Has anyone else been on ADs for decades ?

[kizziee]

I've been on ADs since pnd 25 years ago. initially took seroxat but had real problems coming off it. I then moved onto an old tricyclic called clomipramine and have been on low doses of that for the last 19 years.
After a horrible relapse earlier in the year Dr said to increase dose again but unfortunately it hasn't worked in the way it has before.
I'm worried that I've been on ADs so long I've changed something in my brain which means ADs won't work any more (I know this is probably depression talking.)
Has anyone else taken one for a very long time and then found a different one worked?

There's other types of ADs that you could benefit from. Talk to your doctor.
Your body may be too used to your current medication but that doesn't mean other ADs won't work.

Thank you - I'm finding it hard to believe can get well again

Might be time for a new brand. My mother had to go through a few, and has been on them for decades. I’m approaching my first decade on mine. Increased the dosage in 2020, decreased back again in 2021 once I was more stable.

It might just be a case of trial and error with a few, under your doctor’s supervision. Having been where you are, what’s there to lose in trying a new one? You’re already at rock bottom, might as well take the chance now

I know it's hard not to believe our thoughts but those sort of thoughts are a symptom of the illness which I'm sure you know. Its really hard to hold onto that hope sometimes. You'll get there. Good luck. I hope things start getting better soon💐

I've been on one antidepressant or another since I was 13. I'm 48 next month so 35 years. In my experience, after a few years, my body/brain adjusts to them and they don't have the same effects, I'm currently doing well on duloxetine in the morning with mirtazapine at night, with anti-psychotic and mood stabilizer on top. I've also had various therapies and 2 courses of ECT (which turned things around)

It's very trial and error, clomipramine was a horrible drug for me but others worked better. it takes time to switch between meds but when depression lifts it's so worth it. It's like seeing everything in a dull dank grey way (depression) and seeing colour for the first time, i prefer life in colour

Definitely!

I've been on ADs for 25 years, I think. I don't expect to come off them. They did save my life. After several unsuccessful prescriptions, I ended up on 450mg Venlafaxine. A few more life reversals and I was suicidal again; shrink added 30mg Mirtazapine. That was as close to a magic bullet as one could hope. Since then I've dropped the Venlafaxine by 75mg whenever I feel brave enough, and always in late Spring so I can get a nature boost while trudging through the deficit. I'm now down to 150mg Venlafaxine and the 30mg Mirtazapine.

People tend not to get that a big part of treatment is learning to live with depression - the meds are for taking the edge off. When you break a leg, you can get meds for the pain but your leg's still broken: you can't walk on it and it still hurts. It's a similar deal with ADs; they are symptom relief, not a cure.

It actually sounds as though you're managing your condition quite well - part of that, of course, is knowing when it's getting worse. It's very reasonable to try different meds and/or different combinations when the current ones aren't helping.

I'd rather like my libido back, but not enough to risk 'going back down'! When you need help, ask for it Please remember to be good to yourself, eat, sleep, all that. x

Thank you so much for all the replies. Will try again today

I have been on antidepressants for almost two decades, and will likely continue for the rest of my life. I take a combination of two antidepressants, with a mood stabiliser, to manage my bipolar disorder. I am fairly accepting that I need this combination to keep my moods stable.

I've taken various ADs for 35 years. They keep me alive; without them I'm plotting my demise. I always hope that once I'm retired and no longer having to face the world, I'll manage to come off them but I very much doubt it.

@ArcticBells do you mind if I ask re taking different ones. Has this ever been because has stopped being effective ?

Good reminder @GarlicGrace - although in the past the medication has been a huge part of me being well I think (?)

People tend not to get that a big part of treatment is learning to live with depression - the meds are for taking the edge off. When you break a leg, you can get meds for the pain but your leg's still broken: you can't walk on it and it still hurts. It's a similar deal with ADs; they are symptom relief, not a cure.

If it helps, I was on SSRIs for around 14 years and weaned off them (slowly) with no residual effects once I’d stopped (that I’m aware of). So didn’t seem to permanently change the way my brain works.

@kizziee Of the ones I can remember, I've taken Mianserin, Ludiomil (from early days amongst others), Prozac and currently Seroxat. I felt a bit "raw" on Prozac and find Seroxat takes the edge off life/a bit more calming

Seroxat for the past 24 years for post natal depression. Tried unsuccessfully to get off the previously give up now and just accept I will be on them for life. I don’t get and depression symptoms though.

It's interesting that you don't feel depressed on Seroxat.

I still feel depressed a lot of the time but ADs act as my safety net and help me hang on in there until my mood lifts.

I’ve been on them on and off for 13 years after a variety of serious traumas coupled with PND. Citropram is the only one I have tried that works - it just takes the edge of my anxiety - I was on 40 and then 30 mg very slow decrease - just taking a teeny bit off each tablet and now down to 20 mg and I have had times off them but I find they just stop my racing brain at night time on the whole.

my allotment, dogs and hobbies are helping as is eating healthily and I hope to ween down to 15 mg for September and then go down to 10 mg next april.

Like you I started on them due to PND. In the first couple of years I tried several - Prozac, Sertraline, Citalopram and none quite worked. In the end I was put on Venlafaxine with a nightime "booster" of a small amount of trazadone. Had the advantage that the trazadone helped me sleep. I managed to wean myself off the trazadone quite quickly but the Venlafaxine is a different matter - is taken me years to bring it down to 37.5 mg and I doubt I'll be able to cut it further as at this level I feel a bit cottonwoolly emotionally. I do what I can in terms of eating foods that are supposed to be good for depression and exercising regularly and getting out doors. I think that you might speak to your GP about possibly topping up with something else - rather than necessarily changing the meds - I don't know if yours are one that has withdrawal symptoms but you probably aren't in a place to cope with those at the moment. Look after yourself.

Yep, I've been on one thing or another since I was about 18, I'm 52 now.

I was initially on imipramine which worked really well but made me sleepy, and once SSRIs were available I moved onto Sertraline and was on it until about 5 years ago, when it simply stopped working. My psychiatrist moved me onto venlafaxine and that's made a big difference.

I also suffer from a neurological illness which gives me awful foot pain and I'm on amytriptaline for that, so I'm doubly covered. I also take a low dose antipsychotic, as when I get depressed or tired I get some more serious symptoms.

I fully intend to keep taking them for the rest of my life!

I can't tell you how much I appreciate these messages.
It's good to hear from others who have on the ads for such long periods of time.
@londonmummy1966 I'm very nervous about coming off this as I know how badly my body (and brain) seem to react to any reductions or increases. My dr has said that I would be better off getting onto something different but will also ask the question re adding in something else.