why do i need adps ?

[2dolly2]

Hello...
I am new to mumsnet, have just joined up this week.
I have been on citrapram for over 18 months now, and have recently tried to come off them... i stayed off for a couple of week but i got into such a state and really felt like i couldnt cope so am now back on them... i think in my mind i feel like i have failed, as why should i still need to be on them.. i have 2 very lovely good natured children.. so why can't i get through the day without medication. ...... ? Does anyone else feel the same. ?

Did the GP advise you on the rate of coming off them?

I know this might sound odd but I see it this way: sometimes our bodies don't produce enough/too much of something(s). Some people need insulin for diabetes, some people need ad's for depression. It feels a bit like a failure but thats part of the illness. I try to think about it in terms of 'would I feel like I've failed if I was prescribed insulin or something similar?'

Canoe is right tho, please don't try coming off meds without support from your GP or Psych, it could well make you feel worse xx

Thank you .... no is the answer, i was forgetting to take them so wasn't taking them every day anyway, then my neighbour had a fit.. which she thinks was put down to some medication that she was one, one of the side effects was fits... so my husband kind of freaked out and said really we need to be off any meds as the side effects can be scary.. i didnt really think about it so came off... i was feeling very sick and not well at all for a few weeks and have only just in the last week made the connection to me coming off the ADs... in turn i have also been so emotional and felt like i couldn't cope so i am back on them. When i was growing up i didnt really feel i wanted a career, i just wanted a family... and now i have it, i feel 'down', 'lost' and out of control sometimes, and i never expected to feel like this. I suppose thats why i feel like i have failed as i thought this was all i wanted! ....
Do either of you feel the same ? x

Doctors are generally rubbish about getting people off AD's properly, if you were told to do it the alternate day method this is as bad as cold turkey (for most people, not all) and you may suffer horrific withdrawals, and the mental withdrawals can feel as bad if not worse and different than the original depression/anxiety you were put on them for. This is a real head f*. I suspect you are suffering horrible withdrawals. I felt exactly the same as you, took a long time for the penny to drop that it was "the drug" not me.

I can really recommend a book called "Coming off antidepressants" by Joseph Glenmullen which explains about how to taper off.

This article explains the 10% method of coming off: 10% method

Here is my blog where if you look down the right hand side there are pages full of useful info I have gleaned about how to come off properly and what to expect:[[http://prozacwithdrawal.blogspot.co.uk/ prozac withdrawal blogspot]] as well as a record of my own experiences.

Hope this helps, I also help admin a private group on facebook full of very supportive people tapering/coming off AD's if anyone is interested let me know.

yy dolly i'm in the same boat! I have 2 kids who are aged 7 and 11 so much easier than the toddler years and yet if i can come off the AD's I get anxious to the point of being paralysed by fear.I just think "why can't i cope when everyone else can?"
The thing is when I talk to other mums alot of them are taking AD's too! So I know it's just not me!
At the moment I'm on the waiting list for CBT counselling>Is that available to you? I'm thinking I need to tackle the negative thoughts that lead to anxiety before I even consider coming off the AD's.
I feel for you,you are not alone!

Thank you Strawberry17, i appreciate your advise. I am now back on them, but am planning on seeing my GP soon - she is on hols - to talk about my options.. i really dont want to be on them long term, and would like to be able to 'cope' with life on my own without meds. I worry about how people 'perceve' me.. i have only recently started talking to people about the fact i am on them and worry that there opinion of me at that point changes... i just dont want to be this person really....
I think i should talk to someone about why i feel like i do, but if its a 'chemical' thing in the brain will talking do any good ? xx

thank you cappucinogirl4 ... What is CBT councelling ?? I was thinking about councelling and my doc was suppose to be arranging it when i first came on the ads and it just hasnt happened. I have a little bit of councelling b4 i had my second child as didnt feel i could do it. I am just not sure what has triggered it all... i know why i felt down with my first child, but i had councelling for that so why is this still effecting me.
I know what you mean re people taking ads, but i actually dont know anyone !!!.. or at least no one that has told me.. but to be fair i dont talk openly about it to all my friends. I have one friend who suffers with PND but she has avoided meds so far. I just want to enjoy life.... but seem to just 'get through the day...' ... i sort of feel like i dont know myself anymore!
My two are 4 ..(just about to start school:( really cant cope with that at all, im in denial... See im weird ) and one thats coming up for 2.... i dont want to look back and regret... i just want to enjoy the now !!!..sorry i am now waffling !! xxx

I'm not sure about the chemical imbalance theory, I am a bit cynical and I do believe it is a myth put out there by the drug companies, after all, if you're diabetic you get your blood sugar checked with tests, has anyone every tested anyone for a chemical imbalance in the brain? I do believe these drugs to help an awful lot of people but I think they can also leave many stuck and feeling dependent. That's just my feeling. I think the thing I hated most about being stuck on them was the numbness and impact on my libido.
Before you consider coming off I think you do need to do a lot of reading/preperation, you can't just come off and tough it out, and you need to make sure you have tackled the underlying depression/anxiety that you were given the drugs for, make sure you have some skills in place to deal with the real you again. Then come off very very slowly.
I used to worry about stigma and what people thought of me taking AD's, and my current taper off Prozac, but I've actually found most people are very kind and supportive, and those that aren't? well they're not worth bothering with anyway are they?

Another point, I don't think citalopram is available in liquid so it's not easy to taper off, if you've been on Prozac before and can tolerate that quite well, it might be worth switching back to that, then when the time comes you can switch to liquid and taper off using the 10% method.

thank you again... i have only ever been on Citrapram so dont fancy changing now... i really didnt think any of this through at all as really just thought i would be able to stop taking it .. im feeling worried now for some reason, i think when i was prescribed it i just knew i needed something so didnt think about the impact long term.... i think i will speak to my gp in the next week or so and see what she advises, she has generally been very good and understanding. I know what you mean re other people, but i have always worried about what people 'think' about me, and i just worry that they are nice to me but wonder what they say when im not around..i dont think anyone would be nasty dont get me wrong, but ithink they will probably be surprised thats all, and that kind of makes me feel like i have failed !!!.
Anyway.. onwards and upwards !!!. i know everyone has every day worries its just finding a way forward with it.... thank you again xxx

dolly,cbt is cognitive behavioural therapy.It challenges the way you look at life and tries to give you an alternative way of viewing things.I have no idea if it works but my gp suggested it and put me on the waiting list.I think you have 6 - 8 sessions.to be honest i'll give anything a go as I don't want to be on the AD's forever.Maybe it's something you could look into.

I second coming off the tabs very slowly.I've done it before in between my 2 children (PND both times) and it's the only way.Don't just stop taking them.

Wishing all the best x