Can I go to rehab to get off of an Anti-depressant?

[Visionary_Kpsycho]

I have done numerous drugs. Everything from Cocaine, to Ketamine, Cannabis, DMT, Acid, Mushrooms, Oxycontin (80s) (40s), Dallys, "BENZOS" (Xanax, Lorazepam, Clonazepam, Oaxzepam, Midozolam) MDMA, Salvia, and of course alcohol; random drugs i don't even know, I have been addicted ect..... I have been able to come off all these drugs, (hardest one was Xanax for me actually) I have a huge anxiety problem, since a vertigo problem when i was young (17) 4 years later now, I want off my anti depressant. It is 10mg of Cipralex (Escitalopram) every morning. I WANT OFF IT. But here's the thing. I don't know if I can do it, because I have taken it everyday and I am afraid of the electric shocks that people experience and I am not sure how hard it is to quit........ BTW I live in canada, so if anyone knows of a rehab for SSRIS please msg me or post on here. But how are people's experiences on here on getting off of SSRIS for people who suffer from strictly panic attacks/anxiety? I made my decision I want off, I don't care about people saying "well you might actually need them" (bullshit) I want off them, and I need your help Bluelight . So please can someone tell me how to get off it. I don't do any drugs anymore. All I do is drink alcohol (a glass of wine a night a few glasses; Maybe some beer) and Clonazepam (1-2mg a day)

Any help would be GREAT please people, you have helped me out numerous times, I need your help again.

Sincerely,

Visionary_Kpsycho

 

[aussie101]

Electric shocks only last for a week. I think they are blown way out of proportion. There are also a number of supplements that help with brain health and depression. ime i think going to rehab for an ssri is a waste of time.

Hope this helps.

 

[Morphling]

Why don't you simply titrate your dose down over a few weeks, in the normal way, with your doctors supervision? I don't know for certain, but I'm guessing that there isn't a whole lot they would be able to do for you in rehab to mitigate unpleasant symptoms from the cessation. I'd raise the possibility that you're a little too worried about this, due to your anxiety issues. Doctors have thrown tons of antidepressants at me, in typical fashion, including higher doses of the drug that you are on, and while coming off of them is unpleasant sometimes, it was never anything close to the horror of withdrawing from an actual addictive substance.

 

[L2R]

talk to whoever is prescribing it to you about tapering off gradually.

 

[dopemaster]

I was on SSRI type meds among other things like antipsychotics. Really 5 different things. I quit them all. I used a fast taper. I felt so much better even halfway through the taper. I never looked back. I did stay on the benzos though. My phsychiatrist dropped me and I had to get my benzos thru my regular doctor. I did forget to mention I walked about 5 miles a day when I stopped the psych meds and that helped alot.

 

[modern buddha]

It partially depends on how well different kinds of therapies work for you. It might work for some people and not at all for others.

I wouldn't start to taper without a couple things:

1. A medical professional's opinion and warnings
2. Noticing a difference in your mood and depression levels while going to therapy

 

[euphoria]

^What she said.

And also...
Just taper it off suuuuuuuper gradually, and you should be fine. Like, more gradually than you think. I am still tapering off, after starting the taper like a year ago. I just lower the dosage a little bit, whenever I start to feel "normal" again. The withdrawal anxiety only lasts for a few days that way. You can barely notice it.

 

[smokemctoke420]

dude i took concerta and prozac everyday for years. i went to a "christian rehab" and they said no mind altering substances and so i had to stop it all cold turkey, including cigs.

i had no problem with it except the cigs. ive never even heard of these "electric shocks" you are talking about.

 

[euphoria]

Stopping ssri's cold turkey, or tapering too quickly, can cause those "electric shocks". I've personally never felt one, but a friend who was tapering off the same medication experienced a few of them. You might not experience any if you taper slow enough and take care of your body while you're doing it.

 

[Apostacious]

Just cross-over to fluoxetine (which has an extremely long blood plasma half-life), and taper with it. Generic fluoextine is extremely cheap, and I doubt there's a pdoc around that wouldn't prescribe it.

 

[What 23]

I took Celexa for a couple of months, and I think I stopped cold turkey with no ill effects... But that was only a few months use. I don't think I was really depressed. Also stopped Remeron with no issue related to it, that I can remember... But that is not SSRI.

Like others have said, best taper. Maybe take some supplements like L-Theanine, extra B vitamins if they work for you, green tea, fish oil... I don't know.

Pumpkin seeds are supposed to be good for depression/ anxiety. I notice on days I eat them my mood is elevated. Maybe chew on those. Preferably not salted.

Take care. Good luck.

 

[beagleboy]

Yes, say lies to get yourself a bakers act/ 2 physicians care paper....source the info and what the words you havr to say are to get yourself "
locked up" in your Hospitals mental Health center.
The staff dont offer patients any daily psychological therapy, but, this one time, I went in for 2 weks, cold turkey off of Suboxone. Suboxone has THE WORST withdrawls. casue of the staffs knowledge and care, I didnt suffer at all.
protect yourself, and, like a social worker once told me: demand and be sure "they" know what you want. It takes smarts on your part to make things happen that need get done.

 

[T. Calderone]

Getting off the SSRI's is not so hard. I was taking paxil and learned I was pregnant. My doctor advised me to wean down to every other day and I quit taking them with no problem. I didn't get any brain zaps and felt fine. My concern is you're also taking clonazepam and that will be harder to step down if you want to that is.

I don't agree with the above post advising you to Baker act yourself. Coming off suboxone is much harder than SSRI's so that may have been a good solution in his/her situation. I wouldn't recommend this for you. I've been sectioned twice and once they have you in a lockdown facility, they got you. 72 hours hold could easily turn into weeks. You can do this without being hospitalized. Talk with your doctor before attempting to stop taking this medication.