i've stopped taking flouxitine in may after having taking it for 4 years (20 mg)?

Question

but without any talk therapy and in may i had a relapse where the doctor put my dosage upto to 40 mg but that made me feel much worse so we stopped flouxitine and we tried citalopram i couldnt tolerate that either so i decided to wait for the talk therapy but my depression has returned with very bad anxiety so i started having accupunture (threensessions now) i felt slightly better but i'm still depressed and have a lot of anxiety,and the doctor has advised me to take some antidepressants but i'm worried that i'll be on medication all my life. has anyone been through depression and recovered fully without having to be on medication all the time? i keep feeling like i'm better off dead.

Answer 1

yes i have,and i`ve been on what you was on.I came off my fluoxatine just like that,i know your not supposed too but i just didn`t want to be on them no more.I was real dizzy for about a month but after that i was fine.I`m fully recovered now.I know i would never go on anything like that again.I feel that once youv`e been there,you wouldn`t want to go there again.And i won`t.you need to tackle your problems,because tablets won`t stop them,they only help.Only you can do this.
Once you`ve hit rock bottom,the only way is up.

Answer 2

I have been on Paxil for about 8 years and it makes me feel like me, not depressed. I am on the maximum allowable dosage, and if there are side effects it is worth it (I haven't noticed any). You may need a different type of medicine. I also had "talk therapy" which was a big help, too.

If your thyroid or pancreas didn't work right you could need pills the rest of your life; similar to your serotonin or dopamine system in your brain, if it doesn't work right. So what?

Answer 3

Not specifically depression, but I have a condition that makes it necessary that I be on medication for the rest of my life. However, if you have depression, you should keep taking the medicine your doctor prescribes you until he says you don't have to anymore. Otherwise you'll keep getting in this position and become increasingly discouraged.

Ask yourself which is worse: having to take a pill every day, or feeling like you want to die?

Answer 4

I've been Depressed for 6years now and i to have taken Flouxatine in the early day's but it didn't really work for me.

I've taken SO many tablet's of all kinds to help with my mood that I've lost count!,and can't even remember what one I'm taking at the moment!!

I to feel like killing myself most day's to,but i do have some good day's- like today!

My DR says he's gonna try and cut-back my prescription,and take me of them.So now i take one every other day now instead of everyday.

I do hate taking them,i tend to feel like the plastic container the tablet's come in,as there are SO many of them in my stomach(over the years!)

I've had talking therapy,but there are still issues that i need to talk about,that make me feel low frequently,but I'm too scared to bring-up the subjects that make me unhappy,...so i don't.

I hope to one-day feel better and happy,but going by the past 6 years, maybe i never will!!

Answer 5

It has been proven that the best treatment for depression is a combination of medication and talking treatment. There are many different types of antidepressants it may be that you just haven't found the right one for you.

People do suffer with depression and chose not to take any medication at all, you have the right to make the same decision yourself. It doesn't mean that you won't recover.

I used to feel like you and was very against the idea of having to take antidepressants for the rest of my life, but now I think that if they are helping me why not just take them. After all a person suffering with a heart condition may have to take medication for the rest of his life, so why should a mental illness be any different?

Access to talking treatment in the UK takes a very long time, I know that in my local area an urgent appointment takes about 9 months with anything classed as non-urgent can take 3 years. That is a long time to wait and suffer when there may be medication that will help you until you can get treatment.

These links to the Mind website may help

Understanding depression:
http://www.mind.org.uk/Information/Booklets/Understanding/Understanding+depression.htm

Making sense of antidepressants:
http://www.mind.org.uk/Information/Booklets/Making+sense/Making+sense+of+antidepressants.htm#tricyclic

Understanding anxiety:
http://www.mind.org.uk/Information/Booklets/Understanding/Understanding+anxiety.htm

How to cope with suicidal feelings:
http://www.mind.org.uk/Information/Booklets/How+to/How+to+cope+with+suicidal+feelings.htm

the information is easy to read and understand.

Another suggestion would be to contact your local mental health charity

http://www.mind.org.uk/Mind+in+your+area/

they are easy to access and can offer you support, information and guidance.

They have lots of knowledge, are friendly and will be able to offer you support and someone to talk to. There will be people there who have coped with depression and not taken medication as well as many people who have.

I hope this helps.