Anyone had experience getting off anti-depressants

[fireprincess2009]

Hi ladies. I've been taking 10mg of Lexaro since March and while I do feel like it was helpful in dealing with stress and anxiety (especially while wedding planning) I feel like it's something I just don't want to take any longer. I'm sort of keeping this to myself as my DH and sister would give me a hard time for wanting to go off it. I've gained a good amount of weight from it in a short time and that's making me more miserable than ever.

I took a half dose for a week and experienced some dizziness and fatigue. I also have bad allergies so this could also be the culprit. (My ear plugs and I get Vertigo from the allergies sometimes) Yesterday did not take it at all. I feel pretty awful today. I'm very dizzy and my stomach/gastrointestinal system is a wreck. Has anyone had experience with this? Because I don't want to tell DH or my sister, I'm feeling rather alone in this experience.

[Goin2thechapel]

Hi ladies. I've been taking 10mg of Lexaro since March and while I do feel like it was helpful in dealing with stress and anxiety (especially while wedding planning) I feel like it's something I just don't want to take any longer. I'm sort of keeping this to myself as my DH and sister would give me a hard time for wanting to go off it. I've gained a good amount of weight from it in a short time and that's making me more miserable than ever.

I took a half dose for a week and experienced some dizziness and fatigue. I also have bad allergies so this could also be the culprit. (My ear plugs and I get Vertigo from the allergies sometimes) Yesterday did not take it at all. I feel pretty awful today. I'm very dizzy and my stomach/gastrointestinal system is a wreck. Has anyone had experience with this? Because I don't want to tell DH or my sister, I'm feeling rather alone in this experience.

I think you meant Lexapro. And no anti depressant medication should be stopped without a psychiatrist monitoring the changes. You really should be consulting a doctor.
Without knowing how long you've been on the medication or medical history You should not be looking for this kind of advice online. I'm STRONGLY suggesting telling someone (DH, Doctor, Friend. etc). A major side effect from abruptly discontinuing antidepressant medication can be suicidality and possible manic episodes.

[ChristineLS]

I think you meant Lexapro. And no anti depressant medication should be stopped without a psychiatrist monitoring the changes. You really should be consulting a doctor.
Without knowing how long you've been on the medication or medical history You should not be looking for this kind of advice online. I'm STRONGLY suggesting telling someone (DH, Doctor, Friend. etc). A major side effect from abruptly discontinuing antidepressant medication can be suicidality and possible manic episodes.

What she said... One of my family members used to need to switch for a period of their life... and getting off was just as bad as starting new. See a doctor to make sure you're alright and your health is safe.

[gwenshack]

Yeah I have to ditto and double ditto what the other ladies said. You need to be monitored by a doctor. :)

[FFC]

I have to sing with the choir on discussing this with your doctor. I understand what you mean by doing this on your own and just keeping it on the DL, but your health is a lot more important than pride (no offense intended at all!!!). I say bite the bullet, go see your doctor and find out what the procedure is for coming off of it, and whether or not they think you should come off of it.

[fireprincess2009]

Thanks ladies. I know I should consult my doctor, I have an appointment next month. I pretty much know the protocol for getting off the stuff I'm just an impatient person.

There is a whole host of issues/reasons why I'm uncomfortable sharing this with my DH. Hard to explain if you don't know him. I want to be the one steering this boat, ya know. I guess I was just wondering if anyone had been on then off this sort of medication and what their experiences were.

[SkippyNXC]

ditto to talking to ur doc... idk if u'd be interested in trying something else but sometimes u don't get on the right kind of med the 1st time... and/or if ur still feeling like it's something u want to work on have u thought about seeing a therapist?

just the psychologist in me sharing my .02 ;)

[Tadswife]

Well since I am currently on the same boat you are.. I take lexepro as well, have for years now. I don't want to get all medical on you.. so I will share with you what I went thru getting off anti depressents. Years ago I was on Paxil, I decided it was time for me to get off of it. So like a silly girl, I did exactly as you are now, I stopped cold turnkey. It wasn't fun. I experianced vertigo for several weeks, felt spacy and very groggy and it just got worse the longer I was off of it. I couldn't figure out why I was feeling so bad. So I ended up in the emergancy room wondering why I was feeling like my world was going in circles and why I felt like I was so spacy, well it was the side affects of getting off the meds w/o proper medical care. It was hell, I know excatly how you feel right now! I to have experianced alot of weight gain from the meds ( weight gain is a side effect of Lexepro) When you consult your doctor he will 9 x's out of 10 put you on a lower dose and wein (sp?) off the medication. Or have you cut it in half and slowly take you off. Like one week take half a pill, then next week drop down to 5 days taking it, next week drop down to 3 a week. Just so your body has time to adjust. The doctor will probably have you scedule a follow up visit and re evaluate you.
I hope that helps, feel free to ask any ?'s..

[BnB]

I have been on and off different anti-depressants for about 10 years now.

I mostly take them to reduce the stomach acid which comes from stress/anxiety and creates acid reflux for me.

Some of the problems I have when trying to stop on my own-suddenly- are nightmares, crying fits, jumpy, short tempered, tired, and headaches.

It should be monitored by your doctor, as everyone else already said, good luck

[fireprincess2009]

ditto to talking to ur doc... idk if u'd be interested in trying something else but sometimes u don't get on the right kind of med the 1st time... and/or if ur still feeling like it's something u want to work on have u thought about seeing a therapist?

just the psychologist in me sharing my .02 ;)

I've talked to therapists on and off over the years which I find can be helpful though I'm not currently seeing anyone. Until recently totally rejected the idea of trying any medication. I finally agreed when I started to sleep 9-10 hours a day. I was on Wellbutrin for awhile - did nothing for me. As the wedding approached, I was being tested for any and all physical/medical issues that might be causing the excessive sleep. In the meantime, I agreed to try Lexapro. I wanted to give it a good try and didn't want to do anything crazy right before the wedding but at this point, I feel the negatives are outweighing the positives.

[SkippyNXC]

Wow tadswife, thank you for sharing that story, I'm going to file it in my mental roladex b/c i'm sure i will be working w/ppl who may do the same.

______

i also hope you're able to find something that works for you so that you can feel better *hugs*

i went thru depression for many years and am only recently coming out the other end... for me I had to get to know myself better and understand who i am as a person... my FH was a big part of that but the other part was actually thru going back to school

i can't say i don't have periods where i feel depressed but i've noticed they've been shorter and not as low as in the past...

[Tadswife]

Wow tadswife, thank you for sharing that story, I'm going to file it in my mental roladex b/c i'm sure i will be working w/ppl who may do the same.

______

i also hope you're able to find something that works for you so that you can feel better *hugs*

i went thru depression for many years and am only recently coming out the other end... for me I had to get to know myself better and understand who i am as a person... my FH was a big part of that but the other part was actually thru going back to school

i can't say i don't have periods where i feel depressed but i've noticed they've been shorter and not as low as in the past...

No problem.. i'm glad I can be of some help and maybe help someone else.

[2dBride]

I would second (third, fourth, what are we up to?) the suggestion to talk to your doctor. Also, in general, the way to get off an antidepressant is slowly. If you are having issues going from a whole pill to a half a pill, try 3/4 of a pill for a while. Or even alternate days, a whole pill one day, 3/4 of a pill the next, a whole one the third day. Stay at each dose for at least a week, maybe two if you've had issues, before reducing again.

A psychiatrist friend says he's never had a patient who couldn't get off a medication due to discontinuation symptoms, but that some need to reduce the medication much more slowly than others.