MOTHEROFPEARL
member
Reged: 17/02/2008
Posts: 306
Loc: gravesend kent
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i got quite a shock , on monday ,ive been on anti depressants for 18 months , now i know you just cant come off these tablets , but in jan i found my way again , and was feeling stronger ,,so i decided to start slowly cutting down my dosege and it was strange and hard every time i stopped a tablet 48 hrs i would go down hill and feel awfull , but i carried on the same plan every week untill i noticed that i wasnt actually wasnt missing the tablet , this has taken nearly a year , im down to 5 tablets in 7 , and cant seem to get any further ,i went to doctors on mon and he said that i shouldnt be comming off these this fast , and something that i hadnt considered ,is that i may never come off these , i have always said that by the time i go on holiday next year im going to be off them completely , doctor says no way ! once depression gets hold of you ,its with you for life , and poping a pill daily is just one of those things ,
that cant be right can it ?
has anyone else had simular things said to them, ?
has anyone actually come off thier tablets ?
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Teresa x x
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Alakazsam
member
Reged: 12/09/2008
Posts: 272
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No thats totally not right, it should definately not be like that and doctors are too quick to prescribe them without every really explaining these things to people I think. there was an article I read in a magazine lately about 3 different women who have tried for years to come off valium and experienced terrible symptoms of withdrawal. when i was in my early twenties a doctor prescribed me prozac as I had been made redundant and was in a bad relationship and a few other bits and I got the prescription and kept the tablets in a drawer and never took them because I have quite an addictive personality and will admit that if something is working for me or I enjoy it then I wouldnt want to come off it and I would have been trapped in the same thing and didnt want something false to be controlling my personality for any length of time and decided that I had to work through it myself and come out the other side without it otherwise I would be addicted to it. my hairdresser has been on things for years and has struggled desperately to come off them too. I know that they are necessary in some cases and i am not in anyway saying that nobody needs them but i do think that if a doctor prescribes them then a patient should be in full receipt of all the facts first or maybe offered or guided to alternative therapies.
I hope I have put that all in the right way and dont come across wrong with what I have said...
I wish you all the luck in moving forward with this, if your own doctor doesnt think you can move forward I would seek a second opinion.
K
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annemari
member
Reged: 07/03/2008
Posts: 2234
Loc: Gloucestershire.
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Hi MOP  ,It's an awful shock when you make this kind of discovery isn't it? I do feel for you.
Way back in 1978,I had a sudden,without any warning whatsoever,massive Epileptic Fit. I was 25 years old. After an initial stay in hospital,it was confirmed via various tests that I had indeed developed epilepsy. Both my parents,brothers and myself were bitterly disappointed,
confused and dejected that it had happened. However,after a long talk with the exceptionally kind consultant,who explained that these things do happen and can happen to anybody at anytime no matter how well they feel,I was prescribed anti-depressants. The question was asked how long I would need them,and the reply was a minimum of a year and a maximum was for life.
Stupidly,a year later,I had had enough of taking tablets and feeling old and different,so I stopped,just like that. Needless to say,I had another massive attack within days,and this time the consultant still very kindly,but very very firmly told me that I must expect to be on them for life. I cried for days.
Still, there is a sort of happy ending,in as much as initially my tablets were 100g and 200 gram they are now 30 gram and 100mg,but that appears to be the final settling limit. Also,about 19 years ago,I had an sudden attack while washing up,I knew I was going to fall and the floor was quarry tiled so I aimed successfully for the dog basket. My ED,who was about to go to her Saturday job,rang the ambulance,but by the time the crew turned up I was sitting on the floor having a glass of water. I was taken to hospital,and was so pleased when the consultant I saw told me that as I hadn't lost consciousness,my body was fighting back. Six months later and no attack,the gram dosage of my tablets was reduced,and dropped steadly thereafter until they reached the point they are now,as mentioned above.
My advice to you would be to take your doctor's advice,carry on with your prescribed medicine and to say to yourself 'To hell with it,there is no shame in feeling as I have done,that's life.' You never know,your acceptance may just be the answer you are really looking for. Who knows the day may then come when you are told 'Mrs 'MOP' we are going to reduce your medication again. If it doesn't,don't worry,because everything comes to those who wait.
Thinking of you and fully understanding.
Annemari x
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Annemari xx
 "Hey Tinker,do you think we will have a Secret Santa as well?"......"Not telling!!"
 "Dunno Eric,whose Mum a Secret Santa to then?....."
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Onceshy
member
Reged: 10/08/2008
Posts: 232
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I too take antidepressants after some recurrances of the episodes with panic attacks despite counselling. I used to feel asahamed of this but a chat with my Practice Nurse helped me realise that depression isn't such a bad thing and more of a chemical imbalance. She too was on long term antidepressants. Hearing this was like a weight off my shoul,ders and I now take a low dose antdepressant regularly. I am more open about this now but not to everyone obviously. It's not a failure but a strength to cope with this.
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upsadaisy
member
Reged: 17/08/2008
Posts: 215
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Aren't we lucky to live in an age where treatment is available to us all, be kind to yourself,
Upsadaisy
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jaz45
member
Reged: 30/08/2008
Posts: 13
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I think it depends on what type of antidepressant you are on. For some types they say you should be on them for at least 2 years. I think they have now found that some antidepressants are addictive but not all. I was on trycylic which are used for pain and antimuscarinic effects, had no problem coming of these, was on them for 4 years. Have recently gone back on them. They do say though for some types they may not be as effective second time round.
Basically their are 3 types of antidepressants MAOIs, SSRI's and Trycylic, even with these there are quite a few types within each category. it would be difficult to advice you with out knowing exactly what ones you are on.
The British National Formulary is a very good web site, it is what all doctors in the nhs use to prescribe drugs, it use to be free to register, not sure if it still is, i have access if you would like me to look for you. I would need to know the name of your antidepressant.
once you have found out more information i would go back to your GP, it is always best to take professional advice rather then relying on the Internet. Perhaps if your practice has another doctor you could see them for a second opinion. it may be useful to write down any questions on a piece of paper and take it with you.
Let me know how you get on good luck Jaz
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LadyGodiva
member
Reged: 19/09/2006
Posts: 294
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Never say never and nothing is forever is what I would say to you. I think it is easier for your GP to say to you that you should accept taking the medication forever than to invest the time in supporting and helping you withdraw. Of course it does depend on the specific nature of your depression. Your GP is a 'jack of all trades' and before you accept medication as a forever part of your life I would seek the advice of the experts and see a psychiatrist. It is often the case that psychiatrists change GP prescribed medication for something they regard as more apropriate. The other question I would ask is have you had the support of 'the talkiing therapies' or CBT to help you manage your depresssion and support you cming off it?
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Ashbee
member
Reged: 13/06/2008
Posts: 845
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I was given some antidepressants by my former doctor who declared I would need to take them for the rest of my life. I felt defeated. But about a year later I felt determined to come off them and gradually reduced my dosage and did finally come off them. Afterwards, I read stories on the internet about people who had been on them for decades and had had their dosages upped and upped whereas the professional guidance was saying they shouldn't be taken long term...who can you believe?
I'd say go with your own instinct. The side effects of the drug became more of a nuisance than the benefit in my case and I took a chance...but I wouldn't suggest this is right for everyone.
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ButterflyBlue
member
Reged: 19/05/2007
Posts: 2013
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Hi MoP, I wouldn't want to advise you on any medication but can you see a different doctor and get a second opinion. There is no shame in taken anti-depressants and depression is an illness if you were diabetic etc that needed daily medication you wouldn't have second thoughts. Don't be so hard on yourself.
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So far so good,so far so good (Magnificent Seven)
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camomile
member
Reged: 02/04/2008
Posts: 48
Loc: cheshire
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Hi Teresa, I think that must have been a real shock for you and can entirely empathise with how you are feeling. I am on lots of medication for various ailments, i don't like taking them as they have side effects, like most drugs you have to weigh up the pros and cons and then make a decision.
Lots of people feel ashamed of being on antidepressants, i think that is just silly, i agree with others it's no different then popping any other pill. If it makes you feel better then you otherwise would be then why not. It's not a sign of weakness, it's far braver to ask for help then to pretend you don't have a problem and bury your head in the sand.
I think you need to think seriously why you want to come off them. If it is because of side effects then that is fine, and perhaps even think of trying others. if it is because you feel fine then perhaps go back and discuss all your concerns with your GP. If there is another GP at your surgery then you could ask for a second opinion, list all your question down before hand and take it with you.
Antidepressants aren't always as effective second time around and so that is why many gp's like to keep people on them for as long as possible, as others have said some need to be taken for at least 2 years to get the full benefit. These are the sorts of questions you probably need to ask your GP. They have probably seen hundreds of people coming off them and probably know what the upside and the downside of doing this is.
I would definitely go back to your GP and be honest with him/her tell him/her how upset it has made you feel thinking you will be on this medication for life, and if it would be possible to eventually come off them.
I am sure there are answers to your situation, sometimes you just need to ask the right questions and be honest and persistent.
I wish you luck in getting the answers you need.
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wisp1
member
Reged: 14/09/2007
Posts: 108
Loc: Derbyshire
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I have been on antidepressants twice in my life. Once during a very bitter divoice when I was on them for around 4 years. I have been on them this time for nearly 3 years. Both times I came off them very gradually, instead of 2 a day I took 1 a day, then cut down to 1 every other day and then 1 every 2 days and I am now on 1 every 4 days. There have been times when I was upset and have been tempted to increase them again but so far have managed.
Im sorry but I dont agree with your doctor, I know lots of people who have suffered depression and are now off medication. Most people become depressed due to circumstances at the time, remove the circumstances and the depression improves. Medication is brilliant at helping you cope and for me it proved a life saver, but to say that I will be depressed for the rest of my life is simply not true.
Taking antidepressants while you need them is sensible and no different to taking any other medication but if you feel able to cope without them I cant see why your GP is so against this. I reduced my dosage myself but when I told my GP he was very pleased as he was going to suggest this course of action to me. I think you need to do what feels right for you. Personally I dont want to take a tablet I dont need for the rest of my life. If in the future I suffer from depression then I would consider medication but I have always considered it to be a short term help rather than a lifelong committment.
Well done for reducing your dosage and managing so well up to this point.
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