Posted by JPHR on December 30, 2008, at 18:43:59
In reply to Re: Long-Term Users of SSRI's--Need Your Help, posted by JPHR on December 30, 2008, at 17:31:23
By the way, I read something written by "Dr. Bob" recommedning that newcomers might want to introduce themselves. Today is the first day that I've posted here. I came across the site when a Google search led me to the initial post in this thread. I read through the other posts and decided to share my experiences with "SSRI-induced apathy syndrome."
A few minutes ago, I read an old thread about the same issue ( started in 2002: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020930/msgs/121851.html ) and was gratified to know that others have found these symptoms to be as frightening as I have and decided to share their experiences (along with helpful advice about how one might deal with these symptoms). It was difficult for me to realize that the beneficial effects of a medication--one that had helped me so much for so many years--could change so dramatically to mostly negative ones.
As some others in this thread have mentioned, psychotropic medications change the ways in which our brains work, and some of these changes may develop only after months or years. When medication effects change from being more-on-the-positive side to being more-on-the-negative side (as they did with me), even discontinuing the medication MAY not reverse some of these changes, or at least not completely. This is very difficult (scary) for those of us who have suffered from incapacitating depression, anxiety, and/or other problems.
It is a good thing to share these concerns with those who have or are going through similar experiences. I'm grateful that forums such as this one exist.
Thanks to you all.
poster:JPHR
thread:857586
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20081223/msgs/871477.html