I have decided to come off the SSRIs that I've been taking for the last five years. I take 75mg fluvoxamine a day, and have managed to whittle myself down to 50mg a day. How do I get off them completely? I tried once before several years ago and felt suicidal after a few days.
2006-09-13 22:35:24 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Mental Health
You should really consult your doctor. He'll give you good instructions.
You can't just suddenly stop taking them, that would be a disaster, you'd likely get suicidal again. You must little by little take a smaller and smaller dose until you can come off them completely. It will take a while. By all means ask your doctor for more detailed instructions and do it the right way. Good luck!
2006-09-14 02:56:06 · answer #1 · answered by undir 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Very, very carefully and only after consulting with your doctor as to the best course of action. You must ask yourself what your reasons are for wanting to be off the meds. If your answer is the side effects, perhaps your prescription needs changing or tweaking. If, however, your answer is that you simply want to lead a life without help from meds, then that is another story. Many of us who take antidepressants to help ourselves have had the feeling before that it would be great to lead a life free of prescription drugs, for whatever the reason. However, it is a good idea to try to remember the reason why you went on antidepressants in the first place. If you feel that you are now "cured" from whatever ailed you, it is still of the utmost importance to discuss this with your doctor, as he or she is there to help you. If you don't feel that your doctor is there to help you, you shouldn't feel guilty, but rather find a new doctor. This happens more often than you might think and you should never have to feel like you're sacrificing your own needs for any reason. All this said, should you really decide you are ready to be off of SSRIs, you're doctor may ween you off gradually. Ending abruptly is not an option as many medications have SEVERE withdrawal symptoms, including what you mentioned in your question. Whatever decision you come to, I cannot stress enough the importance of doing so under the guise of a licensed physician whom you trust.
2006-09-13 22:49:41 · answer #2 · answered by likeahorsey 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Why did you start to take it? If it is for OCD you have to take it all your life. OCD is a chronic condition.
Tapering off an SSRI should be done very slowly. I think the tablet is scored, split it and take 25mg for 3 months. If you are okay then cut again 1/4 size. and 12.5 for 2 months. You can stop there.
Are you stopping it because of sexual side effects? Then you can switch to Mirtazapine or Bupropion.
Don't worry. I was on fluoxetine 20mg for 6 years. I could stop it successfully.
2006-09-13 23:25:23 · answer #3 · answered by Ajeesh Kumar 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Talk to your psyc. about a taper using a longer half life ssri. I recomend prozac it has a very long half life. Also you may need to be on these. Ssri's are the best for treating depression but you could ask about other meds.
Taper, means to come off slowly with a doctor.
2006-09-13 22:40:12 · answer #4 · answered by Doctor C. 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You should not do this without the consent of your dr. You are obviously on them for a reason.. Why do you want to come off of them?
One good reason for not going off is your last sentance;;;
"I tried once before several years ago and felt suicidal after a few days."
2006-09-13 22:48:45 · answer #5 · answered by Mommadog 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I strongly believe that someone can get off of the meds and find inner strength to gain control of their depression without drugs. However if you are getting off of them talk to your dr and go off of them slowly. I stopped taking mine cold turkey and I was suicidal. Thankfully I knew it was just a side effect and was sane enough to get control over it and just deal with it. But it can be very dangerous. Once you are off of them try joining a support group and get into healthy habbits like exercising and taking vitamins.
2006-09-14 02:47:56 · answer #6 · answered by ? 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Hello: You need to consult a doctor first before trying to wean yourself all by yourself. He will prescribe the therapeutic decrease in milligrams for you to take each day and can give you some sound advice. Jude
2006-09-13 23:23:53 · answer #7 · answered by Jude 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Come off with a doctor's help. You need to decrease gradually to avoid the side effects you described.
2006-09-13 23:45:48 · answer #8 · answered by Buzz s 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Talk to your Dr. as soon as possible. DON"T QUIT THEM COLD-TURKEY!!
Tell him your feelings and see if there is another course you could take.
Good luck and don't try to do this by yourself.
2006-09-13 22:47:01 · answer #9 · answered by thatwench 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I try one time I got so sick
2006-09-13 23:21:11 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋