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Original poster

Coming off antidepressants.

7 replies

Ilovedogs1 · 12/01/2023 23:49

Hi there,
So im a long time anxiety sufferer. Psychiatrist put me on citalopram when I was 23 just after my first baby.
I'm now in my mid forties.
Had a particularly bad episode in 2016 and meds were changed to sertraline. Been on them ever since till November 2022.
My anxiety episodes were becoming a bit more regular but not quite as long lasting.
Went to see the psychiatrist again who suggested I taper off the sertraline have approx 5 days med free then start fluoxetine. As you can imagine the thought of being med free for 5 days after all this time was quite scary but I actually felt really well. Even my husband commented on how much better I seemed.
So I decided I'd try a little longer without.
I've been 6 weeks medication free now and I feel better than I have in ages. I feel more positive and energised.
Has anyone else experienced this?

OP posts:
MrsC20 · 15/01/2023 23:37

Yeah it shows the meds have done their job - go you! I went off Sertraline and felt my senses come alive!

Bluebamboozled · 14/10/2023 07:30

Ilovedogs1 · 12/01/2023 23:49

Hi there,
So im a long time anxiety sufferer. Psychiatrist put me on citalopram when I was 23 just after my first baby.
I'm now in my mid forties.
Had a particularly bad episode in 2016 and meds were changed to sertraline. Been on them ever since till November 2022.
My anxiety episodes were becoming a bit more regular but not quite as long lasting.
Went to see the psychiatrist again who suggested I taper off the sertraline have approx 5 days med free then start fluoxetine. As you can imagine the thought of being med free for 5 days after all this time was quite scary but I actually felt really well. Even my husband commented on how much better I seemed.
So I decided I'd try a little longer without.
I've been 6 weeks medication free now and I feel better than I have in ages. I feel more positive and energised.
Has anyone else experienced this?

Why did they recommend going on fluoxetine? I've been on it many many years and want to come off it. Are you still med free?

GoodVibesHere · 14/10/2023 07:33

I think you should be cautious, as six weeks is early day. You need to keep an eye and re-assess often. It's easy to go downhill.

Original poster
Ilovedogs1 · 14/10/2023 09:36

@GoodVibesHere your absolutely right. I totally crashed in February. Became extremely anxious and depressed. Stayed in bed a lot, not eating/sleeping, dropped a lot of weight, took an overdose march/April time.
Only starting to turn a corner last 6 weeks or so 🤞. X

OP posts:
Original poster
Ilovedogs1 · 14/10/2023 09:40

@Bluebamboozled . I think they changed meds because my episodes were becoming more frequent. After my experiences this year I'm not sure how much faith I have in psychiatrists.
And no I'm not med free now.

OP posts:
Idontknow010101 · 14/10/2023 22:09

Really glad you're feeling better now @Ilovedogs1, what a horrible time for you. I've been on sertraline for 14 years, have tried to come off twice and crashed - and gone straight back on. Currently, I'm tapering down v slowly, have been since december last year, I imagine it will take me over 2 years to come off it.

Bluebamboozled · 15/10/2023 07:55

Thanks for the update and glad you are feeling well again

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