once you're on anti-depressants, are you on them FOR LIFE?

Question

is there a proper medical way to stop them? i guess some people are so glad to be on AD's that they won't think twice about getting off of them? i would imagine that you would want the AD's to help temporarily 'til you can be happy "on your own" (without them) ... WHAT ARE YOU 2 CENTS? Thanks

ps - i do not have personal experience with any type of AD

i heard AD's are good for moodiness

thanks MB - i refuse the flu shot every year because of the egg thing... thanks for sharing. ....reminder to all: if you're allergic to eggs you must not EVER get the flu shot. google it to find out why

the answers so far are quite thorough. i will let voting decide which is the best answer. please bookmark this Q so you can vote later. thank you. keep the helpful answers coming

Answer 1

Taking SSRIs causes a growth of new brain cells with can result in the brain producing and regulating the chemicals necessary for proper mental health.

I was on SSRIs for a few years, now I had no need for them.

Answer 2

What you may not understand is depression is more than just being sad (true and real depression) is a chemical imbalance and you need the medication to function in the world. Would you stop taking insulin if you had type one diabetes, would you stop taking your inhaler if you had severe asthma, it is no different. The average person with severe clinical depression has 5 episodes in their life. Therefore if you stay on the med you may only hav one. Most doctors encourage staying on the medication for one year after starting and the people who get off and stay off probably didn;t have the true "chemical imbalance". People do get off them to have children and stuff but usually they have a severe episode. People go to the ER for depression not evening knowing they have it because it can cause things like severe confusion (forgetting people names and how to read). It is a real illness and it needs to be called something else because too many people think it is just being sad and from experience we all get sad and get over it so think others shoud but unless you have had a chemical imbalance then you just don't know. Also if you are not "really depressed" and take the medication it does nothing for you. It helps your brian uptake seratonin but if you are already doing it normally then it does not make you extra happy because it does not give you any extra seratonin than you already had.

Answer 3

That depends upon a person's particular reason for depression. Therapy and counseling will help determine what's going on with an individual.

Some people do need to take antidepressants for their entire lives - others can be weaned off gradually when their health professional thinks it is safe to start doing so. People should NEVER stop taking antidepressants "cold turkey."

BTW, if you're really allergic to eggs, you'll need to be watched extra carefully if you choose to get a flu shot.

Answer 4

I used Wellbutrin for about two years, then went off of them. I was going through very difficult times after a devastating downsizing. I don't know about other anti-depressants, but the safe way to stop using Wellbutrin is to slowly wean yourself from them, under a doctor's care, which is what I did.

Wellbutrin works with anxiety levels. Sometimes, when you feel like your problems are just overwhelming, Wellbutrin helps to "level the playing field", so you're more able to cope with feelings that everything that is being thrown at you at once. It doesn't necessarily make you 'happy', just more able to cope during very difficult times.

My doctor has told me though, that people CAN take Wellbutrin safely for the rest of their lives. I can't say enough good things about Wellbutrin. I never had any side effects when I took it. I felt alert and just more able to deal with the things I was facing. There's still such a stigma attached to anti-depressant drugs. But, under a doctor's care, they can be a godsend.

Answer 5

It depends on the cause of the depression.

If it is caused by an external situation it might be temporal

If it is caused because in your early childhood you lived in a traumatic environment, you might be on them for a while but, to make sure you won't need them again you will need to go through a psychological treatment, so you re-learn to manage stress.

If it is because you have a biochemical disorder, it is very likely you will need them for the rest of your life. Although, with psychological assistance some people learn to avoid depression and learn to survive without them

Answer 6

some people go through temporary depression like after someone dies or something traumatic happens in their life. Some have it their whole life. I've had depression and bipolar disorder my whole life but the doctors just realized that if I get my insomnia problem taken care of, I may not have these problems anymore. But who knows? I am currently on Lexapro and Lamictal and if I have to stay on them it won't bother me because they really help. But yes, there are plenty of people who have to be on them for life. Hope I have helped.

Answer 7

I have taken anti depressants for periods of 6 to 9 months then stopped and have been fine

Answer 8

I, myself have been on, and off of them for years. I am currently "off" then and have been for about a year. sometimes the depression comes back, but it always passes. I prefer being off them. Yes, the theykeep me out of the "black hole" but they also tone down the "highs" of the good times.

I thinkl ADs help a lot of people, and I wouldnt be afraid of them, and if you think you are ready to stop taking them, just discuss it with your DR.

Answer 9

If you have a real medical reason to go on an antidepressant, then most likely youre on it for life.

Answer 10

i am currently coming off my AD's. if you take them every day - like i did - you have to come off them slowly or you will feel like crap in about a weeks time. take one every other day and then every 3rd day, 4th day and then you should be good to stop.
ONLY with doctors ok though!