Will we always be on meds? Will our bodies allow us to safely wean off of them some day? Will the time come when we stop our search to feel a certain way? I thought I’d given up searching and it seemed impossible to get off of what I thought probably wasn’t even helping...but then it occurred to me to try Zoloft since my sister has been on it and it helps her...I think I’d tried it once don’t recall how it went at all so anyway now I’m on 50 mg for 12 days (I know it hasn’t been so long but I’m desperate here) I want to have a higher dose because it was starting to help... but today is terrible as I feel like hell. I can barely take care. I’m so tired. If this doesn’t work I think I’ll slowly wean myself off all of it. Im really freakin frustrated.
Life on meds: Will we always be on meds... - Anxiety and Depre...
Life on meds
You are on the starting dose. Therapeutic dose is higher. What did your doctor tell you?
At some point he will increase it but I’m waiting to hear back from him about when that will be. I’m scared.
My doctor got me to a 100 in 5 weeks. Gradually increasing the dose from 17 mg a week to 25 to 50 to 75 and than a 100. I stayed on the hundred for a while. And that was good for me.
I’m glad it was good for you. I eonder if this is just another med that will be hard to get off of
It’s actually not! I found it helpful not to think about getting off people until you feel 100%. I came off twice at the right time and was doing really well!
I am debating whether to try. May I ask why you came off if you were doing well on it?
Sure! I have general depression not clinical. Meaning that I’m a stable person who most of the time can deal with issues by using cognitive behavioral therapy. So once I get to 100% I stay on med for about almost a year or 8 month and than gradually get off. Where I go from 100 to 75 for 2 weeks instead of one, just to monitor how I feel. And than 2 weeks 50. 3-4 weeks 25 and one week 17 mg. Again, I’m not a doctor so you have to consult yours. But this did work for me. But might not work for someone who lives in a constant state of depression. That will be a different case. There are people that need help all the time, and there are people that need it only temporarily. What I haven’t done however in the time after my last depression, is spent much time checking in with myself. So once I felt good and was off pills I thought I was done for a while. But the life put me on a different spin. So I’m probably going back to it yet again next week. Which is fine! As long as it can improve my sleep. I’ll do what I have to.
Thank you. I have tried several antidepressants, but still have not found one that really worked for me. I took them for about four months each. I finally gave up. I have only visited my general practitioner. I have not found anyone around where I live that can recommend a good psychiatrist. I song with many other people hate the thought of being on meds for years, but I am open to it if I find one that really helped me.
I am sorry to hear that!! Not everyone is lucky to find a fitting med right off the bat! Harder to find a good doctor too... so I get that. It looks like you need to continue searching. A lot of doctors do Teladoc so you can find someone this way. You have to also describe your symptoms and etc and what you felt on different drugs. I know my doc have added Rexulty at some point to get me to a 100%. And I was taking kolonopin on top of it all. So maybe you need a mixture too!
still reducing mine to half its been tough some days but i keep going with it.
my plan was to half for a month or so but decided to stick with it and soon
i will quarter them and see how it goes.we dont always need to be on them
but if they help the many why quit i just want to give it a go being medication free.
Best to you Kenster!
Sounds like a starter dose to me, check with the doctor, and yes you will xxx
I’m watching a show on how a guy with bipolar got off his lithium and felt he got his life back...
Star, I have heard of many people who are bipolar who took no meds or who stopped taking lithium or whatever else there is for that, and then wrecked havoc and caused misery in their lives. I think it uncommon for people to take lithium for bipolar, and come off it to find they then get their lives back. But people are all different. I have no direct experience with lithium myself. ❤️
Yeah I guess you are right Poodie thanks
I wonder what damage all meds are doing to the brain... I’m scared.
I don’t really think they do: it’s an old stigma. Zoloft is an awesome drug that set me free twice.
Really? Are you on it now? In what ways did it help you?
I’m not on it now, but will be discussing with doctor if I need to go on it this week. It did really help me to get my life back together. And think straight.
I think these drugs are made to be addicting to our bodies. I wish I wasn’t on them.
Maybe we need them. To me it is a legitimate need. They certainly just make me better. I do not call that an addiction.
Maybe our minds truly need them. I deserve to be happy and I am far from high.
Agree. I don't call it an addiction either. I'm dependent on my meds, but not addicted. We need them.
Hi Star:
I've accepted the fact I need meds for quality of life. Down the road if I'm able there's always a possibility I could wean off. Will see what happens. I just don't worry about them anymore.
I was on Zoloft for years and it worked well. I was on 200mg. Your dose is small, you have a ways to go to reach max dose.
Take care.
Thanks Dolphin. I just moved to 75 my doc tells me to be patient as it will take a while.
Hey Starrlight,
I'm sorry your frustrated with all these medications. I am too at times. I have reluctantly accepted that I can't live well without my Lexapro. I've tried coming off 4 times with no luck. I try not to think what all these drugs are doing to me since it just upsets me. Sometimes I can't help but wonder, though. I really hate being dependent on something to feel good.
I'm sorry you're frustrated and am here if you want to talk!🙂
If it works that’s great. I’m not sure what some of my meds are doing anymore.
Yep, I know what you mean! Its like they grab onto you and won't let go. It sure is frustrating! Sometimes I'm tempted to just take myself all anti-depressants and start over. I know in my mind that's not smart, though.
Exactly
Hi again!
Forgot to say that I had a psychiatrist in the States who was a little too loose with the prescription pad. When I started seeing a psychiatrist here in Norway (transferred here due to hubby's job), she was flabbergasted at the amount of pills I was taking and the high dosages. I've since been able to come off one antidepressant altogether, but seem to be stuck on Wellbutrin (albeit at a lower dose) and Lexapro.
Hey! Zoloft takes up to 7-10 weeks until all side effects subside. I was on it twice and am planning to start it this week again. Zoloft causes severe anxiety in the first two weeks. That’s why taking it with kolonopin or another anti anxiety drug will be very beneficial. Consult your doctor. I’ve noticed to have some anxiety issues on week 4-7-10. And after that o felt like I was a new happy person. Zoloft helped me personally. I’d say stick to it!!! It’s also not too hard to come off gradually when it’s time!
My doc won’t give me benzos. Thanks I’m glad it’s not hard to get off of. I’m glad, are you on it now? Do you still feel like a new happy person?
I’ve relapsed recently. So the journey will begin again and I hope my new doc will choose the same treatment.
idk what other peoples replies are but im speaking from my own personal experience. ive taken medication for years and asked myself the same question and actually stopped meds various times. i didnt want to be on medication for the rest of my life and i would stop i was feeling better so i would stop. very serious side affects can happen to you. especially if youve taken them for a long time. i have many different mental health diagnoses and i take a lot of meds. been on many many different kinds and also many anti-psychotic meds. every drug is different for each individual. people respond to them in different ways. if something worked for someone doesnt mean it will work for you and then again maybe it will. antidepressants take about a month to get full affects of the med. i dont want to be on meds for the rest of my life. i have stopped taking them many times and it always ended badly. i was started on meds in my teens and im 45 now and still taking them. one certain drug would cause some affect like make me gain weight or other things. so i would stop. i finally learned to speak with my dr first and we would try a different med. its not a one size fits all. and you may have to try different ones. one of the side affects that zoloft is known for is drowsiness. but keep in mind what i just said, it may cause a different person to feel energized (just a scenario. ) im glad you started feeling better taking it but just cuz ur on meds doesnt mean every day is going to be a good day. you will still have days where you may feel depressed. what i tell myself when i have a slump is this isnt permanent. this will pass. try and think positive. i know its hard when youre depressed to do anything, at least for me it is, but i absolutely have to force myself to do anything. but 7or8xs out of 10 it helps me. the #1 absolute way that helps my mental health is exercise. and it was extremely hard to get into the routine. but it helps me get my frustrations out and depression out. sorry so long. just try and give it a longer time to work in your system.
Thanks for your input. I’ll try to think positive. I’m so irritable and impatient trying to live life but feels like hell.
I get it but just know as hopeless and irritable n all the other feelings Remember this 2 shall pass-🌈🌷🌻🌼.I no easier said then done. It’s very hard for me having a “mental health day” as I call it. Especially cuz I’m all alone. I have my dog ,a friend that lives an hour away ,1 who’s in a nursing home, n one who lives at my apartment complex that takes me to store but she only has half a lung on each side so she can’t do anything. N I don’t have a license n in small town so it’s tough I no. I have days sometimes weeks that I’m totally down. I’m just trying to give another perspective from another person suffering. Take baby steps n if that’s simply getting up and taking a dish you just ate off of to kitchen to sink or brush your hair. Baby steps.Try building a tiny task each day. I genuinely wish you the best. YOU CAN DO THIS OKAY. Tell yourself over and over and over again . look in the mirror and tell yourself affirmations and if u look in mirror n those bad thoughts creep in tell yourself the opposite. Put up sticky notes places u always look at of positive affirmations about urself. Wish u the best
The short answer is, it depends on your illness. I have anxiety & depression, but it’s well-controlled on 117.5 mg of Effexor & having gone through DBT therapy, I have skills to fall back on. I do want to get down to 75mg eventually, but right now I feel so good, I don’t want to mess with it. I started out on Effexor, buspirone, Ativan, Remeron, & melatonin, so it is possible to wean off of some things once you are stabilized. NEVER mess around with your medications without talking to your psychiatrist first. Medications often take 2 weeks to a month to become fully effective so changing things around too quickly can make things much worse. I’m sure you know that stopping medications too quickly can be dangerous. All of this depends on your diagnosis & the severity of it. Find a good psychiatrist & let them know you eventually want to be on the fewest meds possible. You may have to start with a higher dose or more meds to stabilize. Then once you are stable, you & your psychiatrist can experiment with reducing or eliminating what you don’t need. Good luck!
(((((((((((((((Hug)))))))))))))) sounds good
Hi Startlight
Been where you are. It takes anywhere from 4-6 weeks for the meds to have full effect for some people. I think it's a bad idea to get off the meds, find a phychiatrist that will help you manage you meds and will find the right one for you. A phychiatrist can give you that one on one to work with you and help you get the right meds and give you something for anxiety until the meds kick in.
Please don't give up! Antidepressants helped saved my life! I have Imbalanced chemicals in the brain, so I will forever have to take meds. I'm now living a happy and normal life.
Thanks I hear you Weeden!
Hi Starrlight. I have tried them all over the last 30 years and while some of them helped, I finally found one that worked. It’s trial and error. Whenever I feel really well, I’m tempted to go off medication but eventually find that I need to go back on. Zoloft was the first medication they tried and for me it didn’t work but made me feel really strange. Hang in there and work with your doctor to find the right medication for you. 🙏
Same 30 years of trial and error!
Hi Starrlight, I agree with most of the posts. You have to let your doctor know how you are feeling and any symptoms you might be having. I went back in a month later and told my Doctor that I still felt the same. She not only upped the dosage on the Zoloft, but she added another medication (Clozapine) based on my symptoms. I felt much better after that, and have been continuing those medications for six months. You have to be straight with you doctor and tell them what you are thinking and feeling, this is not a time to hold back. They may have to keep trying different meds until it makes you feel better, but don't focus on that. I say, try not to add this situation to your anxiety and just work with your doctor. Also, if your doctor does not seem to understand you or you are not comfortable talking with them, choose another one until you are heard. Stay the course my friend. You will get there!!!
I hope so ... thanks my friend
It is hard to judge. Great strides are made every month or so in different Medical and Mental Health areas. While we wait for a day to get released from our medications we have to wait until God gives the inspiration as well as the means to achieve this day. I am hopeful that with the advances that are being made the day will be sooner rather than later.
Doing my day the best I can. Angry though, I try so hard and pray so much and feel like Im left behind by God.
There are periods of time God is silent. He uses these times to teach or Or allow you to come to him. God is listening. He is right there with you but may want you to learn a life lesson or is going to give you a solution in his time.
I had a similar issue and I really think I was misdiagnosed with depression and was put on ssri’s and other anti depressants. I saw a different doctor and told him I think I’m just overthinking and causing me to feel depressed. Took me off all my antidepressants and prescribed Valium and haven’t had any issues since. Maybe seek another opinion some of these dr’s just throw meds at you until something works best of luck if you have the money get a second opinion
My doctor won’t give me benzos but I got my hands on them and I still struggled. I was diagnosed a bunch of times with bipolar. People tell me I’m too hard on myself. I’ve just had it. Tired of going on this way.
You most definitely are too hard on yourself think about this we are all literally walking around on a rock floating through space pretending that we all know the only way to live correctly. Ups downs whatever you’ll get through it we’re all just pretending we know how to live correctly. Best of luck!
Smart of you
Meds don't cure anything, we have to retrain our minds. 95% of our minds are subconscious. All of our painful memories and conditioned habits are stored there. Meditation helps calm the mind and brain. Dr. Joe Dispenza has a good book called "Break the Habit of Being You".
Practicing mindfulness but I still need meds
Tara, I beg the differ! That's why so many people commit suicide, others telling them they don't need meds. Everyone can't retrain their mind. I have imbalance chemicals in my brain, I would rather take meds than be miserable and unhappy every day! That Dr that wrote the book must haven't suffered with what we go through and been through!
I never tell anyone not to take meds. I was just indicating that it isnt a cure. I take buspar. I have been learning to meditate which has calmed me alot and I need less med. I pray you feel better.💗
Sorry, I misunderstood you.
I Pray that one day it will be a cure!
However, for right now I thank God it's treatable!
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