COming off SSRIs after yyyeeeaaaars on the buggers. ANyone care to share or join?

[nethunsreject]

Hi all.

I've been on ssris for 20 years (yeo, really) but have absolutley no need to be on them any more and been depression free for about 4 years. I'm planning on coming off, but every time I try to cut down, I get the awful brain zaps, fluey, anxiety things as per ssri discontinuation. I do not want to take them anymore. I doubt their efficacy anyway, plus no one knows the long term effects and I hate taking them.
A quick shifty on internet suggests a 10% reduction every 2-4 weeks.

ANy experiences?

I suggest you go and visit your GP for advice. The way how you come off them depends on what you are taking at the moment.

Yeah, I would but my GP and his colleagues are utterly useless! I have armfuls of stuff printed off by doc friends of mine as my gp doesn't quite understand discontinuation syndrome and how serious it can be.

I am basically doing it alone.

yes you will do it alone

ime gps have no experience, knowledge or sympathy for this

what ssri are you on?

for some you can buy liquid form and can measure it out with a syringe and cut down very gradually.

althoough getting the gp to prescribe liquid form can be difficult

my gp surgery won't as "its too expensive"

thanks, my gp is especilly rubbish!

I had the brain zap thing too, very disorienting isn't it?

I found I just had to concentrate on the benefits of stopping, and on knowing that the withdrawal would pass. Distraction, exercise ... But I know not much helps, so much sympathy to you!

Thanks.

After a swiftly aborted effort at halfing them (disaster!) I think I'll go for the 10% a month thing. And I'll wait till dh on holiday for support with childcare, etc.

Thanks all for input.

I have stacks of experience on this sadly, here is one of my blog posts about the 10% taper method:
10% taper

My blog also has links to other sources of advice on tapering, here's a useful website I help admin:

Surviving Antidepressants

My advice? forget calendars and schedules, make a small cut 10% or less, and listen to how you feel for a few weeks, don't make another cut unless you feel well or better than well, don't power on through making cuts if you feel rubbish, it's important to let your body/mind stabilize after each cut. if you CAN get liquid so much easier to taper.

Another excellent article from Mind:

Mind Making sense of Coming off Psychiatric Drugs

Oh yes and I agree, GP's are pretty appalling about knowing how hard it can be to get off these drugs, might be worth printing off the article from Mind for your doctor to read. Luckily my surgery are ok about prescribing me liquid prozac but they have no interest or understanding of withdrawal.

thanks so much for that strawberry. i'll read the links when i am home at the laptop.