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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jessers11581 on July 11, 2005, at 19:18:06
I'd like to know if anyone who has been using psychiatric medications for an extended period of time can relate to this. I've been taking one antidepressant or another for the past 8 years continuously. The only time I stopped was for one month recently, but I ended up having to resume them because of withdrawal effects and terrible depression. Really, I think that my problem is more with anxiety than with depression--the depression has only come on in the past couple of years. But ANYWAY, I often feel that my mind is totally different than it used to be--almost like I've been rewired or something. I feel like I can't think about anything rationally, like I'm incapable of functioning on the same level that I used to be. I find myself constantly worrying about my mental health in a way that is very detrimental to my overall wellbeing. This all began happening about five years after beginning medication (SSRI's). Since then I've tried several different drugs, therapy, dietary changes, supplementation, etc. But I STILL feel like something just is not right with my head. And I can't help but wonder if I've been on medication for so long that it's completely changed the way my brain is able to process things. Does anyone else feel this way? Is 8 years too long a time to have been taking antidepressants? Please help if you can. Thank you very much. J
Posted by linkadge on July 11, 2005, at 19:24:01
In reply to on meds for too long? please read, posted by jessers11581 on July 11, 2005, at 19:18:06
"worrying about my mental health in a way that is very detrimental to my overall wellbeing"
I have that problem a lot. Thoughts of brain dammage flood my mind day and night, esp since I have a hard time walking in a straight line since stopping them, even 3 1/2 months later.
Scarry as hell.
Linkadge
Posted by linkadge on July 11, 2005, at 19:27:25
In reply to Re: on meds for too long? please read, posted by linkadge on July 11, 2005, at 19:24:01
I have been off them 3 1/2 months and my brain still comes to expect them at the time of day that I always took them (about 5pm).
Its a factor that always weighs on my mind about weather to go back on them or not.
Its like I wake up daily with the reminder of what they do to my brain underneith.
Linkadge
Posted by jessers11581 on July 11, 2005, at 20:19:57
In reply to Re: on meds for too long? please read, posted by linkadge on July 11, 2005, at 19:27:25
> I have been off them 3 1/2 months and my brain still comes to expect them at the time of day that I always took them (about 5pm).
>
> Its a factor that always weighs on my mind about weather to go back on them or not.
>
> Its like I wake up daily with the reminder of what they do to my brain underneith.
>
> LinkadgeWow! That's great that you've managed to stay off of them for so long. I couldn't even go a month. Had long had you taken AD's before stopping? I have a theory that the body has a really difficult time making it's own chemicals after being supplemented for so long a time. So the reason why it feels like you don't have any serotonin once you stop taking drugs is probably because YOU DON'T!! It's like your body has forgotten how to produce its own or something. At least that's how it felt for me. It's really sad. I'm definitely starting to believe that drug companies have been misleading the general public about the safety of using antidepressants long-term.
Posted by Declan on July 11, 2005, at 20:42:38
In reply to on meds for too long? please read, posted by jessers11581 on July 11, 2005, at 19:18:06
Yeah I agree with your implication that it is too long. But what to do?? You can only just do what you can. In my case 30 years benzos, 25 years opoids, although they're reasonably straightforward drugs compared to ADs. Brain damage, yeah, self evidently I think, but then it often comes with age anyway, the way we live.
So you are trying the SAMe with Cymbalta to lower your Cymbalta dose? SAMe and Parnate made me somewhat agitated.
Declan
Posted by linkadge on July 11, 2005, at 20:44:37
In reply to Re: on meds for too long? please read » linkadge, posted by jessers11581 on July 11, 2005, at 20:19:57
I've been on medications for 5 1/2 years. Not as long as you, but long enought to know that what you are saying is definately not nonsense.
I have problems off the meds that I never really had before going on. Uncontrollable rage at times frightens the heck out of me. I still get the shock like sensations like "all the time" and its been 3 1/2 months!
And thats exactly it. What is an antidepressant. We don't know how safe thay are. We have no clue.
We have absolutely no clue.
Linkadge
Posted by sedona on July 11, 2005, at 23:07:35
In reply to on meds for too long? please read, posted by jessers11581 on July 11, 2005, at 19:18:06
I don't know that I can help much, but I difinitely identify with the way you feel. I have been taking antidepressants and other psychotropic drugs for 5 years, and each time I have tried to quit I have ended up going back on them because I feel as though I am crashing. I have been off for one month now, and I still haven't returned to my pre-antidepressant self. And now I wonder if I have done permanant damage to my brain by being on so many drugs. The one thing I do know is that when a person takes an antidepressant there is a reduction (downregulation) of certain receptors and sometimes upregulation of other receptors. This phenomena is sometimes thought to explain why it takes antidepressants so long to work. When I asked my doctor when my receptors would return to their natural state, he couldn't really answer because no one really knows how these drugs work. He guessed it would be about the same amount of time it took for the antidepressants to cause the downregulation. But I don't know that I trust this information. It's almost 5 weeks for me with no antidepressants and I stil feel terrible-almost unable to function and very suicidal. I was never suicidal before I took antidepressants and I was a functioning depressive. I realize that these drugs work miracles for many people and I am glad for them, but I wish I had never taken them.
> I'd like to know if anyone who has been using psychiatric medications for an extended period of time can relate to this. I've been taking one antidepressant or another for the past 8 years continuously. The only time I stopped was for one month recently, but I ended up having to resume them because of withdrawal effects and terrible depression. Really, I think that my problem is more with anxiety than with depression--the depression has only come on in the past couple of years. But ANYWAY, I often feel that my mind is totally different than it used to be--almost like I've been rewired or something. I feel like I can't think about anything rationally, like I'm incapable of functioning on the same level that I used to be. I find myself constantly worrying about my mental health in a way that is very detrimental to my overall wellbeing. This all began happening about five years after beginning medication (SSRI's). Since then I've tried several different drugs, therapy, dietary changes, supplementation, etc. But I STILL feel like something just is not right with my head. And I can't help but wonder if I've been on medication for so long that it's completely changed the way my brain is able to process things. Does anyone else feel this way? Is 8 years too long a time to have been taking antidepressants? Please help if you can. Thank you very much. J
Posted by Jazzed on July 12, 2005, at 9:20:40
In reply to Re: on meds for too long? please read, posted by linkadge on July 11, 2005, at 19:24:01
> "worrying about my mental health in a way that is very detrimental to my overall wellbeing"
>
> I have that problem a lot. Thoughts of brain dammage flood my mind day and night, esp since I have a hard time walking in a straight line since stopping them, even 3 1/2 months later.
>
> Scarry as hell.
>
>
> LinkadgeSo link, after reading this thread, what would be your advice to me.
I asked my p-doc for something for anxiety, and he gave me Xanax, which took away the physical symptoms of anxiety, but not the worry. Then I asked him if I could go back on the Lexapro thinking it would help with the general anxiety, I just left a phone mess. and he said okay, didn't talk to him yet about what's going on. I took it awhile ago but didn't give it a chance because I was having other problems. Now, I've been on the Lexapro 4 days, and already my head is fuzzy and feels weird, I'm tired, I feel more anxious physically, when I'm driving I feel panicky, I have to "think" about what I"m doing - stuff that should be 2nd nature, my reactions are way slower, and sometimes I can't remember where I"ve gone or where I'm going. Weird. Should I just get off the stuff, or give it more of a chance. I"m not depressed, just have a lot of anxiety. I also take Adderall XR, Xanax, and Ambien. Suggestions about the Lexapro? My initial thought is to get off of it!Jazzy
Posted by linkadge on July 12, 2005, at 15:35:09
In reply to Re: on meds for too long? please read » linkadge, posted by Jazzed on July 12, 2005, at 9:20:40
I would say that unless you are convinced that the lexapro will help then I would not take it.
The real bad thing was not that I took the drugs, it was that they provided such incomplete relief at such a high price.
If you do decide to take it, take as small a dose as is necessary.Somebody previously posted a study which showed that prozac 5mg was almost as effective as prozac 40mg. So I am saying that if you get any relief from a tiny dose, then don't increase it, and perhaps look into other things that might help.
I think of it this way. Find "everything" that helps a little, and then throw it all together.
I did fine on 10mg of celexa, folic acid, omega 3, zinc and magnesium. THe doctor insistend on an increase to 60mg, and that was unnecssary and thats probably what caused the most dammage.
And surprisingly I responded terrably to it.
Its a combination of high doses for too long that cause problems IMO.
Linkadge
Posted by jessers11581 on July 12, 2005, at 16:53:03
In reply to Re: on meds for too long? please read, posted by linkadge on July 12, 2005, at 15:35:09
> I would say that unless you are convinced that the lexapro will help then I would not take it.
>
> The real bad thing was not that I took the drugs, it was that they provided such incomplete relief at such a high price.
>
>
> If you do decide to take it, take as small a dose as is necessary.
>
> Somebody previously posted a study which showed that prozac 5mg was almost as effective as prozac 40mg. So I am saying that if you get any relief from a tiny dose, then don't increase it, and perhaps look into other things that might help.
>
> I think of it this way. Find "everything" that helps a little, and then throw it all together.
>
> I did fine on 10mg of celexa, folic acid, omega 3, zinc and magnesium. THe doctor insistend on an increase to 60mg, and that was unnecssary and thats probably what caused the most dammage.
> And surprisingly I responded terrably to it.
>
>
> Its a combination of high doses for too long that cause problems IMO.
>
>
> Linkadge
>
>
>
>
>I agree that it's always best to try smaller amounts of any drug before going to high doses. Right now, I'm taking half the typical dose of Cymbalta (along with SAM-e and fish oil) and I don't intend to raise it, even though my doc thinks I should. And of course, any sort of cognitive or talk therapy is good to use in lieu of drugs. I'd say try EVERYTHING else first before falling back on a pill. Like Link, I wish I had never gotten so dependant on them. Now, I feel like I'm so far into the game that I can't quit. But maybe I'll be able to gradually. Who knows. Good luck!
Posted by linkadge on July 12, 2005, at 17:12:46
In reply to Re: on meds for too long? please read, posted by jessers11581 on July 12, 2005, at 16:53:03
I wanted a quick and easy answer. Lifestyle changes are hard, while taking a pill, for me, was easy.
Linkadge
Posted by Jazzed on July 12, 2005, at 17:33:11
In reply to Re: on meds for too long? please read, posted by linkadge on July 12, 2005, at 17:12:46
Thanks link and jessers,
I do the therapy too, the jury's still out on that one for me with this T. My doc is fine with whatever works, so that's not a problem. I don't know if taking the Lexapro made everything worse or not, it sure seems that way. Will have to talk to him about it on Fri.
Jazzy
Posted by linkadge on July 12, 2005, at 19:28:59
In reply to Re: on meds for too long? please read, posted by Jazzed on July 12, 2005, at 17:33:11
If it is pure anxiety not accompanied by depression then I too would recomend other things. Just like I wouldn't recomend taking a neuroleptic for anxiety.
Linkadge
Posted by Phillipa on July 12, 2005, at 22:17:10
In reply to on meds for too long? please read, posted by jessers11581 on July 11, 2005, at 19:18:06
Same thing has happened to me. That's why I'm going off my valium and luvox. Tappering of course. Want to see who I really am. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Jazzed on July 13, 2005, at 6:21:29
In reply to Re: on meds for too long? please read, posted by linkadge on July 12, 2005, at 19:28:59
This is the end of the thread.
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