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Original poster

Is anyone on antidepressants long-term/for life?

93 replies

Ladiesleaveyourmenathome · 26/09/2023 18:37

I've suffered with depression, anxiety and obsessive intrusive thoughts so spoke to my GP after struggling for a while.
I was prescribed setraline 50mg which I'm familiar with due to working in healthcare. The doctor suggested that coming off it after around 6 months would be recommended..
The first day was frightening, I was slurring my speech, couldn't get words out properly and felt in a trance, but other than some nausea I'm now having no side effects.
That feeling of dread I had in my chest every day has gone. I'm managing the obsessive thoughts a bit better, and I generally feel a bit more hopeful about life and sleeping better.
It's changed me for the better, it's the best decision I ever made.
I'm worried this would stop if I were to come off the medication. Just interested to know if anyone has found this after stopping antidepressants, or whether anybody has continued them long-term? Can doctors refuse prescriptions?

OP posts:
Potentialmadcatlady · 26/09/2023 20:04

My DS was told he will be on them for life by his consultant.. he has various conditions and they help him to cope.. it took him a good couple of months to stabilise on them and work out when best in day to take them.. now they are just another one of his meds..
Hope they help you too

Username778 · 26/09/2023 20:22

I've also just started on Sertraline 50mg recently, I've had low grade PND for a few months which started getting worse more recently making me suicidal...
I adjusted pretty well to Sertraline, minimal to no side effects and feel so much better, I should've started a few months ago, my anxiety is massively reduced, my obsessive thought virtually non existent and am sleeping so much better.
But my GP also mentioned trying to wean off after 6 months I'm not sure why.

LapinR0se · 26/09/2023 20:25

I’ve been on Sertraline for 11 years, when I stop taking them it’s a shitshow so on I go

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treeinthedistance · 26/09/2023 20:37

I have had depression since childhood and strongly suspect I will be on medication for life. My doctor told me that there are many people like me and it's not uncommon for ADs to be used on a long term basis.
As far as I am concerned it is medication just like any other - if you need it, you need it. Nobody would bat an eyelid if you were taking long term meds for a physical condition.

BeardyButton · 26/09/2023 20:50

I was on sertraline for yrs. I ve been off them for about 12 mths now. I hope I don’t ever go back on them. They were absolutely necessary…. But the side effects weren’t great. I did try others but the side effects were worse.

I would say take the anti ds. They are amazing at what they do. But they won’t change whatever it is that is causing the issue. Look into what would make you cope w out the meds. For me it is horse riding. Being around horses literally acts like anti depressants for me. They help me cope. Take the edge off etc. For a lot of people it’s a different pet (dog) or exercise. Start trying out other coping mechanisms. And then gradually withdraw the meds. If you can’t cope without them, then that’s that. But for me personally it was worth trying… and I d definitely try while still on the meds.

robinsnest1967 · 26/09/2023 20:57

Citalopram 20mg for 20 years. No way am I ever coming off them. I also take rispiridone but not sure why lol.

MadKittenWoman · 27/09/2023 10:18

On citalopram 20mg for life. Anxious, intrusive thoughts and angry without.

AnnaMagnani · 27/09/2023 10:27

On and off - mainly on - for 20 years.

Will give it a go coming off at retirement but not before.

DontGiveMeThatOldCrap · 27/09/2023 10:39

I'm in my 60s and have been on antidepressants for about 20 years - first, Citalopram for about 10 years, then changed that for Mirtazapine, 45mg, which I've been on since. I'd rather be on them for the rest of my days (I will be) than ever feel that terrible despair that I once did.

Gnomegnomegnome · 27/09/2023 10:47

I was on sertraline and weaned off of them after a while. A few years later back on them, after a few years they stopped working so tried citalopram which made me suicidal so went on mitazipine. They kept upping the dose and I’m settled on 45mg and have been for a few years.
Every now and then I consider asking about reducing the dosage but at the same time it’s working so why rock the boat?

Are you receiving any other treatment alongside the medication?
Sometimes the antidepressants give your brain and body enough of a breather to be more open to therapy (CBT, DBT, EMDR amongst others) so that you are more equipped to come off of the medication eventually.

Faytella2020 · 27/09/2023 12:16

When I came off them for 2 years all I did was cry and marry someone I didn't like so i think I'm best to stay on them !

RidingMyBike · 27/09/2023 12:23

I think it depends on why you are depressed and anxious. For some people it seems to be internally triggered, for others a reaction to external events. For some probably a mixture of the two!

Mine is (was?) a reaction to external things, I have taken Prozac (twice - once for about 18 months, once for about nine months, then Sertraline for PND for nearly a year). But the counselling I did alongside the first bout was invaluable in helping me recognise the triggers and what I could do about it. Yes, I have had D and A twice since then, but both times events were out of my control, both times I recognised what was happening and sought help and medication much sooner.

I don't think it's a problem to need to take them long term. I know a couple of people who do. But it could be worth looking into triggers and trying counselling. I found CBT useful too, although I'm resistant to the idea that you can basically train your brain out of it - for some things yes, altering how you react is really helpful but it doesn't work for everything.

londonmummy1966 · 27/09/2023 12:41

Venlafaxine for 18 years. I've managed to bring the dose down from 225mg to 37.5 over the last couple of years but at that level I do feel quite detached and emotionally numb. I can live with this as I'm not suicidal and I hated the nausea they gave me - 16 years of morning sickness type side effects takes its toll. I'd be happy to stay on them or a slightly larger dose if necessary.

Laguerita · 27/09/2023 12:47

50mg Sertraline for about 10-12 years, and others before that. I did have a few years without but a bad situation led to another crisis. I’ve been very stable on Sertraline, have no side effects whatsoever (I have on others, it all depends what suits you) so I don’t see any need to come off them. A new gp asked me about it recently and was quite happy when I said I saw it as long term. For me I feel I’ve achieved a happy equilibrium so why change it?

KentishMama · 27/09/2023 12:48

I'm on a very low dose of escitalopram, and think I'll be on this for ever at this point.

I've had times when I just took antidepressants over the winter months and didn't need them in summer, as there's a seasonal component to my depression, and years when I would take a higher dose in winter than summer. But for the last 4 years or so I've just stuck with my low dose all the time, and that seems to be pretty perfect. I tried to come off very carefully this summer and it was a disaster - I restarted after about 4 months as I was a mess. My GPs (various over the years) have always been cool with being led by me when it comes to this, as they can see that the way we've managed my depression/ anxiety is overall pretty effective. I know the drill, and I'm pretty good at spotting it if I need to make a change.

I am trying to say that it's all a bit trial and error, and you need to listen to your own body and communicate well with your GP. You've got this.

englishsparklingwine · 27/09/2023 14:00

My DH has been on them now for 6 months and is feeling a lot better after having a breakdown - although had struggled with his MH all his life. He has said he intends to stay on them for life. He's a GP.

Startingagainandagain · 27/09/2023 14:05

I started Citalopram about 10 days ago so still waiting for the full effect.

But one thing I know is that I never want to be in the place where I am right now with my mental health, so if getting better and surviving means taking the meds for life, then so be it.

I think GP sounds rather ill-informed (many GPs are not great when it comes to mental health issues...) so don't hesitate to stand your ground if you feel they are helping you.

As many people on this thread have already said some people stay on them for years and are doing well that way.

BHRK · 27/09/2023 14:09

My DP will be on them for life and there is no good evidence that it is harmful to be on them for life.
when they are not on them, they are a total mess with paranoid thoughts etc. the drugs can truly be life-changing

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 27/09/2023 14:12

25 years. I’m never coming off. The force field that protects me from anxiety needs to be there for ever.

uncomfortablydumb53 · 27/09/2023 14:19

Yes me
I've been on them continuously for 29 years when it started with PND
First fluoxetine then venlafaxine and then Duloxetine from when it was first marketed including pregnancy with DS2 and DS3
In my case I believe it is a chemical imbalance as I also have a Neuro disability.
I'm 58 now and they have literally been a life saver more than once
I think of them as like a diabetic needing insulin to stay alive
Do whatever helps your quality of life
Depression is a living hell

SmileyClare · 27/09/2023 14:23

It’s responsible to reassess your needs after 6 months and weigh up the pros and cons of your medication.

Extreme weight gain and the associated Co morbidities (particularly diabetes) are a much higher risk and can be life threatening.

Your doctor would not expect you to stop suddenly and go cold turkey. The dose would be tapered off to prevent withdrawal.

Depending on your mental issue; CBT or counselling can be used once your condition has stabilised.

There is no blanket rule as psychological conditions are complex and individual.

NemoIsFound · 27/09/2023 14:26

I've been on all sorts over the decades. Antidepressants anti psychotics, tranquilisers, beta blockers. I'm currently on Cymbalta (Duloxetine) to keep me stable enough to continue my therapy which is helping me a lot. Drugs on their own don't fix the diagnoses I have, which are trauma related.

HamBone · 27/09/2023 14:33

As @RidingMyBike says, looking into the causes and triggers for your anxiety is also very important so do ask about counseling as well. Mine is childhood trauma related and I don’t know whether I’ll ever be able to manage without a low dose of AD’s. But that’s OK, they work and I don’t have side effects on 10mg.

As you said upthread, people stay on other medications for chronic conditions- if I’m not going to stop treating my underactive thyroid so why would I stop treating my anxiety?

BakedTattie · 27/09/2023 14:34

I’ve been on them over 10 years and can’t ever imagine coming off them. I did try but felt horrendously ill (mentally) so went back on

Scutterbug · 27/09/2023 14:40

200mg sertraline here and can’t see myself coming off. Am also on lamotrigine and risperidone . My psych says I’ll be on them for life. But I do have other issues aside from anxiety and depression as I get psychotic episodes and now they are suspecting schizophrenia.

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