Anti depressants withdrawal

[mo222]

Hi everyone, I'm currently weaning myself of anti depressants under my g.p. I've been reducing my dosage over a 6 weeks period my final tablet was last Friday but the last 3 days I've felt dreadful body aches & electric shock type feelings in my head on & of throughout the day. I've been on them for around 15 years and feel they don't do much I'm still depressed so having a go at coming of them. Does anybody know if these withdrawal symptoms will pass?

[Dell12345]

Hi mo, The withdrawal symptoms will pass yes. How are you feeling without them?

[mo222 in reply to Dell12345]

Not brilliant if I'm honest, it's the muscle aches, head zaps & blurred vision that's bothering me the most. With regards to mood not much different. I almost surrendered this morning and had a tablet. But will try my best to stick it out.

[Dell12345 in reply to mo222]

Ah that sucks. It's a really hard thing to do. Often GPs don't really understand and try to get people to come off them too quickly. It's often best to do a really really slow taper.

Which medication is it?

I know venlafaxine and mirtazapine need a particularly slow taper x

[mo222 in reply to Dell12345]

Escitaloprám, been on them for around 15 years. I guess even with a 6 week reduced dosage there's going to be some effect. Never expected to feel like this though 🥴

[Dell12345 in reply to mo222]

Ah ok. 6 weeks isn't much if you went from full dose to none. I have found a couple of months at a reduced dose is needed for each reduction.

If the tablets are not prolonged release you can cut them up to do a slower taper than the tablet dose increments.

From mirtazapine I went from one 15mg tablet, to 3/4, to 1/2, to 1/4 over a total period of about a year.

Hope you feel better soon, it's tough to come off and takes the brain a while to adapt to. X

[mo222]

Thanks for your kind words. I agree, it would make sence to do it over a longer period. I will speak to my g.p, thanks again for your feedback x

[lell1]

15 years vs 6 weeks? It will take some time for the body to break the habit, just like any other drug addiction. It will fight you, e.g. withdrawal symptoms and these can leave you feeling dreadful. Good to hear you’re doing under supervision. If things get too challenging talk with the gp. Alternatively, you could try meditation or join an exercise group maybe?

[Hidden]

Eventually they pass although you have been on them for many years. Yes most people come of these medications although it can take an extended period. You could try a tablet every day or rwo days, if it is a problem. You bacically mneed to be patient

I have been on medications for many decades and just take one tablet minimum dose every day and that keeps me calm, sometimes, if I need to increase my wife feeds me more meds an extra minimal dose of one tablet My wife looks after my medications as my memory is bad.

When I was reducing these medicarions it was not to bad, although doses were dictated to me, sometimes someone may be able to watch over you meds to help you in your family, if not given you have stopped taking these meds, be strong and move on drug free, you seem to have managed quite well