Hope you don’t mind me putting this on here - but anti-depressants?

[Blossom4538]

Anyone else on them? I’ve been on them for 6 months now and nowhere near ready to wean off. In fact, considering whether I need increase in dosage. I’m currently taking Citalopram 20mg. First two months were awful with side effects but ok now. Don’t really want more side effects again.

How have you found them, what dosage and how long have you been on them. When does GP like you to wean off? I know mine said people are usually on them for at least 6 months.

I've recently come off Citalopram (I was on 20mg) after taking it for about a year. I've been on antidepressants several times before and always relapsed, so my GP recommended staying on them for six months after I felt I no longer needed them.

Everyone's experience of depression and antidepressants is different. But if after six months you feel nowhere near ready to wean off, I'm wondering whether you are getting the support you need to understand and address the issues that caused your depression in the first place? Are you receiving counselling? CBT? mindfulness? Any other support generally?

Life is tough when you have depression. I'm so sorry you are struggling with this. x

I was advised by my GP that in our case having a SN child that only being on them a short while won't do any good. Usually people other than sn parents are put on them due to an event that's happened in life that we will soon enough recover from. But life with a sn child will not go away or get much easier, so advised to stay on them as usually it's an imbalance of hormones from elevated stress. Which won't go down really as stress won't.
My DS1 was diagnosed 6 years ago. I was on tablets from him being young due to the stress caused by his Autism. Stayed on them as I felt better. DS2 diagnosed 2 years ago. So stayed on them due to them both being a handful.
I feel great on them. I don't have depression anymore or anxiety. But it did take about a year for me to find some that worked. Changing about 5 times. I have gained weight but feel the best I've felt my whole adult life. Always suffered from anxiety but didn't even know. Now I feel amazing just from 1 tablet a day.
So I won't be coming off them any time soon. I take pro pranalol and Trazodone

I was on Citalopram for 2 years in the end for Post Natal depression. I came off originally after 9 months but had a massive relapse (if thats the word) quite quickly as it was juat too soon. Ended up having a higher dose and CBT. I came off last Sep and have been fine, although my recent struggles with accepting the changes in my son due to SEN have meant that I am seeing a councellor for a few weeks. If I still feel low I won't hesitate to go back to the doctor. As PP said its different for everyone but if you do not feel ready then don't even consider it.
I echo a PP - are your needs being seen to properly? My GP increased my dose when I was still feeling only like I was getting by, not my normal self. If you haven't already then it may be worth looking into getting help such as CBT or seeing someone to talk through how you are feeling.

I'd stay on them as long as I needed them - even if it meant staying on them for life - provided, obviously, that the doctor has no concerns about that.