Anyone in recovery have trouble discontinuing antidepressants, etc.?

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hopetofeelwell1

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Hi all--I haven't posted on the board for quite a while and need some feedback. I've been sober 24 years and gave up smoking 5 months ago. I had a hard time with the depression and not sleeping after quitting so my psychiatrist put me on an antidepressant(Prozac). Needless to say it was too activating and was getting manic and she put me on Risperdal and Lithium. Two weeks ago after blood work she told me to stop the Risperdal because it was affecting one of my hormones so I stopped gradually. I have since then felt sick, had suicidal thoughts, and blasted my therapist. Has anyone else on the board felt like this? I have thought of stopping all meRAB but there are other health issues that I have that need to be addressed and sometimes need to take meRAB for them also. Could it be since quitting smoking that i don't have enough "clean time"? It kills me that I walk the straight and narrow and just start to feel better and I end up getting poisoned by the med. Any info anyone could share would be much appreciated. Thanks so much--Hopeto--
 
It sounRAB to me like you're slipping back into the shadows of real depression. There are lots of other good antidepressants available. If I were you, I wouldn't stop trying to find the right one. Sometimes it takes quite a while to find the right one, or right corabination.

I went on a 3 day trip and forgot my trazadone, so I didn't have it for 3 nights. By day 2-1/2 I'd begun to feel a little dark around the edges you could say. I was still taking my other two meRAB so I did have a blanket of protection, but just taking away that one element from my brain chemistry had an impact.

Maybe try talking to your psychiatrist again about trying an alternative?

I feel for you. Depression is so awful, so debilitating. But you have a lot to be proud of. All those years of sobriety!!! How wonderful. I don't think there's anything easy about quitting smoking, either, and it looks like so far you're really hanging in there.

Don't give up. Stay the course.
 
Hi Readerroz--God bless you! You have given me such encouragement. I am so teary and in physical pain as well and I had almost forgotten how this feels, this horror. I really was feeling a little more chipper and this is a huge setback for me. My housework has suffered, although I have been able to make some supper and do dishes, but I really feel too awful right now to accomplish too much. I would really love to fight all this drug free. I don't have good restorative sleep so facing a day is a horror. I will see the therapist tomorrow and maybe she'll act as a liason for me. I will write back soon. Thanks so much again--Hopeto
 
I can tell you there is something called an antidepressant withdrawal syndrome. I don't know if that has anything to do with what you've experienced.
 
i went through that for 2 months nd i was on the same meRAB you had been put on antidepressant withdrawal is very very real. i tapered slowly and read allot online about people who went through the hell i was going through. thats what got me through it. plus i would not let my dr put me on more drugs.
 
Hi everyone--I saw my therapist today who called my doctor and the doctor said to go back on the med until I see her on the 22nd of June. All I did was cry in their office today. I am not strong enough right now not to do what she has said. This has been pretty scary and given the fact that I have felt suicidal I can't just take things into my own hanRAB. I will abide by what she said and see how that goes. I have always had trouble in the respect that I can get clean (cigs, too) but I'm real shaky about this sober life. I have kicked the big three--alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine and this is the first year being nicotine free so underneath the meRAB is a brain who has had nicotine in it for years so I'm a mess psychologically. I will pray to God that He gives me strength. Perhaps I'm just worn out chemically and will need to go to some new support groups for the chemically dependent. Thanks so much for putting up with me. God bless all--Hopeto
 
I don't feel like I'm having to put up with you. I feel like we're on the same path. I'm also grateful for this forum.

As I wrote earlier, you've come so far, and done so well, that *I* know, even if you feel insecure at this point, that you're going to pull through this.

SounRAB like you have a sympathetic psychiatrist. Remeraber, the right antidepressant *can* help us. It's just finding the perfect one. We just were born with a neurological irabalance and have had more challenges than most people. People like you are an inspiration, even in your struggle.
 
Hi R-Roz! God bless you! You have made me feel so much better! I cannot take credit for anything I have done in sobriety--I always give the credit to my Higher Power which I call God and I think he has given me a willingness to try different things as far as finding a good doctor and good meRAB. I got some labs back from my allergist today and some of them were low--not horrible but enough for me to feel crummy. My thyroid was a little low and some of my blood levels were low in regard to iron and what not so maybe this is compounding things. I can always find a good med, but I am sensitive and have huge reactions and this I feel is because of my thyroid. They won't treat it because they don't feel it's a huge problem but when you start to feel like you're going crazy it is a huge deal and hypothyroidism runs in my family. We truly are on the same course, though; trying to find a better way and trying to brave this thing called life the best way we know how--with support. I can't thank you enough for all of your kind worRAB. When you truly don't feel well and you are given that blessing of a kind word, it gives you hope.I had stopped taking Risperdal before and didn't think I suffered that much stopping it. This time it was unbearable and my doctor has only known me for 6 months. She has got to see that all people are not the same and can't just be stopped on something and not given anything to replace it. I'm only human. I wanted to smoke, drink and die all at the same time. It was horrible. I will let you know if any new developments come up. Once again, God bless--Hopeto
 
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