Wanting to come off long-term antidepressants?

[Richmansworld]

Hi all,
I've been on antidepressants for the past 26 years, first diagnosed with depression and anxiety at 14.

I was changed to a new medication (Mirtazapine) towards the end of last year, but after a few months it became clear it wasn't good for me. I had a horrendous time coming off it to start something else & ended up having a mental breakdown earlier this year.

I ended up requesting to go back on an antidepressant that I had previously taken several years ago, one that I knew I could tolerate and actually keep me stable. Since starting this, having 12 weeks of CBT and generally recovering, I am in much better place, BUT...

I hate how emotionally NUMB I feel to most things currently!

I'm a single parent to 2 kids under 10. I'm functioning well enough to care for them/the house, care for myself (just about 😬) & part-time work. I just don't feel like I care much about any of it, it's like my brain can deal with the physical side of things, but emotionally, NOPE.

I feel like I'm so tired of relying on medication to keep stable, especially if it stops me finding the joy in the everyday. I'm scared of trying to live without it though. Has anyone had similar and thought about/managed to come off long-term antidepressants?

just do it incredibly slowly - take breaks in between reducing. I have gone from 300mg of mine to 75mg, taken me over 2 years, but I have avoided most of the side effects.

Emotionally numb was the goal for me on anti depressants.... But I get that's not for everyone. I would echo a really really really slow and gradual decrease- being alert all the time for any decline in mood- maybe a diary so it reminds you to consciously reflect on your mood on a daily basis - and can help you see positive progress.

I've been on mirtaz, fluox and sertraline at different times over the years.Fluox was easier to come off for me. Sertraline took longer and I had physical symptoms such as itchiness all over, which is common apparently but I wasn't expecting it... as well as mental wobbles.
I never really got on with mirtaz at all in the first place.
Take it really slowly.

If you are on a higher dose of your current medication the numbness may be less if you are able to work on reducing your dose rather than trying to stop completely at the moment. It is also a good idea as others have said to taper off incredibly slowly , have a look at Mark Horowitz who has done a lot of work on safely weaning off these drugs. He is a psychiatrist who himself took antidepressants for many years .

When I first started on meds (Fluoxetine) in my teens the numbness was absolutely welcomed as I had major anxiety and a couple of s. attempts by that point. I then took Sertraline for a number of years, was then changed to Citalopram to try prevent 2nd bout of PPD.
Mirtazapine was prescribed to try increase my appetite (recurrence of disordered eating). I'm now back on Sertraline as I knew I have previously coped with any side effects. I don't remember feeling this numb with it before though... maybe it's an age/hormone thing!

The idea of being off antidepressants is kind of scary really, it's all I've known my entire adult life. Maybe I DO need to be on something for life (as a dismissive doctor once told me), but part of me questions what my life would look like wthout them.

I realise it would be a long, slow process, and potentially with several setbacks. Have you managed to come off all antidepressants now?

I'm currently taking 100mg Sertraline, so not max dose. Started at 25mg & gradually increased over several weeks to control the debilitating anxiety I experienced with my breakdown after coming off Mirtazapine (too quickly for my liking but Dr was really concerned about my blood test results at the time).

Now I'm more stable mood-wise and no longer suffering anxiety, I may ask to dial my dose back a bit, see if that helps.

Thanks for the recommended research, I love to read into this stuff before just jumping in!

I took sertraline for many years and it dealt well with anxiety but I felt flat and a bit meh on it. I’m currently taking Escitalopram which has been a much better fit for me and far fewer side effects. Good luck with whatever you decide

If Sertraline is a tablet that has the tiny beads in, its easier to slowly reduce. You remove a bead once a week from each tablet for that week - it does take a long time but its so much less of a shock for the brain.

I have been on 40mg Citalopram for years. Felt l should try and wean it down as l was so numb also. l was advised to alternate 30 and 40mg for about 2 weeks. If l felt OK, to then slowly take more 30mg days.

I've stayed at 30mg and will until the weather improves as I'm hoping sunshine will make me feel better.

I'm currently having a down period due to the end of a "situationship" I've been in the last 15 months... but l know l won't feel like this forever as I've been through worst breakups and got over them! ....