Long term Antidepressants

[foxlover47]

Hi
I’m just wondering if anyone else here has been on and off of anti depressants for many years ?
i was first prescribed them for antenatal depression at 21 , I had been through a few traumatic things before in childhood and then a really bad birth / forceps / ventouse then emergency c section seemed to make them feel I needed them.
im 50 now and still prescribed a high dose of Venlaflaxine , I never really thought I’d be on them for life , I’ve had a few gaps in between but never for more than 6 -8 months
thank you

Hi. I'm 46 and I've been on antidepressants since I was 23. I've been on 3 different ones during this time. I do think about reducing them but haven't actually done anything about it.

I’m 61. First time l was 21. Was on and off until about 40 ( although often for extended periods)

Been on them permanently for about 22 years. Never coming off. They’ve saved my life twice.

I’ve been on them on and off for 7 years, every time I’ve come off them I’ve had to go back on them. I want to come off them as they cause sexual problems for me. I’ll probably be on them for life.

I'm never coming off mine. They've changed my life for the better. I was an anxiety wreck and now I'm stable, not going to upset the apple cart!

Started mine in my early 40’s… completely and utterly changed my life. I will never stop… tried to and was just awful!

Me. Sertraline, mirtazapine, Prozac. Either they didn’t really work, or the side effects weren’t worth it. I’m technically meant to be on Prozac but I stopped taking it about a year ago. Feel no different.

Yep. I was diagnosed with postnatal depression six months after my third DC was born, at which point I was mentally really struggling and barely functioning. My GP started me on Seroxat/Paroxetine and I've been on it ever since. That was nearly 27 years ago. I go up and down doses depending on how my mental state is, but it keeps me sane, stable and functional and I'm sure it has saved my life. I'm 60 now and I will probably need this drug for the rest of my life; on it, I can function normally. It's an unfashionable choice of drug these days but it works really well for me.

I've been on antidepressants since I was 15 and am 44 now, I'm now on 2. I can't ever see myself not being on them. It's not ideal probably but I don't worry about it.

Me also. Initially when I was 19, I’m now 48. I stopped them a few times and it hasn’t been good, very destructive.I tried lots of different ones. I’m on Mirtazapine now and stable, I’ll remain on them.

Been on Sertraline for four years. Currently tapering off very very very slowly. It’ll take me about two years on the regime I’m on. However, having said that I often wonder if this is the right thing to do. Like so many of you have said they’ve saved my life too and I’m functioning. My main issue is the numbness I feel sometimes hence me trying to come off. But I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who shared their experience. You mostly bad things about AD‘s and yes, I know they have side effects. Ultimately though I’ll be forever grateful I could access them when I really really needed it.

Been on and off citalopram for around 15 years, this time (since two years ago) I’m staying on for ever and ever

I'm 50 and have was off and on them from my late teens to early 30's and on them without a break for the past 20 years.

It's not worth the risk of coming off them, absolutely wouldn't make it through another breakdown.

It's not how I saw my life playing out, but it works for me, I can function.