Come down

I decided to stop taking anti-depressants for good. I’m sure they definitely work for other people who really need them, but I realize that they’re not for me. When I first started going through withdrawal, I thought that I was on the verge of having a stroke. I haven’t taken any anti-psychotic drugs for a week now but it’s still in my system. Not sure how long it will take, but I hope to get back on track soon.

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Get tapered slowly under doctor supervision

Feb 21, 2021 at 5:36am

Please do NOT just go off your meds like this without medical support and supervision.

Discontinuation from this type of medication often has significant side effects. You need to be tapered off slowly and with close monitoring to reduce and minimize bad side effects from discontinuation.

It can be done more safely under your doctor's supervision. I hope you follow this advice.

It's very tough finding a medication that can work and can be a lot of trial and error unfortunately, and each person does respond differently with how well they do work. I hope you have other mental health supports and talk to a professional. Stay safe.

A comment on meds

Feb 21, 2021 at 6:27am

Years ago I was given anti-depressants as a stand alone. At the time I needed mental health counselling but in Vancouver it just was not available or accessible like it is today(think 15 years ago) and the anti depressants just made me feel awful. Years later, with counselling, a better medication selection I hesitantly went back on anti-depressants but only as sleep medications. Even now they have limited success. It was actually adhd meds and ibs meds that was what I was what I should have been put on. The point I am trying to make is that you are correct in pulling back if they are not working, and that you can always re-try, dry out, figure out stuff. and maybe in the future have different success.

7 6Rating: +1

Oops

Feb 21, 2021 at 6:28am

Did no one ever tell you that you have to gradually go off that type of medication? It’s addictive, and that means you taper off gradually over at least a couple of weeks. Your body definitely went into massive withdrawal.

12 8Rating: +4

Hey OP

Feb 21, 2021 at 7:18am

I can relate. I stopped taking antipsychotics cold turkey and it definitely throws the brain for a loop. Same reasons as you, they work well for some but are not right for me.

Give yourself a month to level out and try to take care of yourself the best you can during that time. Wishing you best of luck.

10 5Rating: +5

Hope

Feb 21, 2021 at 7:48am

I really hope you are tapering off under a doctor's supervision. To just stop can cause all kinds of problems like brain zaps, psychosis, and suicidal ideation. Stay safe! Please at least let someone know who you trust and who can check in on you.

13 7Rating: +6

Mr. Homer

Feb 21, 2021 at 10:33am

If you're on anti-depressants and anti-psychotics, you should talk to your doctor/psychiatrist before making changes. Depending on your disorder you might have a perception you are doing well, take yourself off meds and then have a horrible relapse.

11 8Rating: +3

E. Orr

Feb 21, 2021 at 11:17am

I am not a psychiatrist. Meds are necessary BUT in most cases NOT FOR 10+ years!! I’ve had mental breakdowns. I compare a breakdown like a broken leg. The leg/bone is broken. It needs an X-ray, possible realignment... then a cast. I liken antidepressants to the cast the doctor puts on. You’re told not to put too much weight on it right away. All makes sense... only with a real doctor they tell you to come back to have the cast removed. Pill pushing psychiatrists have no intention of cutting off your cast. Big pharma doesn’t want this either. My description of being on antidepressants is not feeling terrible but never feeling happy/joyful either. At times the mental constipation explodes an emotional diarrhea. I just got fed up with trying to exercise my mind with a tattered, ten year old cast... that smells rancid. “Physio now, Dr?” I ask.
They say... “No no just keep that shitty cast on and we’ll figure something out next month. Ten years later and little progress has been made.
They are useful... like any drug. But once a patient realizes they are worse off 12 years later on over 16 different meds... I think you could say that truth at is shot. Also, if your psychiatrist is always bragging about a revolutionary program they’re in charge of. I’d ask for another.

I had this thought/question the other day...
If you were to ask psychiatrist and psychologist to self-diagnose themselves and be open about it...
Would they say that they themselves are normal? Probably get a similar response from a sociopath in Silicon Valley talking about creating their own governments in Nevada. Although, I still have a tremendous respect for Psychologists. They put in the work.

18 9Rating: +9

Sigh...

Feb 21, 2021 at 12:35pm

Suggestion-induced extended nocebo is a terrible thing if it's not reversed (or even addressable realistically by the person undergoing those experiences, in some cases).

4 3Rating: +1

@stop taking anti-depressants for good

Feb 21, 2021 at 1:09pm

Yes - for good ! Because Sigmund Fraud's cuckoo's nest is is evil personified. Suggest netsearch elder psychiatrist Dr. Peter Breggin

I had to do the same

Feb 21, 2021 at 1:55pm

Near decades ago I had a bad episode with someone and had a severe mental breakdown because of it. It was like living in poltergeist horror film. It was scary as Hell. Afterwards they put me on the anti-depressants and anti-psychotic drugs. They didn't help. The drugs just made me feel like a drooling vegetable and I couldn't concentrate or stay focused on anything. I didn't quit cold turkey. That's suppose to be dangerous. I just lowered my dosage bit by bit over time. I just smoke weed when I start feeling residual anxiety over that long but not forgotten nightmare.

13 7Rating: +6

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