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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by PhoenixGirl on December 7, 2000, at 13:37:12
Does anyone have thoughts about or experiences like this? I´ve been on some kind of AD since I was 13, and I´m now 22. I still often feel depressed, even with the ADs. Whenever I try to even just reduce antidepressants, I a DEEP depression begins within 2 days. I thought that maybe my brain was "addicted" to ADs, and not producing the good mood chemicals because my ADs were doing it. So not long ago I decided to slowly taper off my AD, and tough it out until the "withdrawl" period was over. I was off the AD for about 2 weeks, and the severe depression did not relent at all. I then went back on the AD.
Has this happened to anyone else, and/or does anyone have thoughts on why immediate relapses occur for me? I feel that I´m held captive, and can never be without the drugs.
By the way, there is a lot of mental illness in my family, even extended family that I never met.
Posted by stjames on December 7, 2000, at 15:47:46
In reply to Why immediate relapse when even just reducing ADs , posted by PhoenixGirl on December 7, 2000, at 13:37:12
> By the way, there is a lot of mental illness in my family, even extended family that I never met.
James here....
If depression returns when you stop AD's this would indicate you need to stay on meds, esp.
with the above statement.james
Posted by ChrisK on December 7, 2000, at 17:05:54
In reply to Why immediate relapse when even just reducing ADs , posted by PhoenixGirl on December 7, 2000, at 13:37:12
Without trying to speak for others I would say that most of the people here have tried to go off of their AD's by themselves for a number of reasons. I have done it just to see if I was really being helped by a crtain med, only to find out that I was beoing helped. I have found that I will probably be on some form of medication for the rest of my life. I'm 37 and in and out of pdocs since I was 17. My father was diagnosed when he was around 35 and spent the rest of his life taking Elavil for his depression.
The best advice is to stay on your meds as long as you are doing well and there are no unbearable side effects.
There is a post a few threads up by Cam W. and he indicates that you shouldn't even think about quitting somehting that is working until you really feel good about things for a year. I know I haven't been on something that made me feel like a "normal" person for a full year so I'm not giving up on what has gotten me this far.
Best of Luck and don't give up yet.
Chris
Posted by S. Howard on December 8, 2000, at 1:06:12
In reply to Re: Why immediate relapse when even just reducing ADs , posted by stjames on December 7, 2000, at 15:47:46
First of all, I would like to say that James always talks and talks forever and never really gets around to the point, his postings are just so long. But I must agree with him, you need to stay on ADs. I've been on psych drugs for less than a year but I understand how you feel. I was
diagnosed with hypertension in my 30s and was horrified to think that I must rely on strong daily medication for the rest of my life. However, just a couple of the alternatives to going drug-free are kidney failure and/or a paralyzing stroke. Also, when I don't take it, I get headaches constantly and feel like hell.You have to consider your ADs the same way - you
have a condition that requires medication and if you don't take it there will likely be serious consequences.Of course, there's no reason for you to stick with a drug regimen that isn't working as well as other drugs could. Your pdoc should be willing to work with you on making careful adjustments. Again, this can be related to a chronic physical condition such as hypertension; I had to try several medications for an extended length of time with (3x daily) monitering before finding a drug that continuously lowered my blood pressure to an acceptable level, and I've changed medications since then to a newer drug that has lowered my BP from acceptable to normal/good. I
try to consider my psych drugs the same way; the ones I'm taking worked for me at first, maybe even saved my life, but now I'm unhappy with the side effects and want to try something new. However, like the BP drugs, I would never consider
"just quitting" like it's a gambling or drinking habit, because it's not. It's something you do to preserve life and, hopefully, make it better.Good luck-
Gracie
Posted by Christina on December 8, 2000, at 1:25:58
In reply to Why immediate relapse when even just reducing ADs , posted by PhoenixGirl on December 7, 2000, at 13:37:12
Phoenix..
I am going through some of the same things, but I am so tired, I can't elaborate right now.Don't let me forget that I owe you a better answer
Good night
Posted by stjames on December 8, 2000, at 22:40:06
In reply to Re: Why immediate relapse when even just reducing ADs , posted by S. Howard on December 8, 2000, at 1:06:12
>
> First of all, I would like to say that James always talks and talks forever and never really gets around to the point, his postings are just so long. But I must agree with him, you need to stay on ADs. I've been on psych drugs for less than a year but I understand how you feel. I wasJames here....
I have ADD, we are long winded. Deal with it.
james
Posted by S. Howard on December 8, 2000, at 22:59:41
In reply to Re: Why immediate relapse when even just reducing ADs , posted by stjames on December 8, 2000, at 22:40:06
Posted by PhoenixGirl on December 9, 2000, at 11:08:19
In reply to Jeez, sorry. No offense meant. (np), posted by S. Howard on December 8, 2000, at 22:59:41
>
Thanks to everybody who responded. I wish that no one else had to go through what I go through, but it's comforting to know that I'm not alone. Well, in regards to this quest for a good med, I've been on a search forever to find one that works and doesn't cause nausea or sexual side effects (my 2 biggest probs with meds.) Crossing my fingers for Desipramine right now.
Posted by Noa on December 9, 2000, at 11:36:28
In reply to Re: Why immediate relapse when even just reducing ADs , posted by stjames on December 8, 2000, at 22:40:06
Actually, I had read Gracie's post as affectionately ironic because your previous post was extremely brief and to the point.
Posted by Noa on December 9, 2000, at 11:37:18
In reply to Re: this quest we're on, posted by PhoenixGirl on December 9, 2000, at 11:08:19
Good luck. Hope it works.
Posted by S. Howard on December 9, 2000, at 11:54:59
In reply to Jeez, sorry. No offense meant. (np), posted by S. Howard on December 8, 2000, at 22:59:41
Noa-
Thank you dear. All I meant was that he seems to know his stuff and we would like to hear a bit more from him sometimes. I had no idea he would take this as in insult. -G
Posted by allisonm on December 9, 2000, at 12:10:14
In reply to Re: Jeez, sorry. No offense meant - Noa, posted by S. Howard on December 9, 2000, at 11:54:59
>
> Noa-
> Thank you dear. All I meant was that he seems to >know his stuff and we would like to hear a bit >more from him sometimes. I had no idea he would >take this as in insult. -G
------"First of all, I would like to say that James always talks and talks forever and never really gets around to the point, his postings are just
so long."-----
When I read the above sentence, I took your words at face value and I felt badly because James has contributed so much to this board and so many here have benefitted from his knowledge and experience.
I know it's been said a million zillion times that electronic messages lack human tone of voice and gesture and it's much easier to take a message differently than originally intended. I guess this is just one more of the million zillion quadrillion good examples.
Posted by stjames on December 9, 2000, at 14:41:19
In reply to Re: Jeez, sorry. No offense meant - Noa, posted by S. Howard on December 9, 2000, at 11:54:59
> Thank you dear. All I meant was that he seems to know his stuff and we would like to hear a bit more from him sometimes. I had no idea he would take this as in insult. -G
James here....
Ah!!!! I thought that might be the case. No problem, sorry. My posts tend to be short at
work and longer when I post from home, when I
have time to think thru things. Humor is often
hard to pick up in written form.james
This is the end of the thread.
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