Posted by Djenane on September 3, 2006, at 18:47:01
In reply to Re: Terrified to stop taking my antidepressants » Djenane, posted by Racer on September 2, 2006, at 20:16:48
I’d like to say first that I appreciate so much your comments and help. I didn’t expect to get such caring and helpful responses, so just want to say thanks.
To give some further background, I’ve been taking antidepressants for about ten years, but different ones than these. I tried a number of different medicines because I couldn’t seem to find one that worked well for very long. I started taking them in the first place because after I graduated from college, I had a number of very difficult life situations fall upon me all at once and I wasn’t functioning well at the time. I moved around a lot, so I haven’t had a steady psychiatrist for more than perhaps two years at a time. None of these doctors ever suggested that I try going off…so I just kept trying different antidepressants.
The reason that I need to stop at this point in my life (even though I’m terrified) is that my husband and I very much want to have a baby. I’ve talked with my OBGYN, he says that it’s possible for me to stay on one medication and still have a healthy pregnancy, but I just don’t want to risk it. I want to be totally medication free at least while I’m pregnant and possibly longer if I nurse the baby.
So being on medication for good isn’t really something I can do because it’s not in line with one of my main life goals (which is to have several children).
I’m hesitant to fully trust any of the psychiatrists I’ve seen because they don’t ever even try to explore the possibility of going off meds. I don’t know whether it’s that they want me to continue being their patient, or if they really think that I need to be medicated on a life-long basis. I really don’t think I need to be on them forever. Although I have found psychiatrists who are willing to prescribe smaller doses, I haven’t found one who would really address my concerns, discuss ways to come off successfully, etc.. I do have a doctor now who is very kind, but he doesn’t think coming off will be difficult at all. His plan is just to prescribe say 10 milligrams less ever week or two. I wish it were that easy, but I know from experience that it isn’t.
Sigh.
poster:Djenane
thread:682428
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060901/msgs/682797.html