Posted by Philip N. on September 30, 2006, at 12:16:28
In reply to Re: Withdrawal from long term antidepressants » Philip N., posted by johnnyj on September 30, 2006, at 10:09:22
Hi jonnyj. I've always managed with minimal doses before now. My doctor and I are thinking of me starting back on Prozac as it has been years since I've taken that and try some Amitrytpiline at night to help with sleep initially. I think that TCA has historically been associated with sedation so maybe that would help me to get past the first stage of potential anxiety. I have diagnosed Anxiety Disorder (I think alot of this runs concurrent) and am sensitive to meds.
There was a time when I took Prozac but I started while I was still drinking alcohol and I don't recall alot of startup problems but thta may not be the case now. I also have about 3 weeks worth of benzos left and my doc thinks that if the Prozac works then I can stop them without much fanfare.
From what I've read on benzos I'm leary of hanging with them very long but they do a hell of a job on insomnia, at least when I have used them over the past month (not every day). I could see where I would almost just say let's stay with the benzos for all this anxiety but they say when you are hooked it causes hellish anxiety not to take them. It's a damn double edeg sword! I have not gone over 1mg of lorazepam yet at a time but even on regular low dosage thay say it can be wicked after a time.
I've tried to educate myself on alternatives but I think that my timing at this point would not allow for too much experimentation. My doctor also says that for the large part of people who the medications really work well for I won't find them as much on the internet because they are doing OK. Much of what I find on the sites seems negative but I also look at the alternative to untreated Depression/Anxiety. I think the damage from that if left untreated is far worse than keeping it in check.
I've always been a "what if" personality and I always look for the negatives and then expound on that in my head. The truth is from where I am at right now compared to this point last year I would have to opt to go back to when it was working. I know several people as most of us do in our circles who take ADs and are going about their lives day to day making it work. The ones I have talked this over with say that I need to get back on the train and ride it some more. Italmost sounds too simple.
I think it has just been the realization that this thing is alot larger and broader than I once thought and I am caught up in it kinda dulled me even more. The percentage of people who successfully stay off medication after any prolonged use from what I am hearing is slim at best. Now does that mean that the illness is that strong and progressive or that we have acclimated our psyche to the use of the medications? The experts claim it both ways depending on what side of the fence we're on. But then I look at the history of untreated Depression before there was any therapy available and I certainly wouldn't want to opt for that! I think the majority were just put away somewhere. And being down and holding out hope for some big turn of events seems almost comparable to that!
You see the thing to me is that there are no set answers and that just illustrates to me how complicated this really is (Not to mention that we are still trying to live our lives). It's also true that I have never experienced this degree of Depression/Anxiety and I want to at first blame it on the medications. My doctor trys to get me to see the other side of this thing. That my condition is what it is now because of the Illness and as we get older the data says that for most depressives the degree gets worse when it returns or reveals itself.I know I want to believe that I am tougher than all that but my history wouldn't convince myself that is the case. The Ads came in earnest after long periods of excessive alcohol abuse and I know there is residual from that in life. I wasn't much for any drugs but I sure thought I could drink and that is many times indicative of someone trying to self medicate according to my doc. And I do know I have been anxious all my life.
My thinking right now is to put more trust in my doc and try to pull myself back up and then maybe see where I'm at again later on. I could at least try a long drawn out taper and watch for signs of recuurrence then as I try to build from a better position. I don't like the idea of side effects but at least that might let me move forward some. I'm also convinced that the side effects of letting this go on anabted would be more severe.
Tyhank You.....let me know
poster:Philip N.
thread:689668
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20060809/msgs/690545.html