Seroxat - Help With Stopping It, Please.

[sparrowhawk]

Hi, I'm looking for someone to hold my hand as i come off seroxat. I've taken it for about 9 or 10 years having read about the side effects especially on sex-drive, i realise I want to stop taking it.

The tablets have been very good at keeping me steady, i haven't had a major depression since taking them, whereas I had a number of severe depressions before that, so i feel it isn't all bad, they have helped me. I have a new doctor, saw her for the first time this week and she was lovely. She reassurred me that she wouldn't leave me high and dry, i can go back on them if necessary, can do it at my own pace etc and was really nice.

I've always been on 20mg and since Weds i am now on 10mg. Today my head feels all dizzy and offbalance. I'm sure some of this is psychological as I have sometimes not taken tablets at all for several days (been on holiday and forgotten etc)and been ok. I know dizzy spells won't kill me (unless i have one when crossing the road in front of a bus, LOL!) and so i am trying not to panic about them.

I will take 10mg for a couple of months and then reduce to 5mg for a couple more. I am scared I will have a bad depression again, suicide thoughts etc but also I want some sex drive again and so does hubby! problem is when I am depressed, I find it hard to know and get so down I can't help myself and i don't want to get into that state again. If I did get bad again, could i take another tablet that wouldn't have the side effects?

Anyway, thanks for reading if you got this far.

Sparrowhawk, I came off Seroxat about 2 years ago after being on it for 2.5 years.

This has been discussed at length on here, so not to bore other MN's, there a few threads about Seroxat, do a search and put Seroxat in the seach box and my nickname in authors and you will find them. If you want to email me through contact another talker please free to do so.

Take care and good luck, you will succeed!

Just to add - Im in the same situation and have been having real difficulties withdrawing. Definately follow allibubbles advice and search for her posts on the subject - Ive found them really helpful!
Good Luck!
Kizziex

Im there with u sparrowhawk, took Seroxat for 4 yrs up to 2001. I have been reading, due to side effects, that the FDA in USA have been doing recent tests on it and found them to be the hardest to come of off as they r the most addictive of all SSRI's. It is suggested that it is best to swap to fluoxetine for a short while, as this is much easier to come off of than Seroxat. My GP said he will no longer prescribe them to anyone.

Like u I gradually came off of them, but suffered all nasty side effects. I dont know how I managed, I was then v proud of self for having done it.

Alibibbles is right there have been many discussions and there is lots of helfull comments and support for AD's on here.

Dont be worried to get it off your chest here, as many of us r or have been in the same situation.

You can get liquid Seroxat - easier for when you're coming off as you can just have a little bit less each time rather than going down 10, or even 5mg at a time which can be a hell of a shock to the system. Good luck girlies.

Thank u for your replies, it's great that i'm not alone. I'll check out those threads later. I'm feeling good today, no dizziness - hope it lasts but i expect i'll have ups and downs, from what you say. my doc told me about the liquid. I wans't sure about it but i see now it could be useful. Thanks again everyone.