Coming off anti depressants after 20+ years

bright_side

Thanks pink and well done to you x
I'm hoping my GP will let me have the liquid Citalopram so that I can go down from 20mg to 15mg next and see how that goes

daisy_darling

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 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.

I came off venlafaxine this january. Yes the withdrawal symptoms were a bit of a pain; disorientation, a hollow-feeling head, nausea, spaced-out-ness, but it only lasted a couple of weeks or so and got progressively better towards the end of the month.
I'll always be grateful that they were an option when i needed AD's because, patently, i'd have drowned in my own tears by now without them. BUT, having gone through the gradual weaning off business i feel great without them now.

My perception is sharper, the natural highs of lifes ordinary pleasures have been re-instated. I've rediscovered the joy in laughing Yes, things can make me sad and i strongly suspect that when you've been banjaxed by depression once, you remain pre-disposed to it but I've come out of my fugue with a useful self awareness. I have days when i can feel it lurking but i make myself think about calming/enjoyable things and so far [ it's been four months ] happy thoughts are winning out.

Good luck to anyone planning to come off their AD's.

daisy_darling

karen23 wrote: »

Well it's 2 weeks today since I reduced my dose, still early days, but so far apart from some strange headaches and some really random dreams, I'm feeling no different

OMG the dreams ! I'd forgotten about them.

My weirdest was about a homunculous who lived in a tin of Chappie in our fridge door. Every time i opened the fridge he'd be sitting on his dog meat throne and screeching at me for turning on the light :eek:

bright_side

Sorry but.......:rotfl:

Nothing quite as freaky as that for me. In fact I can't even remember any of mine now!

bright_side

16 weeks today on 20mg and no problems whatsoever :T During that time I have split from my partner of 6 years (my decision - everything that was wrong with the relationship suddenly came to light when I wasn't so dosed up!)

Even though I feel great I am going to hold off reducing further for the time being as I found out a few weeks ago I am going to have to move house. I think it will be stressful enough without trying to quit the tablets too.

Certainly when I am re-settled I will continue my journey

meritaten

bright_side wrote: »

16 weeks today on 20mg and no problems whatsoever :T During that time I have split from my partner of 6 years (my decision - everything that was wrong with the relationship suddenly came to light when I wasn't so dosed up!)

Even though I feel great I am going to hold off reducing further for the time being as I found out a few weeks ago I am going to have to move house. I think it will be stressful enough without trying to quit the tablets too.

Certainly when I am re-settled I will continue my journey

That sounds sensible to me - you reduce the dosage only as and when you are comfortable with the dosage you are on and you know you dont have any stressful events coming up!
You sound like you are doing really really well - it isnt easy as you know - but it is worth it!
It will take as long as it takes hun! :T:T:T:T:T this is for doing so well in such a short space of time!

bright_side

Thanks meritaten xx