medicaton for life?

Question

has anyone decided to continue anti_depressant medication for life....how long have you been taking them? has it stopped your depressions from coming back? do you have relapses while on the medication? what other things do you do to maintain your mental health and stay on track....

Answer 1

I finally decided to actually follow the rules of the medication whether it was what I wanted or not. Medicine never seemed to actually help enough to justify the the commitment to taking it every day of my life. I'm a big proponent of natural cures, remedies and treatments but every time I found myself in the hospital, (20+ times), I was taking yet another bunch of meds. In my later 30s I decided I did
NOT want to live in any kind of state of depression so I challenged my self to PROVE that the medicine didn't work right for me. I made a commitment to myself and my Dr.; I would follow every rule by rigidly making certain that I would follow, to the letter, every rule of whatever drugs I was taking. When I came in for my next appointment, my mood had lightened so I was unable to PROVE it didn't work so he suggested I keep trying to "Prove it didn't work", so I did and things kept getting better, my mood, my outlook, even my physical constitution had improved. After a few months I had to test if it really was the drugs that was seeming to make things easier and how better to do that than STOP the meds.with in the year I was back in the hospital. I haven't stopped taking my meds since. If I want to continue keeping my moods within a comfortable range I will take it everyday for the rest of my life. Kinda sucks but then again I am sooo greatful that there is SOMETHING that can keep me on a more or less on an even keel. I take 2 paxil a day and 2 wellbutrin; I still get up and down but the ups are a far less intensity than before and the downs are never so deep any more. I've been relatively stable for several years now and I will be happy to take these drugs for the rest of my life if that's what it takes. It's just a lot easier to LIVE this way. I've taken meds on and off for over 30 years. IT WON"T WORK IF YOU DON'T TAKE IT RIGHT.

Answer 2

Depression is an illness, and as so, must be treated as such. I have clinical depression and have been on anti depressants for years. The best thing for anyone with depression is a really good psychologist, psychiatrist and the right medication. If you feel bad or weird, change the meds. I had to do this quite a few times until I got on the right stuff. Even with depression, you DO NOT have to feel bad. I love life and everyday is a blessing. It's worth the fight.

Answer 3

i was on anti-depressants for over a year and then tried to go off them and a month later I relapsed...and then i had to go back on them....and deal with the whole ordeal over again. i totaly sucked. after over six months on them the second time i relapsed and had to switch medications and since ive been a lot happier. i think i will proly be on them the rest of my life...i think everytong is differant and you cant make that decition based on what I or anyone else tells you. everyones brain chemistry and experiances are differant. take it day by day...if one day you feel like coming off meds or you relapse then you can take the nessesary steps...but for now dont plan your future. you never know what will happen, or if there will even be a tomarrow. live in the present and take it one step at a time- i find when i try to plan my future i get stressed out which adds to the depression problem-haha good luck to you!

Answer 4

I'm not on medication, but I was for a very long time and can honestly say I'm a lot happier without it. While on medication I had terrible mood swings and thought about suicide a lot (anti-depressants often increase sucidal thoughts). I'm not saying they're all bad, but anti depressants are really just relieving the symptoms, not the cause. To cure depression you need therapy and a change in your lifestyle (diet, excercise, etc.)

Answer 5

Why would you want to do that?

If you are serious about reducing/eliminating your anxiety/depression in a safe and natural way then the following article is for you;

http://www.yourhealthandbalance.com/art-mgr/article_Anxiety-Self-Help.html

It also contains a list of Natural Remedies

No worries, nothing is for sale - just great info;)

Answer 6

I have been taking the anti-depressant Elavil for over 20 years. Doctors have tried switching to newer anti-depressants, but all failed to help. I will probably take Elavil for the remainder of my life--because without it I am lost. They even allowed me to take Elavil during my two last pregnancies.