How long have you been on meds?

[giggleshizz]

Just that really. Been on citalopram on and off for ten years. Longest stretch 4 years. Now back on for past two years. Apart from weight gain which I struggle with, they make me feel so much better (suffer panic attacks).

Curious as family member asked if I was planning to stay on them for the rest of my life and my current feeling is yes!

Has anyone else been on ADs, specifically SSRI, for a very long time?

My mum has been on mirtazipine for over 10 years, she absolutely cannot be without them. They are supposed to make you gain weight (she needs to) but she never has. I've been on Citalopram 9-10 months.

I was on fluoxetine for about six months about eight years ago. Weaned myself off and was 'okay' for a bit. Then told in first pregnancy (7 years ago) that they wouldn't give me ADs during pregnancy

Citalopram for about a year five years ago (including during and following second pregnancy), til it stopped working

And I've been on lofepramine for about four years now

I have bipolar and been on meds since my first episode 6.5 years ago (which started as PND after DD2 was born). I take 4 different medications, one of which is an AD. I can't see me being med-free any time soon--they're keeping me alive and out of hospital right now so I don't even think about getting off them.

Thanks. Same here I kind of think why would I stop taking something that helps me live a normalish life. Obviously there are side effects but better than not being able to leave my house!

To put things into context..
My DP is insulin independent. She started injections at age 2 and will take four or more a day until she dies.

The alternative is a very short and painful death.

I've been mainly on them for 21 years. Total of about 3 years off, in 2 separate periods around pregnancy etc. I've been on SSRI's, SNRI's whatevers, tricyclics.

This latest continuous stretch 6 1/2 years. I'd be dead without them.

I've been on them for about 11 years, since I was 17. I think I may have had a break for about 6 months early on but to be honest I can't remember. I started on Citalopram and went onto Sertraline about 4 years ago, been taking 150mg for about 3 years. That is the highest dose I've taken.

I can't see myself ever coming off ADs, but really I should think about it as life is on the whole better than when I went up to 150mg, but I am concerned about weaning myself off and if something goes wrong in my life and I can't cope so have to increase my dose again. They are for depression and anxiety; I have been an anxious person ever since I can remember and it often tips over into depression. The ADs help me to hold down a good job, socialise and give me the motivation to enjoy sport etc.

I totally get and agree with the PP who likened taking ADs to taking insulin for diabetes; my brain doesn't produce enough serotonin so I have to take medication to help. That is all it is.