• Scaramouche said on Sep 17, 2008....

  Dude - SSRI's and similar are fiercely addictive, despite what pharmaceutical companies would have you believe.  Unable to deny the ever increasing reports of withdrawal symptoms in the literature, they finally coined the bullshit phrase "SSRI discontinuation syndrome."  This is lipstick on a pig.  Try googling the phrase, or checking wikipedia.  My mom decided to drop antidepressants, and within a week she was hallucinating her dead mother - and she was tapering off half as fast as her doctor wanted her to.  It took her several months to approach normal, and is now quite happy without them.  They're fiendish, ugly drugs.  This emerging darkness is likely the drug - not you.  Just keep that in mind.  The drug is not you, and you are not the drug.
  
  
  Not trying to tell you what to do.  Just saying - don't be duped by a drug.

• anonymous said on Sep 17, 2008....

  Thanks so much Scaramouche for your comment.  In the past I've done Effexor withdrawal, it lasted 4 months and I've never withdrawn from an SSRI again.  You've given me a bit to think about.  

• evil_twin said on Sep 17, 2008....

  Coming off of antidepressants is torture. I've done it before, but it took months. And it does cause suicidal thoughts and severe depression to do that. But also, some people really do need to stay on them. I'm one of those people. I'm back on them on again, and it's the only way I can function.
  
  I think they are way overprescribed though. But some people truly need them. And just because your man thinks you shouldn't need them, doesn't make him right. It's like taking medicine for diabetes or high blood pressure. Depression is an illness. Would he not understand if you needed medication for something else life threatening? Because depression can be life threatening. Here you are wanting to die.
  
  I don't know. Just something to think about and maybe try and discuss with him. I'm sorry he's not more understanding.
  
  -evil_twin LA
  

• anonymous said on Sep 17, 2008....

  hello alt!

• thegayfuckup said on Sep 17, 2008....

  thanks evil twin, may I ask which AD you are taking?  I've been on Aropax/Paxil, Efexor XR/Effexor XR, Cipramil/Celexa, Avanza/Remeron and now I've found the best working one with Lexapro.  I mention here the Australian/American brand in each case.  I agree with the overprescribing of them, they are handed out like lollies here in Australia and I can only imagine the extent in the US.
  
  
   

• evil_twin said on Sep 17, 2008....

  I've been on Lexapro recently, but it didn't work right on me. So they switched me to Paxil. But I'm also on Depakote too for bi-polar disorder. I've tried just about every antidepressant there is....
  
  -evil_twin LA
  

• Scaramouche said on Sep 17, 2008....

  The only drugs that are overprescribed more are statins.  Seems like they "discover" a new indication for them every week.
  
  
  Anyway, I'm sure there's a certain subset of the population who would benefit from long-term use of SSRIs.  However, I think it's likely that it's rather like the incidence of lactose intolerance.  Very few people really are lactose intolerant, but far more seem to think they are.
  
  
  Don't just assume you're someone who needs SSRI's 24/7.  As long as you've got someone willing to help you ride out the withdrawals, and you actually do want to - I say go for it.  If it turns out badly, well...  if nothing else you can start again from a nice, neutral baseline.

• Lucytorial said on Sep 17, 2008....

  All I will say on this is that hypnotherapy can help immensely with standard depression.  I'm not talking about disorders like Bi Polar just your run of the mill depression or manic depression.
   
  Drug free approaches are usually the best way to go and I completely agree with Scaramooche.

• thegayfuckup said on Sep 17, 2008....

  Having been on SSRI's for a decade now its a hard decision whether to stay on them or not.  They've been a godsend and yet also a curse when it comes to libido...
  I've wanted to come off them for years but after just a few days of a reduced dose I become isolated and very self destructive.  I'm just so confused and it's becoming a power struggle in my relationship, his ultimatum is that it's either I have him or the medications that keep me feeling 'normal'.  Not both.  Not fair.  Too bad love has me trapped too...fucken world
  
  Thanks Lucytorial, I've always been interested in hypnotherapy...
  

• Lucytorial said on Sep 17, 2008....

  Before you start reducing your dose maybe make an appointment with one, you can tell them how you would like to feel as in yourself.
   
  My husband was put on Efexr and he tried Paxil both of them fucked him up more but then he went to a hypnotherapist and had a few sessions.
   
  His morning mantra became the following:
   
  I am a calm, collected and creative individual
  I am happy and well balanced
  My life is filled with joy and warmth
   
  No negatives and always an I am and is and also use words he associated with.

• Scaramouche said on Sep 17, 2008....

  Also - tell your man to put his money where his mouth is.  If he really wants you clean (and you agree) then explain to him that it might get ugly, and you'll really need him, and he'll need the patience of a saint for a little while.

• Scaramouche said on Sep 17, 2008....

  Oh - and there's actual science behind treating depression with exercise, and fish oil.  Seriously.

• Lucytorial said on Sep 17, 2008....

  Good call, if he loves you he will understand that he needs to be there and be fucking patient.  Sounds like he's also young as in immature to place and either or, he's coming from a negative stance which doesn't help one iota!
   
  Can I slap him around the ear holes for good measure?

• Lucytorial said on Sep 17, 2008....

  Exercise defo!!!!! man you're quick scara.... you snuck in there while I was typing!

• evil_twin said on Sep 17, 2008....

  Weaning off the Lexapro can be done, but maybe you're starting with too little of the medication? You might want to take more than you are now, and wean slower. Then bring it down more gradually. That's what I had to do. If you cut the dosage too much, too fast, you'll really feel it. So my advice if you really want off of it, go slower.
  
  -evil_twin LA
  

• thegayfuckup said on Sep 17, 2008....

  Thanks to everyone who has commented, you are all great and have given me a lot more to think about.  My prescribing doctor always touts the benefits of exercise.  I will try the fish oil though.
  
  My man still lives with his parents at 27 years old, on the other hand I was kicked out of home at 16...so yeah I do believe that he is still very immature when it comes to a lot of real life issues.  I can't blame him but I'm beginning to realize that we aren't going to last much longer as he is too impatient.  Scara, we've had these arguments for months now and there is no change in his stance.  I told him earlier today that if he wants me in rehab so bad that HE can pay for it...he didn't sound too keen to pay for the few thousand dollars it will cost!
  

• Lucytorial said on Sep 17, 2008....

  TGF ~ You are so young yourself, all I can say is that you and only you will know what is right for you.  However.... start from a positive, find that one thing that you feel positive about and translate it to other areas... it will help you and the exercise is a great start!

• Scaramouche said on Sep 17, 2008....

  "I'm beginning to realize that we aren't going to last much longer as he is too impatient"
  
  
  If that's really the case, you may want to wait until after that stress is over to reduce the meds.  Of course, that's a catch-22 in this case, isn't it?  Maybe, instead of each of you being so categorical, you could meet halfway.  You could skip the full-on rehab, and he could try being helpful.

• Fallyn said on Sep 17, 2008....

  you aren't your medication. the medication can affect you.....but it in itself is not you.
  
  is the problem that he doesn't like your personality when you are on the drugs? or that he does...but he doesn't believe it's actually you? ...if they do well for you that should be your first concern....if they don't...then by all means try to get off them.
  
  but please don't change your medication just to please your man......you have to do what is best for YOU. not him. this is his issue. not yours.
  
  i really hope everything turns out okay, i know from personal experience how hard it can be when someone you love wants you to change something major that you aren't even sure should be changed.
  

• thegayfuckup said on Sep 18, 2008....

  Hi Fallin, he didn't know me before I was on the meds so he's always known me to be on them.  What I believe triggered his behavior off, after a lot of consideration, was my recent dose reductions on both medications.  Apparently I became a lot more affectionate, caring and loving after reducing my doses, but all I feel is depressed.  I didn't notice any behaviour changes in me...who knows but thanks so much for the comments everyone.

• day2day said on Sep 19, 2008....

  hi gay, Those anti-depressants are nothing to
  mess around with.  It sounds like you've been through quite a few different kinds.  Withdrawals can be bad if you just drop off of them. I did that with the Lexapro and i felt like i was having mini shock attacks at times. That's when i went cold turkey. Don't do that. I went back on them and tapered off. After that, i was scared to take anything else for years.
  Depression is something you can not control. I believe it is a hereditary factor too. Just a feeling. If you really love this guy and want to keep him, then try it. Try to get off them.    He says he wants you to really bad. Let him help you. Maybe he's the one who can hold your hand and show you your self. good luck
  day

• Fallyn said on Sep 19, 2008....

  i can see him wanting you to change if he sees something different under the meds.
  it's got to be scary though to change them after all this time. ..and difficult.
  have faith in yourself though...if you want to...you can....even if it's just a bit at a time.
  

• hellboundmercinary said on Sep 23, 2008....

  You are not a screw up.  You are in need of real spiritual guidance.  What you need is the temptation to damage your temple (your body) to leave you.  I say pray for a kind of deliverance.  If your man is telling you that you need to come off the drugs, then maybe you should.  They can't be good for you.  The lexapro is fine.  I'm on lexapro.  I'm also on 3 other psychiatric medications.  See, I was pagan 2 and 1/2 days ago.  I was also suffering alot more than I am now.  I couldn't physically work a regular job due to a moving back pain that I was getting for the past year or so.  Anyway, I had to do some volunteer work in order to get government assistance, so I chose a church, despite my pagan beliefs, bisexual nature, and vulgar mouth.  I walked into the church, kept a clean mouth, and became curious about God as while I was in that church, the backpain didn't come while working, and the symptoms of my schizophrenia were at ease.  Now I know what path I'm taking.  I've been staying abstinent anyway since 2004.  I can handle it.  You're not a screw up.  You just need God's love over anyone else's.

• butter1970 said on Oct 15, 2008....

  Things sound rough for you right now. I know how hard it is to fight addiction. I really hope you get better and good luck in all that you do.

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