamine as well as noradrenaline. It is probably the additional noradrenaline that is making it difficult for you to sleep.
I occasionally take zoplicone to help with sleeping and that works really well. It is very addictive but is generally fine if you do not take it for too long and do not increase the dose. I needed it alot to begin with but stopped taking it after 3 months and now only need it for the odd night once every three or four months, and then just half a 7.5 mg tablet.
Not sure if it could be of help before you decide you need to take the very big step of coming off antidepressants all together. I understand why you may feel that and everyone needs to take the right decision for them.
Really hope all goes well with your knee replacement.
Kim
• in reply toKkimm
Thankyou❤️
I did about a month ago, I was taken Mirtazapine which was helping, my doctor took me off it because of weight gain. Prescribed Trazdone which I had already tried, I told her that she still prescribed it. I stopped taking it on my own. To say I'm completely doing well without meds not completely. Looking for a new doctor. By the way I wasnt having any side effects.
Good morning, just my opinion on stopping medication. I have bipolar which is anxiety and depression together and I've been on a roller coaster ride with medication for the last almost 10 years I'm beyond frustrated.recently my doctor just started me on a new medication it's been 2 weeks and so far it's okay.I don't think I'll ever stop trying to find the right medication because without it my depression cripples me to where I'm in bed for weeks on end and to me that's just not worth it.I would say if you decide to stop taking medication always talk to your doctor first. Ultimately the decision is yours. Hope you have a great Sunday.
• in reply tobrokenspirit100
Thankyou so much! I def won’t without doc’s ok also waiting until I’m recovered from knee surgery. Probably early 2020 , will see how I am then.
Hi Hoski, I don’t get any side effects luckily. So no I wouldn’t be without the one I take.
Try CBD oil to take the edge off anxiety. I’ve been using it for about a month. It doesn’t replace benzos, but it helps.
As for anti depressants- I know going off them is hell, but they work for me . I rather like being in control of my emotions.
• in reply toIamworthit
Ive been taking it for about a month too. I actually started it for my knee pain, which has helped a lot. I’m taking 25mg at bedtime. How much do you take?
I m taking .75 ml of 1000mg strength , once or twice a day. I may try the 3000 mg strength on my next order.
I was taken off of every mental health related medicine as advised by a horrible doctor. He told me it was not my business to read up on medication for he was the "professional". When I did come off of everything, I became so depressed and had to be omitted to out patient rehab. The doctor said he could not help me anymore and that he was done with my case. I think if I had stayed on my meds and switched doctors I would have saved my self a very expensive treatment for inpatient. I hate the side effects of the medications too, but now know that I'm a better person when on them. I've gained 20 + pounds but am not putting my family through a roller coaster of my emotions. If you to decide to come off the meds, please work with your doctor. Some meds need to be titrated off or you could get really ill. It took me 6 months to get off of Cymbalta and it was hell. I hope you feel better soon!
• in reply toBlueflower1
Thankyou❤️
I haven’t read all the replies in this thread because I don’t have the time in this moment to be as thorough as I’d like, but I’d just like to ask, do you have any experience with the company GeneSight? My doctor advised I take their genetic test to determine which antidepressant would be best for me after the med I was on wasn’t working.
To keep the story as short as possible, I took the test at no cost to myself and found out I am physically incapable of processing the active form of the med I was on. My doc switched me to a med indicated as more effective by the test and it. changed. my. life.
The company is awesome. They won’t run your test/charge you anything until it’s clear the cost will be nothing to you. If you don’t have insurance, the majority of people pay only up to $350 maximum. If a sample is collected and the fee turns out to be too high in your case, they just won’t sequence it and you won’t get charged.
• in reply tomaggief9812
Yes, I just took the test. The results showed zoloft( drug I was on) was fine but Wellbutrin was equally good and might perk me up so I decided to switch. But now finding I got along better with the Zoloft. So I’m switching back. I’m not going to make any changes re stopping drugs any time soon. I’m hoping having the knee surgery may eventually cut out a lot of chronic pain which may lift my mood.
I did this testing and was amazed that 3 of the antidepressants/anti anxiety meds I was taking that were making me sick appeared on the “not recommended” list. It’s so worth the money! I’m on one that is recommended and feel much better but not as good as I think I should. Eventually I would like to try not being on any meds. Trial and error with meds is awful!!!
• in reply toHobbes12
Yes
I have been fighting along with my doctors for a year and a half to find the right combination of meds. I have been on some type of antidepressant since early my teenage years. I have tried many times to be med free but it doesn’t look like it’s in the cards. My anxiety has gotten worse over the years so my symptoms have changed. I’ve even had TMS and still cannot function daily without meds. I wish you the best! Just don’t do anything too fast and keep in touch with your authorities lol. Love to all of you!
I wish I could be off of meds because I feel that it hinders your natural artistic abilities and hinders your connection to God and other people. That “numbing” thing meds do.
• in reply toKatie8791
Yes I have that thought too.
Sometimes I want to even throw the dog and cat and husband out the window if that would mean no more meds and no more anxiety or depression. But then there would be that mess to clean up. I do take a antidepressant in the a.m. and 1mg xanax in a.m. and 1 mg xanax before bed. Because getting to sleep is so difficult f, my neurops ychiatrist has me also to take a low dose of a muscle relaxer too. I have .5 xanax for the "breakthrough" anxiety. I'm fortuate as I have a brief app't with the pain mangement MD and the neuropsychiatrist monthly.
(Wait an hour past my app't time; have 4 minutes with the MD. I actually time any MD from the point he/she sits down next to me until he'she roller blades out the door. I now create a brief outline and hand it to him/her. Better use of time, and I say "Tell me what you need to say; then it's my term, but don't go past your 2 minutes of our appointment. Two minutes are mine.") Thank you Agora1 and Hioski ....great to know there is an audience. 
lawdog, it's always a good sign to find some humor in our pain. xx
Yes, it does, and to accept the days we can't.....that does happen to me at times. Like the humor water in my well is just too low. But don't worry about it...my body and mind are telling me they need me to just chill like old cold spaghetti.
HELLO AGORA1 AND EVERONE ELSE WONDERING ABOUT "JUSTICE"S" FIRST DAY IN MY DOCTOR'S OFFICE
Yesterday, Tuesday, my driver Jose, had the back of his seat prepared for my service dog in training to go to my doctor's office for the first time. Justice enjoyed watching out the windiows and never barked a word. When we arrived, Jose, took the leash and led Justice to the door and told Justice to "sit" while I checked in. (I think Jose enjoyed being the "man: with the beautiful dog") Justice was quiet and sat perfectly in the outer office.
Then I turned around and a man in the corner was climbinmg up and out of his seat. HE WAS TERRIFIED! AND I WAS HORRIFIED! JUSTICE WAS CALM AND SITTING STILL.
Jose calmed the gentleman down, and said Justice was still a puppyy, a nearly 90 lb puppy, but still learning and today was a lesson day.
The catch is this is the neuropsychiatrist's office who treats people for ANXIETY and Justice is a LARGE BLACK AND TAN Doberman Pinscher puppy.
(I have bruises all over my legs to prove it. He is still a bit of a bubbling puppy who likes to "bumper crash" me when he is happily playing football.)
Well life always puts wrinkles into our plans. I WAS SCHEDULED TO BE THE FIRST PATIENT TO AVOID UPDSETTING ANYONE. But the other patient came early.
Justice was so happy to see a few new people that he was smiling and looking at me asking if he would meet them. The answer is no, as he is still in training and is not to be distracted from me.
But then my doctor smiled, opened his arms, asked permission, I said no,..... but he hugged that huge happy puppy until I thought they would both have to pee. Justice was standing up on two paws, taller than the doctor.
Finally I told Justice "OFF", he stood down on all four paws and looked at me. It was time to go. Our 15 minute appointment had been used up.
Mr. Jose was waiting and off we went home, Justice just enjoying the ride and not saying a peep.
When we arrived home, I think Justice just didn't understand why Jose was leaving without us.
Wish I had the whole episode on a phone video so I could play it somehow for everyone feeling blue today.
• in reply tolawdog
Love that!
Lawdog, that was so precious a story A 90lb intimidating puppy
who sounds like he has a lot of love in his heart for people but also
is obedient. If only the people can be that obedient and respect your
wishes lol
I'm glad the appointment went well. Thank you for sharing your day
with us. Hugs, xx
Is the relaise Xanax that you taken ?
Because the chort one still go off afther 3 houres
Hello Elfje,
Not certain what you meant by "relaise" Xanax. or that the "short one still goes off after 3 hours", so I'm going to assume you were asking if I took long term release form of Xanax (alprazolam) or a form that one lasted 3 hours.
Before I can answer your question, would like to know why you are asking. I'm not a chemist by any means, and I do have some neurological injury from a very large truck colliding with my car several decades ago. So some of the need for certain medicaions are actually needed from physical injuries.......not just chronic pain.
There is a long term acting alprazolam when my team of doctors felt was appropriate...believe I took it twice a day. Goal was to guarantee a consistent perpetual level of alprazolam in my body's chemistry to ease anxiety and epidural injections were used when pain level was making working or thinking very difficult.
Essentially, my chronic pain doctors and my neuropsychiatrist were working together to see if the pain was increasing my anxiety...or perhjaps my anxiety was increasing the increase level of my chronic pain. The answer? Could not tell. So only use the 1 mg in a.m. and at night after dinner and before bed daily. The .5 is only used during the daytime if a panic type of feeling was happening.
Are you having issues as to whether to use the long term alprazolam rather than the alprazolam that you would take once or more times a day.? When my doctors figured out there really was not much difference for me, I went back to the 1 mg in the morning and the evening.
I would wake in the morning, knowing as soon as my feet hit the floor the anxiety would kick in until my morning alprazalam eased it a bit. I literally made tracks in the carpets like a car from walking through the connecting rooms in my house for about an hour every morning and humming to myself until the alprazolam started to help calm me .
My husband knew if I was humming, that I would be ok, but he really couldn't help...and just let me walk. We still haven't changed the carpet. But for some reason over time, I stopped needing to walk like that. Maybe my body chemistry had adusted to responding to the alprazolam for a longer period of time.
I hope that helped you in some way. If not, it's ok to send me a personal message.
And the long term acting alprazolam is much more expensive. But have learned that some people's chemistry and life situation work much better with the long term consytant leveel of anxiety. We are all so special in our lives, our bodies and mind's chemistry.
PS If your anxierty is bearing on anger and panic, please keep some ofthe cheap plastic baseball bats in your home. If the alprazolam temporrily has run out of it's effectiveness, find a very sturdy tree where no one can see you, beat the hell out of that tree with one of those bats. Nothing gets hurts, and some of the anxiety's energey is dissipated. I'm serious. Use the plastic bats, as the wood or metal bats might chip off wood slinters from the tree and hit you.
Oh, Tuesday should be interesting. Will be the first time my 8 month old , 90 lb Doberman service dog in training goes with me to the neuropsychiatrist's tiny office, I"ll ask the doctor if he has finger insurance (as he's bound to ask if he can touch Justice
Daniiii, if you are reading this along with Hoski and Agora1, I'd love to let you know how that goes with Justice and the neuropsychiatrist. (Justice has been taught to alert us to smoke "smoke " command ....like when the alarm goes off when you cook.....and this doctor always has a pipe......(little bits of even bad humor may help us for the moment to push our way through the dense fog depression)
• in reply tolawdog
See if you can take a pic of Justice at work. Love that❤️
lawdog• in reply to
Hummmm. I'll have my cell phone and see if Justice sits up very straight and wants to investigate when I ask "smoke?"
• in reply tolawdog
I think service dogs are amazing. Yes share a pic with us when you can. I have a 5 mo old german shepherd named Jaz. She isnt a service dog but is soooo alert to everything. A real sweetheart.
Without being able to see humor in my daily struggles, I wouldn’t make it. Thanks for sharing yours. “Finger Insurance”. That’s a good one.
Thanks...wonder if there is finger insurance,,,going to check.
I had the stop
Can have anymore ant depression meds
Because my anxiety panic whas on the roof and that maked me more sick
To much side effects
So no not anymore
So I deal with bad days
• in reply toElfje
Thankyou for sharing that. ❤️
Hi. I sent a long reply to you below, but for the moment, buy some cheap plastic bats and find a strong tree and take some really hard swings at the tree, do it long eniugh so that you feel the anger that goes with anxiety as been released. If everyone I have suggested this actually does it a few times and it works, and they somehow put a photo on this venue, I swear I will get you a REAL Louisville slugger from my home town of Louisville as your award...just don't use it on a tree....splinters can fly and injure you.
I went on medication when my dep and anx got bad enough that I was starting to hurt myself. Before that time, I was dealing with it through a combination of exercise and healthy habits. I'd like to get back to that stage now that I'm more levelled out but there is also a strong case for not dismissing medication. As a doctor pointed out to a friend of mine, 'if you had cancer, you would take medication'. This is an illness and sometimes, medication is needed.
• in reply toCookie101
Yes I agree. I can see both sides of the debate.
Hi Hoski.
You've gotten a lot of responses and a good amount of experience in those who've replied. I, like you, got tired of the side effects of my meds. Mine were actually making me sick (flu-like symptoms). So I quit one of them: Celexa. The Celexa helped for years, but we kept increasing the dosage and the side effects became more prominent. I was taking 40 mg (the max) a day. I was sick already, so I didn't taper. And I felt better. Not right away, but after a few weeks. I am still having have some protracted withdrawl symptoms, but it's better than what I was feeling. I'm also taking 45 mg/day of Buspar. I am keeping that one for the foreseeable future as I don't want to shock my system too much.
I've been off Celexa for about two months now and I have good days and bad. Today at work is good. Yesterday at home was bad. Somedays I feel very dark inside and other days I feel light as a feather. It really just depends on what is going on. Exercise helps me the most. Even a quick 20 - 30 minute walk lets the endorphins kick in. Being with family and friends is good as is doing stuff I enjoy like reading or working on my truck. I find if I'm actively engaged in something my mind is more peaceful.
My doc says we'll start a new SSRI if I need it and we'll start slow. I have benzos for REALLY bad days and/or panic attacks. I'm going to stay off the SSRI's for as long as I can. I'll tackle the SNRI as soon as I'm confident I'm through with the SSRI's. I was in bad shape when I started all this (that's the technical term my doc uses), but with therapy and life-style changes I've improved. I still have a chronic illness: I'm just managing it better now.
• in reply toPugglesworth
I really believe a year from now, when I am over this knee surgery, pain gone and I can resume my long walks, my mind will b in a better place so I am going to make it my long term goal. In the mean time, work on getting back in decent physical shape. Thanks for your input, very informative. And good luck with your meds too.
I took Wellbutrin which made me yo yo. Doc switched me to the XL (slow release) which leveled me out nicely. After years of bliss Doc became concerned with blood work test results. Slowly tapered the dose over 6 months until I was "level" without it and the test results were good.
I take Ativan. Missed one dose and felt immediate effect. Emergency room was exciting until I was given the dose - slept for hours on the gurney.
LaMICtal is my mother's milk. But even that needs to be adjusted at times.
I guess what I am trying to say is no drug alone or in combination is perfect all the time for everyone. Keep tweaking with diet, exercise and friends.
• in reply toSV2001
Great advice, Thankyou!💜
Hi Hoski,yes I get so fed up of all the side effects of medication, not just antidepressants but all types of medication. I have Rheumatoid arthritis, Osteoarthritis and Osteoporosis. My Rheumatologist have tried me on several types of medications for the pain I'm in, they were all to toxic, made me feel very ill. I ended up in hospital twice because of them. My Rheumatologist is as good as gold, he just don't know what else to try me on, because I am on quite a lot of other medications, especially for the heart, so he has to be careful. He has now referred me back to my Orthopaedic Surgeon. I saw my Orthopaedic Surgeon on Monday and he said the only thing he can do is a Complete Wrist Replacement. I told him I didn't really fancy that. So he's going to take the large bone out of my wrist then on the opposite side of my wrist, pin and wire my thumb back to where it should be. I had a Trapeziectomy on both hands about 9 years ago, but now the 1 thumb have fell out and is in the palm of my hand. I am really worried about having it done. I was already depressed because of the Fibromyalgia Pain. Now this on top of all the other issues i have i am so b... y sick of it all. I am on a few heart tablets because I have 2 valve's that aren't working, i also have Angina. But the 1 tablet I am on is called Amlodopine and it makes my legs and Ankles swell up so much i can hardly walk. I told my Cardiologist about them and she said my heart wasn't strong enough to be taken off them. I said surely there's another tablet I could take that would be better for me. But she said NO,what do i want? to be able to breathe or put up with the heavy legs. I tried cutting the Amlodopine in half but,OH BOY i soon found out what she meant, i was gasping. The Amlodopine is good for my heart, but the side effects are terrible. So YES, seems like all medication has side effects, some worst than others. I had a phone call yesterday to arrange my PRE ADMISSION SURGERY, i have it in 2 weeks time. I don't think I'll be able to go, my nerves have just about had it, i have a banging headache, i feel sick, don't want to eat, just feel like crying all the time. Don't know what to do with myself. Sorry for taking so long texting you, it's just that I needed to get it off my chest a little bit. Hope you Girls will find something out there that can help you. I know Depression and Anxiety is a terrible thing. It's part of what you get with Fibromyalgia. The trouble is unless you have it, you don't know what its like. You can't see it but oh, you know you have it. Take care everyone From your Friend GJKAS.XX
• in reply toGjkas
Thankyou for sharing your struggles and pain. It helps me a lot knowing I’m not the only one with these thoughts. I’m pretty much made up my mind after pondering all these posts that I’m going to not change anything until my knee surgery is well behind me then make it my goal to be off all meds I can live without. Probably be a year to achieve but it is giving me hope to have a plan. Good luck with your situations. Keep me posted and again, thankyou💜
Good luck with your knee surgery, and thanks for getting back to me Will keep in touch. No need to Thank me.
YOU'RE WELCOME.. .. .
I was on Lexapro for seven years after a serious depressive disorder when my husband, mother, and grandmother all passed away within one year when I was 52. I also had a terrific psychiatrist who taught me breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, and how to avoid migraines. I really needed the Lexapro at first, but it would have been better to try to taper off earlier. When I finally got off of it, I could see that I it made me go into a state of dull unconsciousness emotionally, I didn't feel bad or feel good. I was just there. After I stopped I was thrilled to actually get enjoyment out of regular activities that I had been trudging though without any joy.
Now I have chronic leukemia, osteoarthritis and an undiagnosed immune disorder. I have been sick since July, can barely function most days. I was very athletic before I got this sick. My dr wants me to go on Lexapro but I refused. I would rather feel bad than not feel anything. I do have a lot of anxiety about being sick all the time, it's hard on my partner, I spend all my extra funding on medical insurance, dr bills and prescriptions. I have been trying to meditate and do breathing exercises along with yoga to keep myself from being depressed about my health. I do feel lucky that I made to age 66 mostly healthy, and retired early before I got sick!
• in reply to
Its been a month since my last dose of zoloft. My head still feels the after effects but getting better. I am noticing the same as you. Thus puppy time. Im so sorry you lost your husband at such a young age, plus momma and grandmomma, like a tidal wave
• in reply to
You really had a hard time, my sympathies! I'm glad you've been able to use coping strategies to manage the depression without the lexapro.
I've got a hodgepodge of approaches to manage the anxiety and depression: exercise,therapy,relationship building,mindfulness class and a supplement (l-theanine)
I was on anti-depressants for years but a friend's death last year made me realize that I was growing indifferent to life (though technically I wasnt depressed but in a fuzzy state). I had to stop if I wanted to have some passion again, even though the depression is stronger at times.
If I would experience something like what happened to you (so quickly) I might seriously consider taking the meds again.
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