• HEALTH & RECOVERY
    Welcome Guest
    Posting Rules Bluelight Rules Thread Directory 1 Thread Directory 2
    Mindfulness Links Addiction & Mind
    Sober Living Partner Program (SLiPP)
  • H&R Moderators: VerbalTruist

Quitting Anti-Depressants

1

12pm

Greenlighter
Joined
Aug 7, 2009
Messages
2
I was on Prozac 20mg for about a month and a half and then switched to Wellbutrin extended release 300mg and Cymbalta 30mg, which I have been on for about two weeks. None of these meds seem to change the way I feel at all, they only make me feel like a zombie. In fact I didn't take any of my meds today, and it was the first time I felt great in a while. I'm also convinced that the doctors I've seen look at me like I'm a cash cow, not a patient with a problem. I would like to stop taking all anti-depressants, but I'm worried about withdrawal symptoms. Since I have not been on these pills a very long time, what is the risk of going into withdrawal if I quit cold turkey?

I came here for help because when I told my current shrink about this he coldly ordered me to stay on the medication and come in for regular visits, he then reminded me that he is a Columbia graduate with 24 years of medical experience. That was the last straw.
 
These meds have a half life of close to a week. Stopping taking them for a day won't remove the drug already in your bloodstream- its most likely to be a psychological effect that gave you the "great" feeling.

If you want to come off the meds tell your doc and he should get you to cut down gradually. Stopping SSRIs cold turkey can be dangerous even after just a couple of months.
 
why would you want to give up anti depressants.

I have been severely depressed with no motivation and concentration to do ANYTHING.

Now since ive been on prozac I feel like life is worth living, fair enough I may feel numb but I dont feel like crying every minute of the day.

TBH I am fcuking glad I have no emotion now, because I feel so much stronger in the head.

ANTI DEPRESSANTS have actually saved my life
 
"Quitting Anti-depressants".. is the smartest thing you can do.

Those mind fuck "medicines" are fake bullshit.

So 1/3 of the people that take them get "better"?

No, it's jsut that they provide a "head change".

A "buzz" you could say.

They fix nothing, cure nothing. Get off em if you can.

Lot's of drugs give you a "head change", or "high".

Don't think there is nothing else after anti-depressant meds. Start researching on your own.
 
If you have clinical depression then you need to be on medication. If you were prescribed these medications chances are they were prescribed for a good reason. As another member said above, stopping your medications for one day won't do anything; they remain in your system for quite a long while once they get to therapeutic levels in your bloodstream.

Additionally, you must remain on any of these medications for at least one month or two before they reach full therapeutic levels in your system and the side effects begin to subside; only then can you tell if the medications are helping you or not. This stuff doesn't just work in a week or so. Be patient.

I have been on and off of many different psychiatric medications since the age of 17. Now, ten years later, I've found the right combination of medications that actually work to quell the symptoms of my bipolar disorder. It may take you a long time, lots of trial and error, before finding a successful regimen.

The worst possible thing that you can do to yourself and to ruin your life is to stop taking your medications. I know you do not want to hear that but it is the truth; I had to learn that the hard way. I hope you don't.

sdripper said:
"Quitting Anti-depressants".. is the smartest thing you can do.

Those mind fuck "medicines" are fake bullshit.

So 1/3 of the people that take them get "better"?

No, it's jsut that they provide a "head change".

A "buzz" you could say.

They fix nothing, cure nothing. Get off em if you can.

Lot's of drugs give you a "head change", or "high".

Don't think there is nothing else after anti-depressant meds. Start researching on your own.
Click to expand...

This is, by far, the worst, ill-informed, most dangerous recommendation that I have ever seen spouted. Medications fix a lot, they help a lot. Without medications I wouldn't be here today, along with many, many others. I'm sure there are others here on BL that will agree.
 
^^^

I agree with you man, that post is rediculous!
I know loads of people who say anti depressants have helped them.
 
bighooter said:
^^^

I agree with you man, that post is rediculous!
I know loads of people who say anti depressants have helped them.
Click to expand...

But living without a drug in your system constantly would be preferred, no? I agree that sdripper is getting a bit extreme but I totally see the point of not wanting to rely on a drug to make it through life ok. Allright, so the drug is sanctioned by common opinion aswell as medical consensus, and is physically benign, but it's still a drug!
 
sdripper said:
"Quitting Anti-depressants".. is the smartest thing you can do.

Those mind fuck "medicines" are fake bullshit.

So 1/3 of the people that take them get "better"?

No, it's jsut that they provide a "head change".

A "buzz" you could say.

They fix nothing, cure nothing. Get off em if you can.

Lot's of drugs give you a "head change", or "high".

Don't think there is nothing else after anti-depressant meds. Start researching on your own.
Click to expand...

I completely agree.
 
you really have no idea do you.

Do you know how irate I am because of your ignorant pathetic mind

Severe depression isnt something you can sort out on your own believe me I have had councelling, read countless books, done cognitive behavioural therapy, excercise alot, good diet

Nothing works if you have severe depression which is what very few people ever suffer with its so crippling it actually shrinks your brain, without anti depressants I can hardly string a sentence together because my head feels so jaded.

Its like I shut off all thinking because every thought that comes into my mind is suffocated by a deep depressive cloud that wraps my mind up and stops me from living.

Ive had days before where I have stared at the wall allday rockin myself because I have NOTHING to do because you find pleasure in nothing and the only thing that keeps you from falling is thinking about suicide knowing that the pain will be gone.

SO fcuk you guys YOU REALLY HAVE NO IDEA. I dont know what walk of life you come from but its know where near my level so just shut your mouth because without anti depressants i'd be dead. If it means staying on it all my life so what? Diabetics take drugs there whole life, so do people with cystic phybrosis and epeleptics, a rediculous amount of people take medication there whole life.

THERE IS NOTHING WRONG IN SYTAYING ON ANTI DEPRESSANTS FOR LIFE. END OF.
 
@ OP

If nothing else change your doc. Im not sure about going cold turkey though but you should definitely get off them if you feel you can manage without them. Because I know how they feel, I used to take some lots of times (for a while I had them available ) when I was coming off of H binges. With time it will only be more and more difficult to quit as with all drugs. I would give it a shot, only be careful, perhaps you shouldnt just go CT but ween yourself off quickly. Good luck.
 
Last edited:
no one NEEDS to be on antidepressants at all, ever

~~and~~

nothing "Is wrong" with taking them, even if you take them for ever.

====

I think both of those positions imply that you 'should' be a certain way, when people choose to live a million different ways, and the world would keep on spinning even if they didn't.
 
emperorofusa said:
If you have clinical depression then you need to be on medication. If you were prescribed these medications chances are they were prescribed for a good reason. As another member said above, stopping your medications for one day won't do anything; they remain in your system for quite a long while once they get to therapeutic levels in your bloodstream.

Additionally, you must remain on any of these medications for at least one month or two before they reach full therapeutic levels in your system and the side effects begin to subside; only then can you tell if the medications are helping you or not. This stuff doesn't just work in a week or so. Be patient.

I have been on and off of many different psychiatric medications since the age of 17. Now, ten years later, I've found the right combination of medications that actually work to quell the symptoms of my bipolar disorder. It may take you a long time, lots of trial and error, before finding a successful regimen.

The worst possible thing that you can do to yourself and to ruin your life is to stop taking your medications. I know you do not want to hear that but it is the truth; I had to learn that the hard way. I hope you don't.



This is, by far, the worst, ill-informed, most dangerous recommendation that I have ever seen spouted. Medications fix a lot, they help a lot. Without medications I wouldn't be here today, along with many, many others. I'm sure there are others here on BL that will agree.
Click to expand...


Perhaps your uninformed, or believe research that is biased. Or maybe your just talking about your own personal success..

Start researching a little, you might uncover the entire other side of anti-depression meds.

If you would like a taste of it, try watching T.V. commercials more closely.

You will start to notice Albilify commercials .

They are no longer taling about the wonders of Albilify for Bi-polar disorder.

no..no see now they are talking about how 2/3 of ALL patients using anti-depress meds are NOT recieving benifit from them, or are not seeing any reduction of their symptoms ( hint-that means they aren't working)

So now you can add Albilify to your daily Effexor dosing....I cannot wait to see what starts happening to people once a large number of them start dosing Albilify.


And btw, you misread my post.

In no way did I tell him to stop taking his medicine in a dangerous way.

And you kinda just backed up my comments, by saying you were helped by those kinds of meds.

Like I said, a head change is a head change....sounds like the anti-depress meds were a good head change for you. I'm happy to hear that.
 
Last edited:
bighooter said:
why would you want to give up anti depressants.

I have been severely depressed with no motivation and concentration to do ANYTHING.

Now since ive been on prozac I feel like life is worth living, fair enough I may feel numb but I dont feel like crying every minute of the day.

TBH I am fcuking glad I have no emotion now, because I feel so much stronger in the head.

ANTI DEPRESSANTS have actually saved my life
Click to expand...

Congratulations bighooter, I am happy to hear that, really.

The fact is tho, that many many people do not get better on Prozac, or another SSRi. It just isn't for them.
 
bighooter said:
you really have no idea do you.

Do you know how irate I am because of your ignorant pathetic mind

Severe depression isnt something you can sort out on your own believe me I have had councelling, read countless books, done cognitive behavioural therapy, excercise alot, good diet

Nothing works if you have severe depression which is what very few people ever suffer with its so crippling it actually shrinks your brain, without anti depressants I can hardly string a sentence together because my head feels so jaded.

Its like I shut off all thinking because every thought that comes into my mind is suffocated by a deep depressive cloud that wraps my mind up and stops me from living.

Ive had days before where I have stared at the wall allday rockin myself because I have NOTHING to do because you find pleasure in nothing and the only thing that keeps you from falling is thinking about suicide knowing that the pain will be gone.

SO fcuk you guys YOU REALLY HAVE NO IDEA. I dont know what walk of life you come from but its know where near my level so just shut your mouth because without anti depressants i'd be dead. If it means staying on it all my life so what? Diabetics take drugs there whole life, so do people with cystic phybrosis and epeleptics, a rediculous amount of people take medication there whole life.

THERE IS NOTHING WRONG IN SYTAYING ON ANTI DEPRESSANTS FOR LIFE. END OF.
Click to expand...

This thread and the comments in it actually had nothing to do with you, why are you making it about yourself?

Without a doubt I'd agree you should be on anti-depressants, but please realise everyones situation is different and many people are perscribed SSRIs when they dont really need them and in cases like this it can make things worse.

I've been on prozac and lexapro for anxiety and both made me feel horrible with increased levels of anxiety. Please stop and think before you accuse others of having 'no idea' and having an 'ignorant and pathetic mind' because in doing that it's saying much more about yourself then it is about me.
 
Hi 12pm.

All I have read says not to do it cold turkey, and I am not a dr.

Can you just take like a fourth a tab for a few days so you aren't cold turkey but you won't feel the drug. Then taper that off. At least until you find a new doc.


I had to come off of my 150 mg Wellbutrin by cutting the morning pill out, then after about 5 days reducing the evening pill. Or likewise, reducing consumption of what ever dose of Celebrex I was taking. But you can drop your dose pretty quick. In 4 weeks I was done, and acutually I did it faster.

But I did notice that when the dr. gave me the script for Effexor, I got sick right away and think it may have been the dangerous condition where you get too much seretonin in the brain as I wasn't completely weaned from the WB and the C. I spiked 104 temp and saw the dr. who didn't do anything as I didn't tell him. It went away pretty quick and I was lucid. At least until the Effexor kicked in and I was a zombie!


That said, I did stop Lexapro last week cold turkey but it was only 20 mg per day- I am trying to find something that works now after generic wellbutrin stopped working, and have been through a few in the last few weeks. But when I got overwhelming cravings for alcohol I had to stop asap. I quit drinking 14 years ago on my own with no cravings.

Good luck on your search. Hey! That is why I joined Bluenet,too. to see if there is information I can't get anywhere in my search for an AD.

Gppd luck
 
k fair enough i apologise for being a c0ck

its just i hate it when ignorant (which you clearly arent) people bad mouth it.

Because it literally saved me from topping myself and I know what people mean by feeling zombified its like you do actually get a high from it once its in your system for a few weeks/months. It kinda feels like the next day after doing some good mdma, like spaced out only for me I also have the beauty of feeling spaced out/zombified but in a way that i couldnt give a fcuk what people think of me.

For someone who used to be so paranoid about everything is beautiful to be able to walk down the shops without doing my hair, stinking n sweating out after a gym session and not give a damn.
 
I must be lucky- the only side effect that I got was some mild stomache discomfort- I never felt zombified or spaced out. All that happened was my depression eased and eventually completely receded.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top