Coming off anti depressants after 20+ years

bright_side

Thank you Meritaten, that's exactly what I needed to hear

Dunroamin

meritaten wrote: »

karen - years ago my MIL was on very addictive anti-depressants. and sleeping tablets.
I was horrified at the amounts she was taking and persuaded her and her GP to slowly reduce them - it took time (a couple of years) but she did get off them.
I actualy blame the GP - he just signed repeat prescriptions and never saw her from one year to the next - and all she had to do to get the dosage upped was to ask the receptionist - and that stupid doc just signed it!
and yes MIL was of the opinion that Valium was the way she would cope for the rest of her life as she would 'always be depressed'!

It wasnt easy Karen - the reduction in dose would be hard for MIL each time - but she did it - only thing she did that made me have some respect for her. but she deserved it for that.

Valium is really a tranquilliser rather than an antidepressant and they're much harder to come off.

VfM4meplse

krlyr wrote: »

If you were taking insulin for diabetes, would you feel the need to wean yourself off it after 20 years just to "go it alone"?

No comparison, depression is a relapsing-remittng conditon whereas type 1 diabetes is chronic progressive.

karen23 wrote: »

I haven't seen a Phychiatrist since 1991 shortly after the ECT finished. Up until about 7 years ago I saw a GP regularly for reviews, but since then they've pretty much left me to it.

I can accept that you have suffered with the most severe end of depression, but that doesn't mean a life sentence on anti-depressants. They can be a useful interim measure to get a person functiioning again, but the answer has got to come from yourself - far easier said than done. In your circumstances I would suggest it's a very bad idea to go it alone, and can understand a GPs reluctance to put you at any further risk but I think it would be possible to be weaned off and get a good outcome under specialist supervision with CAMHS support. 20 years is a very long time ago, and approaches to managing depression have changed.

VfM4meplse

meritaten wrote: »

I actualy blame the GP - he just signed repeat prescriptions and never saw her from one year to the next - and all she had to do to get the dosage upped was to ask the receptionist - and that stupid doc just signed it!

What you are describing is a total travesty of medicine - and probably a case of puttiing inappropriate trust in non-clinical staff. Times have changed thank goodness.

System

My only experience of coming of them so far was when i've (whilst manic) decided i didn't need them and just stopped taking them, a VERY bad idea! I too have been told i may need them for life but i'm hopeful i will be able to come off them at some point. I think as long as you have the full support of your doctors etc then follow thier advice and taper off, just please don't suddenly stop them like i did!

wishing you luck

preciousillusions

Venlafaxine/Effexor is also notoriously bad for withdrawal symptoms. I really want to come off of it but not sure I can handle it, If I miss one dose I get very physically and mentally unwell very quickly. Have heard of people resorting to cutting up pills into smaller doses or even counting out the little balls in capsules and reducing them gradually, in an attempt to wean themselves off it. I do wish I'd never been put on them and that I had stayed on Prozac instead as can't see much difference in the benefits of them yet prozac is far easier to stop. I hate feeling so reliant on the pills.

I do urge you to definitely speak to your GP about this and do it slowly. If you do feel that you are at a time in your life where things are more stable and you don't need the medication anymore that is great, but just go very carefully with it. Going cold turkey on anything you've been taking for so long is certainly not a good idea.

VfM4meplse

preciousillusions wrote: »

Venlafaxine/Effexor is also notoriously bad for withdrawal symptoms. I really want to come off of it but not sure I can handle it, If I miss one dose I get very physically and mentally unwell very quickly. Have heard of people resorting to cutting up pills into smaller doses or even counting out the little balls in capsules and reducing them gradually, in an attempt to wean themselves off it. I do wish I'd never been put on them and that I had stayed on Prozac instead as can't see much difference in the benefits of them yet prozac is far easier to stop. I hate feeling so reliant on the pills.

(((Hugs))) I wish you would send this anecdote to the BMJ, so psychiatrists and GPs could understand first hand what damage they are inflicting on patients in a misguided attempt to manage the risk of suicide. Drug companies are just preying on doctor's insecurities in the way they promote these products.

Dunroamin

preciousillusions wrote: »

Venlafaxine/Effexor is also notoriously bad for withdrawal symptoms. I really want to come off of it but not sure I can handle it, If I miss one dose I get very physically and mentally unwell very quickly. Have heard of people resorting to cutting up pills into smaller doses or even counting out the little balls in capsules and reducing them gradually, in an attempt to wean themselves off it. I do wish I'd never been put on them and that I had stayed on Prozac instead as can't see much difference in the benefits of them yet prozac is far easier to stop. I hate feeling so reliant on the pills.
.

I came off those by switching to Prozac as well. Might be worth a try.

Fourcandles_3

Karen I'm on Citalapram (40mg) and it takes a week for me to notice the effects. Because of this so I'm hoping to reduce my dose to half that. I guess it really does depend on the individual?

Suspiria

Dunroamin wrote: »

I came off those by switching to Prozac as well. Might be worth a try.

How did you come off the venlafaxine and go on the prozac, and what dosage are you on? Ive tried to come of it and found it impossible! Like another poster has mentioned i become ill mentally and physically if i even miss one tablet. Im on 225mg of venlafaxine a day, and im worried about heart damage. Thats why i want to come off it.