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AIBU?

To stop taking antidepressants

63 replies

Patheticfallacy · 31/05/2016 18:42

I have been taking 50 mg of sertraline for the past year or so. I've come off them cold turkey (I know you are not supposed to) mainly because I kept forgetting to take them/pick up new prescription and because I can't orgasm on them sorry for TMI. I now feel tense and on the verge of tears all the time. I really don't think I'm depressed but I'm very very anxious. I've booked a session with my private counsellor and am going to go every week. Then I thought I'd try mindfulness and exercise. AIBU in thinking I can do this by myself?

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Mari50 · 31/05/2016 20:13

I have to say patheticfallacy that I loved sertraline but I had to stop taking it because I got such bad joint pains. The first time I stopped my mood was all over and I was very short tempered, I also got the 'jolts' in my head (horrific). So to cut down I started taking half a tablet a day for a fortnight or so and then went down to half every other day and then stopped.
That said I have previously stopped fluoxetine cold turkey with no ill effects at all (but I had no good effects on that either)
And don't be afraid to admit to loss of orgasm, that why I was prescribed sertraline because fluoxetine made me inorgasmic (as if I wasn't depressed enough), dr didn't even blink!

WreckingBallsInsideMyHead · 31/05/2016 20:18

I have had withdrawal from ADs even when doing it properly on the advice of my doctor. It's horrible!

You can go down to half a pill a day, then half a pill every other day

Please see your GP. They won't force you to stay on a medicine you're not happy with but can help you come off it gradually or recommend a different one, although I understand you don't want this. But just know that it's an option

WreckingBallsInsideMyHead · 31/05/2016 20:19

Don't be embarrassed, it's a common side effect and the doctor will have heard far wirse

MostIneptThatEverStepped · 31/05/2016 20:42

You can stop for whatever reason you want. If it doesn't suit you then it doesn't.

God yes...I'm getting hideous head zaps. Plus this week I have PMS. So much fun!!

Janecc · 31/05/2016 20:44

I have had withdrawal issues - with an anti eleptic pain medication. It was horrible.

I have ill health and am feeling quite poorly right now. When I go through a bad patch, I get quite down. So felt I needed a pick me up today.

I went to Holland and Barrett today, got some Rescue Remedy, 5HTP and zinc picolinate. All good for anxiety/moods especially the first two - RR and 5HTP. I've had a lot of squirts throughout the day and it has helped. You can also get these from bigger Boots or health food shops.

BillSykesDog · 31/05/2016 20:51

Get an appointment with your GP as soon as possible to discuss this. This is an extremely bad idea. I did it to start fertility treatment and ended up getting very, very ill indeed.

Sertraline is the devils medication and I felt horrid on it. Couldn't sleep at all. But they could try something else.

fusionconfusion · 31/05/2016 20:51

I was told by my psychiatrist when choosing to come off antidepressants that I could just stop at 50 - which I did, but it was hard so I ended up self-tapering to 25 over two weeks or so. I was pregnant as well at the time so it was hard to know what was grottiness from that and what from the withdrawal.

I never looked back and haven't been depressed since despite being very high risk, I also had difficulty having an orgasm on them. They're really not the only way to skin a cat.

BillSykesDog · 31/05/2016 20:53

Just tell them you can't sleep if you don't want to say about orgasms.

RosieWithTheGoodHair · 31/05/2016 21:04

I came off sertraline for the exact same reason. I also went cold turkey and I got what are called 'brain zaps'. I thought I was dying until I found people talking about it online. Never went back on them though

Mandatorymongoose · 31/05/2016 21:10

PF the sexual side effects are one of the most common reasons for stopping / changing antidepressants ( and various other drugs!). Your GP should be happy to look at other options including just stopping (Mitrazipine might be better, much less likely to affect orgasm).

Stopping any antidepressant suddenly can cause a rebound / withdrawal effect, it takes a while for your body to get back to regulating it's own serotonin levels again. It doesn't necessarily mean you are still depressed, you'd need to get through that period and then assess it.

Patheticfallacy · 31/05/2016 21:15

I've tried mirtazapine. It made me very v v hungry and constantly tired. If I wasn't actually asleep I felt like I was wading through v thick treacle. I think I do want to come off ads. I've tried a few and sertraline is honestly the best of those I tried. I can't handle months of chopping and changing medication and doses to find the best fit. It's such a low dose I didn't think it would be doing much, but it must've been.

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MostIneptThatEverStepped · 31/05/2016 21:30

It wasn't necessarily doing much. Your brain has just become accustomed to it and is finding the change hard. Chemically, I mean.

Petal40 · 31/05/2016 21:39

I came of fluoxetine 18 months ago.....honestly I probably shouldn't of done...dr just said stop taking it when you feel ready....I was ready to loose weight.couldnt loose any on it....it makes me not care about my weight...but yeah I just stopped taking it..I'm ok ...I was on 60, 3 tablets a day ...weight wise I've lost 10 stone ..mentally ,I probably need to be on it...I haven't got the answer..we each have to do what we think is best.good luck

Patheticfallacy · 31/05/2016 21:51

Wow 10 stone is an amazing achievement petal. I understand why you decided to come off off it. I keep thinking that I can do this with natural methods. Not sure whether to take half a tablet every other day or something now just to ease me off them a little. Feeling a bit calmer tonight. Partly as boyfriend has texted and partly as I've done a bit of meditation. And this thread has made me realise how many people are in the same position as I am.

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Petal40 · 31/05/2016 21:59

I can't tell you what to do,op I don't know you and mental health is a delicate thing..I only know what I did,and I'm not even sure I did the right thing....at 25 stone I wasn't going to last long anyway I figured...so I felt any withdrawal symptoms were better than dying in my sleep....blunt ,but true...I need the antidepressants if I'm honest.life is a struggle with out them...but I know I will put the weight back on....I was on antidepressants for 20 yrs trying different ones ,so I could have a sex life ,or not cry all the time etc etc...

Petal40 · 31/05/2016 22:08

A friend of mine has beta blockers that she takes on a really bad day...I thought they were for old men ,but apparently not.if she gets very anxious she takes it as and when she needs it.....they do space her out thou....

Patheticfallacy · 31/05/2016 22:10

I loved beta blockers. They got me through my driving test. If I could have them prescribed all the time I'd be happy.

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Petal40 · 31/05/2016 22:12

She says the same,she keeps offering me some ,when I'm having a bad day.....says they are fab....I'm sure they are fab,but my body needs to regulate its self for a while,so I always politely decline

Petal40 · 31/05/2016 22:16

There was an article in the daily mail a good few months ago about high achieving women ,working hard big bucks big pressure and all that, and they had beta blockers every day just to get them through the day,the Drs prescribed them as the women couldn't cope with out them,I remember thinking how bizarre ,surely that's an old man tablet for water works or something....have a look on daily mail on iPad or laptop ,prob still there somewhere

Unicow · 31/05/2016 23:37

I am on beta blockers and anti ds. It has taken me several attempts to find a combination that suits me. Some people just do beta blockers as they treat the anxiety

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 01/06/2016 01:01

Perhaps sertraline are not the right A.D for you. Speak to your GP. Tell him/her exactly what you've told us. They're Doctors. Theyve seen and heard it all. Nothing will shock them, but please please do not just stop taking them.
I was on Fluoxitine but I didn't get on with them. I was moved on to sertraline. They seem to agree with me a lot more.

Glovebug · 01/06/2016 01:04

Go to your doctor and ask for a different anti depressant. It can make a huge difference. Not everyone gets on with all of them. I had a terrible experience with some which nearly put me off for life. My doctor eventually persuaded me to try a different one and it works really well for me. Have also been through withdrawal after quitting cold turkey and it was awful. Hope you find a solution

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coco1810 · 01/06/2016 02:58

Sorry OP, I really admire that you want to come off Antidepressants but YABU To think you can do this yourself. It really needs to be done under the supervision of your gp. My DP has been on Antidepressants for over a year due to PTSD and he has tried twice to go cold turkey and has made himself worse on both occasions. Last time I told him if he ever does that again he's back at his moms because my kids can't see him that way again. Please, please go and see your GP first x

Patheticfallacy · 01/06/2016 06:22

I've tried floroxetine, mirtzapine, citalopram and now sertraline. I think beta blockers would actually be really good if my GP would prescribe them as I'm more anxious than depressed. I know some people have had awful experiences going cold turkey but don't forget I'm not on a big dose and I keep thinking I should be able to do this.

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Petal40 · 01/06/2016 12:38

Did you find the daily mail article I mentioned?? These women are on beta blockers every day.pescribed by their gp....my friend has them as much as she needs.....she had a bad anxious episode and her husband had to phone the gp on her behalf for an emergency appointment....from there she got the beta blockers as well as the anti depressants....

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