currently on ADs and need to make a decision....

[LilllyLovesLife]

I have been taking 20mg cilatopram (sorry I know I probably have mispelt that badly!) for almost 4 months now and I am coming to the end of my prescription. I need to make an appointment tomorrow so I need to decide what I want to do really, although I will discuss with the GP too.

I am in 3 minds with this:

1. I have massively changed my life since going on them, I have sorted a lot of my problems out and also have a lovely supportive new partner. Which makes me think about reducing the dose or stopping them completely as they are having some unwanted side effects too.
2. I still have some really down days that I struggle to cope with. These went away completely when I started taking them but I think I have got used to the tablets to the point they don't work as effectively. So I could increase my dose to get rid of these bad days, until I have finished sorting my life out (I am about to take on divorce and trying to clear debts as well as looking after 2 toddlers on my own).
3. as these 2 options above are so different I could just play it safe and stick with what I am on now.

My gut instinct is to increase the dose for a few months, sort things out, wait till things are more steady with new partner etc and then start reducing it down. But my partner thinks I need to reduce the dose or come off them because of the negative side effects and the fact he is worried I will get addicted to them or something. He doesn't really understand the point in them though and he will support me either way.

hi i was on 30mg a day now im down to 20mg if you dont feel ok on them increase them

Thanks. How did you feel when you went down? Was it easy? I am worried about getting up to a higher dose and then struggling to get off them.

Hi,
AD's aren't addictive. What they do is help the chemical imbalance that's going on in your brain right itself. When you do come off them then that's why you have to wean off slowly so the chemicals in your brain get a chance to adjust, it's not because you will become addicted.

It is actually recommended that you continue taking AD's for up to 6 months after you feel better/more able to cope with life just to make sure you are actually better and it's not the meds causing a false sense of well being. I do think you should talk to your gp about this and ask about the side effects if you're still experiencing those after 4 months. It could be if staying on the ad's is recommended then maybe a different one would be more suitable?

Maybe too it would be a good idea to face your challenges with your debts and divorce before considering coming off your meds as no doubt you will have some tough days to face.

Hopefully a chat with your gp will help you find the right way forward. Good luck!

THank you! I really hope I get an appointment tomorrow!

ive only just gone down on mine the lst 2 weeks so fr so goo and ive been on them for a long long time