Absolutely! It makes me laugh the way they talk about 'discontinuation syndrome' as though its totally different from withdrawal. But to call it withdrawal would be admitting that SSRIs cause dependence...
Yeah it's pretty ridiculous ain't it? Although when Public Health England did that recent review of potentially addictive prescription drugs they included antidepressants alongside benzos, z-drugs, and opioids, so they are finally recognising the dependence liability these things can have even if the pharma companies don't.
Sad it took so long though honestly. The way the medical establishment only cares about withdrawals if the drug is abusable is still mad to me. No doubt that SSRI withdrawal can be every bit as bad as benzo withdrawal.
Coming off any type of antidepressant can have a huge scale of side effects, from seizures to feelings of flu type symptoms, to just feeling a bit meh and everything in between.
For what it's worth with my Micky Mouse PhD and all, I wouldn't have given your son antidepressants. I'd have sent a referral to a developmentalist, and let them take it from there.
How well would this work in practice if the kid is sitting in front of you depressed right now? I'm thinking of referral times on the NHS mostly, but also the "revolving door" nature of the whole system even once you do get in.
When I was a teen I got a referral to my local CAHMS service because I was self-harming (no one gave a shit until you could see it physically, typical) and it took six months to see anyone, and once I got in I had three sessions of CBT and a single 15 minute appointment with a psychiatrist before being kicked out because I was no longer "severe enough" to warrant support even though I was still far from well.
The only way I've ever gotten proper mental health care is through private specialists, but this is obviously not an option for everyone and I'm lucky enough that my 'rents had good jobs that gave the family private health insurance as a benefit (and I have such a job myself now - but again, most people do not).
I've said it before and will say it again, if I was left to the NHS with nothing else to fall back on I'd probably have offed myself long ago.
Not having a rant at you understand, but the state of NHS mental health care today is even worse. I saw a stat saying the target is for 1/3 of young people with mental illness to get treatment.
So while I had a bad time on SSRI's I'm honestly still glad they did at least try something while I was stuck on a waiting list for a referral. Even a mild placebo effect at that point would have been a blessing.
Thanks again!, I am very lucky to have a close Freind as my Dr for many years. We have been through the wars together, alcoholism,cancer, PTSD, and the wonderful side effects of aging,and Cancer treatments.
We started on very strong opiates for pain , and have lowered to hydros, and a bunch of other treatment to work through radiation pain, and anxiety.
As I said he wants me on 20 msg of lexapro, but I only do 10.
Now I don’t feel great, and he says I can feel better with the 20, but I would like to not be on them at all?? The only problem is that if I go off them , yes I will get the highs, but they no way make up for that possible deep dark Hole I can get in to where I can not get out of bed?..
The decision can only be made by you. Why is it you want to get off them, too many side effects? If you are worried about feeling very low if you come off them you can maybe try an alternate medication. There's many SSRI's and SNRI's to run through as well as the atypical antidepressants.
. Since we have only been here a Drop in the Ocean in Cosmic time. But I do find too much time in my head can confuse me greatly
