Off My Meds

Hello.Some people have no problem weening off meds. Some have horrible issues, even when doing it the "RIGHT WAY" i am one of those people. I was on Zoloft while pregnant, and for a while after i had my baby. now i am on lexapro. i take 5 mg a day which is not even considered a dose, but it helps for the "edge" I know exactly how you feel. Maybe you need the lowest dose possible just to make you tolerate "life" a little better

N.,

I hope your doctor informed you that coming down off of the Effexor definitely has major side effects. These effects can go on for 2 sometimes, three weeks. Dizziness and agitation are two of the biggest and are par for the course when weaning from an antidepressant. These symptoms WILL subside. I don't agree with putting you on yet ANOTHER medication to 'help' you wean from the first. Your brain needs to normalize on it's own without outside help. It will be rough for the first couple of weeks but it does get better. Also, for the future, I would examine very carefully the reasons why you started the Effexor and decide whether or not those circumstances, feelings that made you need an antidepressant still exist. Discounting the present chaos from your withdrawl, I gather that you felt you didn't need any chemical help anymore. No matter what your doctor is suggesting, your decision to come off meds was a good one and she should also respect that decision. At 33, you don't want to face the rest of your adult life medicated. The longer you're on them, the harder it is to make the decision to stop. My suggestion in the meantime: Ride out the craziness that's going on right now and start putting into practice new ways of dealing with your anxiety (which WILL get better as your withdrawl wanes). There are many natural/herbal products and also lifestyle modifications that can help. Join a gym with a nursery and try some yoga or tai chi classes. A cousin of mine swears by meditation of any sort to deal with stress/depression.

Well, I hope my opinions/suggestions have helped some. Good luck and hang in there!

I would find a different doctor. What kind of doctor are you seeing? With the right medication you should not feel like a zombie. Also you should try cranial scarial theraphy most chiropracters do this and some massage therapist. There herabolist that is a nurse too. Her name is Donna Walls. If you would like more info, feel free to email me.

Hugs
jo

My husband just got off of 4 different meds- one of which was klonopin. It was a hard transition and a hard decision but I think the key is finding other ways to deal with your stress- maybe some therapy to learn to reel yourself back in or yoga - something so you can quiet your mind. It is hard and no ones life is ever "normal" after you have kids- and with four more power to you!! Good luck- I hope it works out for you

Hi N.,
What a great sense of humor you have, even through your trials. To compare "normal" to a washer setting is a hoot. I also admire your desire to stop putting chemicals in your body. I agree with you totally and that was my goal as well. For years I have studied what chemicals are doing to our bodies and have come to the conclusion that it is all bad. Especially since there are wonderful slternatives with no side effects but rather positive results. I'd be glad to share what I've learned. Feel free to contact me personally at ____@____.com the mean time, keep that great sense of humor.
S.

I'm a little long winded about this but I really hope that you listen. I'm depressed bipolar - which basically means I will be taking several chemicals for the rest of my life (I'm only 28) that will always include an antidepressant.I also hae to have tests run every year to make sure the medications I take aren't harming my body but it is worth it. I made my life MISERABLE for years because I refused to believe that how I was born wasn't completely "normal". Now that I am informed about my problem, I feel silly for having not listened to all of the doctoras in my life qho had told me I needed these medications.
Depression can stem from having a difficult time with a short period of your life (plenty of people I know have been on them just for a few months) OR it may be caused by the lack of certain chemicals in the brain. As humans we think we know our minds and scoff at even the trained professionals who we trust with every other area of our bodies. Most people on medications want to get off of them because they see no need to be on them anymore, they forget that the drugs are the thing regulating them and keeping them "normal". It isn't until they are off of them that they wonder why they can't handle life any more.
Basically, talk to your doctor openly about it, if you still aren't satisfied, talk to another. If they both agree that you need antidepressants - swallow your pride. I would much rather my family and children remember me as kind and loving than mean and hard to get along with. There are worse things than taking a pill everyday.

Are you opposed to any herbal remedies? I am not at all the person to tell you what is what, but I have an herbalist that tells me what is what ;) I do know that St. Johns wort is good though. You also may want to try adjusting your diet. It's amazing how foods affects mood. Some suggestions; first, keep a food diary for a week or so to really get a grasp on what you actually consume. Then try to adjust it. Eat plenty of raw fruits and veggies, soybeans, soy products, whole grains...complex carbohydrates. (a diet low in complex carbs can cause a depletion in serotonin and ^ depression). Avoid diet sodas (things with artificial sweeteners), aspartame can block the formation of serotonin. There are many other diet things that you can research and adjust as needed. You might also need a good multivitamin. Many people with depression (or other mood related illnesses) are low in folic acid and zinc. Ask your doctor about your specific depression and what the cause of it is and try to research the most "natural" way to self adjust it. Remember that diet and exercise will go a long way if you have the right combination for your body. Good luck to you, I hope you find what you need.
~L.

I have been there. I have been off and on anti-depressants over the past 11 years. It is nothing to be ashamed of. But if you are having these issues with anxiety, etc. this may just not be the right time for you to come off. From my own personal experience, I would suggest that you go back on for another 3-6 months, then try to taper off again. If the symptoms don't come back, then you know it was the right time for you.

wow sounds very hard for u! Well y r u trying to get off ur regular med anyways? I would make it clear u want it back(if it worked well) and that u dont want to go throuh a bunch of other meds with lots of side effects. (been there done that)
Express ur feelings about ur stress and how ur not handling it well. i really feel dr. will by past u unless u make it clear to them. or maybe try asking another dr. I do know going through a bunch of replacement meds will play with u badly. i wish u the best of luck!!:D

I am Type II Bi-Polar and Inattentive Type ADHD and have had my ups and down with medications. Though you're feeling like a zombie, listen to your doctor's advice. If the Klonopin is making you dizzy, etc., you need to let your doctor know that and maybe they can prescribe something else to ease the transition.
I've been up and down with meds and yes, it stinks! I started off taking Zoloft, then was on Lexapro for 1-2 years until I experienced HORRIBLE side effects (joint pain, fatigue, and I was developing an ulcer which landed me in the ER!), then Prozac which worked well, yet I was still constantly tired. I then was formally diagnosed in 2005 and have been taking Adderall since (for the ADHD). It's been tough finding a anti-depressant since Depakote pushes me too far into the Depression, I'm allergic to Lemectil, and Wellbutrin was again making me too tired, basically cancelling out the Adderall.
I've also been there where I feel like a raving lunatic! Many times I've caught myself getting too angry, snapping at someone and had to step back, take a deep breath and count to 10. When I get too agitated I take a walk, do something relaxing. I also have a great support system so if there are days where I'm feeling totally out of it/raging beast I can have my son go visit my parents or he does something special with my ex-husband. My son also knows about my "illness" and knows there may be days Mommy is tired, edgy, etc and not to be scared or think it's his fault.
Most importantly, talk to your doctor! Let him/her know what you're feeling and see if there's a different med to prescribe to you. I saw the comment about meditation and it's actually something my therapist recommended to me.

i am currently taking lexapro for depression it is also an antianxiety pill it has no side effects and is not addictive maybe this is something that you could try i am not perfectly "normal" on this med but i am happier and so is my family

Just a warning. If you do try herbal remedies make sure you ask your doctor first. I know (from experience) that they can interact with your prescription meds and cause SEVERE anxiety attacks.

Wow. Without reading every single response I have just one thing to say.

Zoloft.

Ive been on it for about 5 years. Not for depression but for PMDD and sleep problems galore. It has been the best thing for me. It can be used for depression I believe. There are also seratonin products on the market in the herbal or vitamin section. I dont know how well they work, but I would definately ask a doctor about it first.

Sometimes I think if it wasnt for the Zoloft I would have done something to regret later. My kids even call it my crazy medicine. They know if I have not taken it for a week.

Good luck.

Dear N.,
I so understand you feelings. I was medicated for 10 years. I should say over medicated for 10 years. I won't bore you with the details but after being over medicated for so long and getting worse not better I ended up at my family Dr. not psychiatrist, who checked my Throid closely. I was on a thyroid med already but not the right one and not enough. I now take 2 thyroid meds and only a little bit of paxil.
I think I was on close to 5 different drugs all at the same time for depression and anxiety, mostof the drugs I was on more than the optimal amount. I am not trying to diagnos you but it is worth a closer look. If your Dr is to fast with a RX pad you might want to find a new Dr. So many Dr.s don't listen they just write Scripts.
Some of my symptoms are depression, anxiety,fatigue, bone/muscle pain, dry skin, hair loss and at times heart irregularities. all or any can be a sign of uderactive thyroid. Unfortunately those are signs of many other things. It can be checked with a simple blood test.
I also know Klonipin is a very addidictive drug and coming off of it may be difficult as well. It is a very effective anti anxiety but you can have rebound anxiety when you come off of it. You might want to ask your Dr if there is an effective less adidictive step down med you can take.
I certainly understand the zoombie state I hated that feeling. Once I was off everything I felt so wonderful just to be clear headed. As someone else noted there are homeopathic and herbal remedies just make sure that everyone involved with your medicines knows all you are taking. The herbal stuff can realy effect you and the other drugs you are taking. I know St. Johns Wort can make birth control pills unaffective.
Best of luck. If you need to talk more please feel free to contact me her.
J.

Hey N. My name is C. and I am also on Effexor and I know exactly how you feel I dont have insurance and I have to pay for my medication a few at a time and when Im not on it which I had to go without for weeks I felt soo horrible...my head was so dizzy and what I describe as "swishy" I couldnt take it I was so emotional and out of control and as of now Im not on what Im supposed to be on because I cant afford it. I am going to be making an appt with a dr to get on a different med that maybe doesnt cost so much that I can be on the right dosage...I have suffered from depression since after I had my first daughter and even on my effexor I still feel shitty and have no energy and still dont feel like myself at all. Please feel free to message me im also on yahoo messenger.. behindthesehazeleyes75 hope to talk to you soon