coming off ADs

[Swaledale]

Hi,

I have had PND since my DS was born a couple of years ago, although I have had issues for years. I hit rock bottom last year and have worked hard to drag myself back into the land of the living, instead of being like a zombie,, It's been tough, but I finally feel like I am in control and have managed to let go of a lot of things that were stopping me from living my life. I feel great, better than I have felt in years, so much so I had actually forgotten what it had felt like to feel this good. I have reduced my tablets (with GP and family support) right down to one every other day, I have been doing this for 2 weeks now. Does anyone know how long I need to do this for before stopping altogether? I am a bit nervous to not taking them any more. Has anyone else felt like this?

Thanks xx

Maybe reduce down more by splitting the tablets. Have you asked your gp's advice on how to wean off? I have done this successfully before but have always gone back to the AD.

I successfully came off ADs with supplements. The two that worked for me were Berocca ( in tablet form, not fizzy because it contains aspartame ... I could only get the tablets in Boots), or a milk thistle complex ( Vogel ) from the health food shop.
Wean yourself off but feed yourself good stuff that will strengthen you.
Good luck x

I started taking fish oils and multivits and eating oily fish as they are supposed to help with brain health, but tailed off, I will keep it up though.

I'll speak to the GP about how long...

It's a big leap from one tablet every other day to none at all, I've just done it. My GP's advice was to do it when I felt ready, even though the actual dose was little more than a placebo. He said not to set a time limit as it could set up the potential to "fail" (for want of a better word) and to stop when I still had some left in a packet so it would feel less like 'cold turkey'.

I do have a fab GP though.

Ah well done Pinkle!!

I have about half a packet left, I think I will have another week and then see how I am.

Thanks for the support though :) xx

Well done to you!

I was 2.5 years on 10mgs escitalopram. I took just over 6 months to wean off it.
5mgs for 3 months. 2.5mgs for 3 months and then tried to cut the 2.5mgs in half so was taking crumbs for a few weeks.

I did still have some withdrawal symptoms when I had stopped completely but managed.
Honestly the best advice I'd give anyone wanting off medication is to go ridiculously slowly. There is no rush and if you do hit a few mood bumps you'll know you couldn't have gone any slower.

It took me 6 months at least,I split tablets and got down to 5mg seroxat then asked the doctor for a liquid version so I could reduce the last bit very slowly. The last 2mg was a killer but aside effects only lasted a couple of days so I planned when to do it so it didn't coincide with a busy time. I was on 60 mg originally iirc.

Good luck

I have tried to come off before, but usually gone back on within 6 months.

Now I believe that the various stresses that put me into anxiety/depression before have resolved and I really want to get off the pills for good so I've been reading around this online.

There is a body of opinion that many GPs do not appreciate how long it can take to come off without withdrawal symptoms. See this website eg, tho i am reading it with a certain pinch of salt.

But their advice on how to taper off REALLY slowly so that your poor brain isn't rocked too much does seem sensible.

Really slowly worked for me. I read lots of forums for advice too, that's how I discovered the liquid version of dedicated as my doctor had never heard of it!

WhatWouldFreddieDo, I came across a few sites like that during my own research into tapering off meds.

What I did find out was that pharma trials on antidepressants don't include the stopping/weaning period. There are no trials on that, so we have to rely on other people's accounts of their experiences.

I found npanth.wordpress.com/2012/03/14/phases-of-ssri-withdrawal/ invaluable.

thanks for that violator, will have a read..

I am back on the lowest dose, I spoke to my dr and my OH and we all agreed that I rushed it, I feel much better and more relaxed.

Thanks for all your help and support xx