Life after SSRI’s?

[MrBlack]

Been on & off SSRI’s since 2019. Back on them again for the 3rd time. Does anyone ever get off them & stay off for good?

I am wondering that too. I’ve spent 12 months weaning Effexor. I weaned from this drug 12 years ago but went back. I’m now 4 weeks completely off it and I have to say that I have never felt so mentally ill, or been in such dark places in the last six months. The lack of support and information from the medical community is deplorable. I am giving myself 3 months completely off the drug to see how I am then. The withdrawal symptoms are exactly like depression so I think a lot of people think the depression is back when it might not be, that’s why I’m waiting 3 months. I have used herbs to help with the wean prescribed by a medical herbalist. I would not be free from Effexor today but for those herbs.

I have no plans to ever come of them. If things are stable that's great but why rock the boat if things are good

I was on them 20 years or so

been off them about a year

winter is proving hard. I might have had some in my system last winter still. But it's not a huge amount different really. Certainly not bad enough for me to feel like dealing with doc again. I will if I have to of course. I'd be surprised if I never needed them again.

I was on them for about 10 years, now been off them for more than 10. But if they work and you need to stay on then I’d just go with it.

Though to be fair I am often quite anxious 😂

It’s nice to see a couple of people who are still off them for more than a year. Well done. My life is not half as stressful as it used to be and I decided to try and see if I can manage without them. I never liked being on them.

Yes nice to hear of people who came off & stayed off. I don’t want to be on them forever but right now they are helping me.

They aren’t good for your sex life & can cause irreversible changes long term. Which I would really hate to happen, I’d be even more depressed than before.

Yes antidepressants ruined my enjoyment of sex which I feel very bitter about because in turn it damaged my relationship. It helped me cope, helped me get up every day and go to work and do my duty but I’m glad to be rid of it. In the long run, in my case, they did more bad than good. Coming off them was absolutely horrific at times. It’s very easy to confuse withdrawals with depression and, again, my GP could not have been more the opposite of supportive. They need to educate themselves about weaning off these drugs and they need to learn that people have a right to try to get off them.

Hi EmeraldRoulette. I hope you stay on this forum. I’d like to hear more from you. I was on Effexor for 18 years and spent a year weaning them. I’m 4 weeks off them now and would like to hear how you are doing now. Thanks for sharing

If anyone was interested, there is an antidepressant that can increase your sex drive. Trazodone increases blood flow in the pubic area which can make it easier to orgasm. One of the rare side effects in men is priapism.

I wonder if this is what is happening with SSRIs - whether they reduce blood flow. Trazodone is an SARI so very similar but maybe that difference increases instead of suppresses blood flow. Just a theory - I'm no doctor!

Anyway, anecdotally it certainly has that effect for me. So I recommend it if anyone was looking for that in an antidepressant.