Have you stopped taking an antidepressant?

Question

One of the serious side effects of Cymbalta is an increase of depression and suicidal tendencies. I don't understand why some of us respond to antidepressants this way, but I find myself like this.

I am so sick of taking a handful of medications every morning! If one of them does me more harm than good, I'd rather go off it.

My question: Have you responded to an antidepressant with increased depression? Have you ever gone off an antidepressant? What withdrawal symptoms can I expect? How long will they last?

Thanks so much for your input.

Answer 1

I was on Paxil for about a year and a half. I stopped taking it because it just stopped working. I now use natural and herbal remedies.
I don't think I ever became more depressed. I was really different. I was sensitive to nothing.
When I went off the medication I had a hard time sleeping, increased dreams, and just plain crabby for about a week or so. I noticed that my emotions returned the second he drug stopped working. I felt like it happened all really fast and unexpectedly which probably didn't help me either..
The side effects don't last to long.
I would seriously reduce your medication gradually. Maybe take your pills and break them in half for a week and then stop taking them.
good luck with this.

Answer 2

You should not stop Flouxetine immediately. This medication, also loosely termed Prozac (this is the brand of the medication that is widely known. but there are also flouxetine that is cheaper than this brand), starts to take effect 3 weeks after you take the medication continually, by strictly following the doctor's advice and adhering to all the medical appointments that the doctor had set for you. This kind of medication requires tapering, and doctor would advise you, only when the doctor see that you can be tapered off the medication. You must not stop this medication suddenly, as doing so, will cause rebound of mood swings. Your doctor did not prescribe you this medication for insomnia and hypochondria only. The doctor probably had seen you and know that you have some depression and that being the root cause of the problems you mentioned here, hence prescribed this medication for you. I do not know how much flouxetine (mg) you are prescribed per day. No one has lack of serotonin. Serotonin decreases when one is depressed. Do not stop this medication even if you feel well enough, without doctor's advice. Stopping this suddenly will certain bring you more medical troubles. Discuss with your doctor.

Answer 3

Effexor - went off it and had severe reactions.

Wellbutrin - went ON it and had severe reactions almost requiring hospitalization.

I just started Cymbalta, and after trying every medication in the book; Cymbalta seems to be the most effective. The only side effect that I see is that I feel nauseaous and queazy if I take it without food. But as far as it's effects, it brings my depression under a manageable control.

What are the possible side effects of Cymbalta?
· an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
· an irregular heartbeat or pulse;
· low blood pressure (dizziness, weakness);
· high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision);
· chills or fever;
· unusual bleeding or bruising;
· a rash or hives.
· headache, tremor, nervousness, or anxiety;
· difficulty concentrating;
· constipation;
· nausea, diarrhea, dry mouth, or changes in appetite or weight;
· weakness;
· increased sweating;
· sleepiness or insomnia; or
· decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an ######.

My best advice... DO NOT GO COLD TURKEY! Gradually reduce your amount that you take, and always keep your psychiatrist in the loop (although there are many quacks out there) Depression sucks but the cure is sometimes worse than the affliction. I seriously hope that you get better....!!! I will be praying for you.

Answer 4

Call your doctor RIGHT AWAY!!! Even though you've had such a horrid reaction from Cymbalta - your doctor needs to replace that with another med - or you could wind up in worse shape than you started out in!!!

Even if you want to get off antidepressants all together, your doctor needs to wean you off gradually - and not all people have the option of getting off antidepressants entirely. The doctor needs to monitor you on a regular basis!!!

Please call your health care provider - you're worth it!!

Answer 5

I have been on Zoloft and lexapro and I felt good at first when I started taking them but after a while it was really nothing different from before I took them . The side affects totally sucked and I didn't want to be dependent on a pill to make me feel happy or less anxious. So I slowly got off of it. I just started taking a lesser dose until I was down to taking none at all. It was really bad once I got off of them, it felt like things were worse than they were before. But as time went on and I didn't take the pills I learned how to deal with my life with out them. And now I am totally fine. I don't feel depressed hardly ever and if I do its just normal sadness.

My advise would be to get off of the pills and start healing with in yourself. once you do that you won't need a pill to make you think you are happy it will just come natural. But it will be very hard.

Good luck sweety!!!! I hope it all works out for ya.

Answer 6

I have taken Zoloft and found it helpful. I am not familiar with Cymbalta, but sounds one of the newest ones. I find that there is a negative effect if I miss a few days. Going off an anti-depresent is not something you want to do without consulting with a doctor. Some very negative effects can take place, it has to be done very slowly.

I find I get some small "brain zap" sensations if I have missed a few days. They are alittle annoying.

Overall be very cautious of stopping or changing dosage without consulting with your Dr. Todays mediations for depression can be a great help.

Answer 7

I was on antidepressants some years ago and had no problems coming off. But it's probably a bad idea to come off without your doctors advice.

Answer 8

I've gone off them for awhile but I always have to go back on them.
Depression runs in my family so I'm sure its a chemical imbalance in my case. I had to go off slowly. Take 1/2 tab everyday for a few days then every other day. I also took st. john's wort to help me and meditated to ease my anxiety. I felt achy too so I took ibuprofen or tylenol when I needed to.
Also I was on a low carb diet. I had to go off that. For some reason that makes my depression worse, at least if I'm not on my meds. It took me about a month to get it out of my system.Good luck.
Oh you asked if a AD had ever made me worse. Yes, wellbutrin made me very irritable. It gave me lots of energy and helped me quit smoking but I can't take it unless I take an ssri (I take lexapro) with it. Wellbutrin targets dopamine and an ssri targets serotonin.

Answer 9

I stopped but I did it a little at a time, I cut back to every other day for about two weeks. then I went to just tues. and thur. for two weeks. After If I felt I needed it I would take one a week. Know I don't take any and I had no withdrawal.

Answer 10

I've tried a lot of different ones in the past...trial and error..when I stopped taking them al together my mental health deteriorated...it was horrible..It was so bad I tried to commit suicide and ended up the hospital..I am on a mood stabilizer now and doing really well with counsel ling