To ask how long you were on anti depressants after post natal depression?

[Helppp123]

Hi

NC for this. After my second child was born I noticed a massive change in me. Overwhelmed all the time, really low mood, not wanting to go out, anxiety through the roof, crying all the time, questioning what the point of life was etc.
One day I knew my thoughts were getting really scarily low and I had to fight them, so with all the strength I had I rang my doctors and forced myself to the appointment, broke down in tears and told them.
She said she didn’t think it was post natal depression as my baby was 10 months old 😕 but was sure it was depression. She put me on 10mg citralopram, I was absolutely terrified of taking them but when I did and after the initial side effects of tiredness and nausea went away, it was nothing short of a bloody miracle.

It was like a fog cleared in my head, I woke up not wondering what the point of another day was, but actually enjoying my days again. I even went out and got myself a part time job and life is good.

Problem is I notice with life being so busy now that if I forgot to take a day or two, my thoughts and mood suddenly change, I’m back to down and hopeless and wanting to cry. I have been on them a year in September.

I don’t mind being on them, they have helped me massively, but what if one day a doctor snatches them away and says no more. The fact that my mood changes a few days after forgetting them shows I still rely on them.

X

I was on and off them for about 3 years, I think. I'd come off them (gradually) because I was feeling better and then realised the only reason I was feeling OK was because I was on ADs!

Try not to worry about the GP stopping then - if/when they do, it will be gradually.

About two and a half years. There was no magical reason why I suddenly came off them other than my doctor said to start reducing my dose as I felt dizzy. So yeah. I had come to accept it and decided I’d take meds for life. But only 2-2 1/2 years it was. IYou will one day get through this and suddenly get enough sleep, your control back and your brain will adjust and you suddenly won’t need meds. It will come. Be patient. Best of luck.

Oh and they don’t suddenly take the meds off you. That can be dangerous.
If they work keep taking them. Your body will let you know when you’re done with them. Not your doctor. Just keep going and enjoy having them help you right now.

No credible doctor will snatch them away and say no more. You could try reducing IF you want, but be think about why you are doing it and if you do decide to, go very very slowly. I am reducing from 40mg fling down in 5mg increments once every two months. Once I get to 20 mg I will review how I feel and maybe stay there for a while.
Stopping suddenly - or forgetting too take them for a few days - leads to really horrible withdrawal, your mood will plummet and you will feel terrible and think that you can't live without them.
I have been on them for 9 years and am only thinking of reducing because I am perimenopausal and interested to know whether I need them still. My GP says I could take them for life to no ill effect.

I've been on sertraline for 4yrs now since my youngest was 10 weeks old. They think I've had depression of some kind since my 17yr old was born. I don't envisage ever coming off them. I've tried to stop them and am ok for a month or so but then it hits again.

This exactly is me, I've just gone on 20mg, I've got a 11m old and I'm 2 weeks in and just getting over the nausea/tiredness

Citalopram changed my life both times I had postnatal depression. I took them for between a year and 18 months each time, and both times I just knew I didn't need them anymore. The second time I also had some telephone talking therapy which really helped me to move forward. It was exactly as you describe, a fog lifted. I described at the time as my mind being snapped back together. Take them for as long as you need to and take care of yourself.