![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Leighwit on May 7, 2002, at 12:44:15
I wonder if anyone reading Psychobabble has successfully discontinued drug therapy after long-term use? By long-term I'd say more than three years.
I would suppose that those who might have done so wouldn't be reading Pschobabble. Anyone venture where I might find statistics on this? I've taken them for ten years and I just wonder if anyone ever recovers after that much time.
How do we know if we still need them? The side effects keep most of us from ever feeling 100%, so who's to say that it isn't the side effects that keep up taking medication beyond its net efficacy?
I'm contemplating a stoppage. I would only do under a doctor's supervision and there's a strong chance she won't support it. I'm no less interested in knowing if there's hope ~ and just how much hope is supported by fact.
Can anyone send me in the right direction for this info?
LW
Posted by Uppendown on May 7, 2002, at 21:02:53
In reply to Successfully Discontinue Long Term AD Therapy?, posted by Leighwit on May 7, 2002, at 12:44:15
Hi Leighwit,
Well... I guess I'm a bit hestitant to say this... but after reading your post.. I feel I should...
I quit all meds a couple of months ago. I had been on them for over 2 years... ( not the 3 plus you're looking for... so... qualify as you wish..).. I'm a type 1 manic depressive. Hallucinate constantly.. suicidal depressions on an almost daily basis.. deemed pretty serious by the 4 different docs I dealt with. No BS.
I "spun out" a couple months ago... for a variety of reasons, I decided I didn't want to live like that anymore.. and I made my plans to do "the deed".. Drove off to find a remote place where I wouldn't be found.. and "saved"... Once there.. and walking off into the seaside forests.. something changed in me..
Without getting too... whatever.. I returned home after many hours.. and decided I would live as "me".. or die trying.. and quit all meds, cold turkey, that day. Not such a swift idea.. withdrawl is NOT fun. But within a couple days.. I felt a clearity.. a "clean-ness".. a "sharpness" that I hadn't felt in so long. My "energy" came back.. motivation.. drive... enthusiasm... engagement in my life. I was living with a long time professional mental health person.. who had their concerns and reservations.. but.. they knew the alternative I had.. and watched. They have been SO impressed.
One of the first things I realized was the extent to which the meds had altered my perceptions. Honestly, I had no idea... while on them, I just couldn't see/know that I was THAT affected... I'm SO different now. Back in "life" again. Hard to explain... but VERY real.
No one can tell you what to do. I don't consider myself "anti med"... I think people should think about what they expect from the meds they take.. if they are fullfilling "the promise of a better life" for them, personally. And that is hard to do, while on them.. by the very fact that they affect the way we perceive and interact with the world around us.
I didn't throw my meds away.. I still have them. I don't pretend to know "the answer"... but I've taught myself how to live with my episodes. ( I'm a daily cycler..).. how to recognize what happens, and not give the "stuff" any more "energy" than it deserves.. Yes.. they are all part of me.. and I learn from my "experiences" everyday... but I work hard not to let them control or define my life.. I can honestly say my life is, with out any reservations, better without meds, than it was with them...
I also did alot of intensive psychotherapy... I think I need to add that.. That REALLY helped me put alot of things into perspective.. so I can seperate "stuff", from "me"... and not look for "answers" or "solutions" where they can't exist...
I hope this helps in some way...
Best Wishes,
Uppendown
Posted by Leighwit on May 8, 2002, at 10:44:54
In reply to Well....., posted by Uppendown on May 7, 2002, at 21:02:53
Thanks for writing about your experience, Uppendown.
I'm not bi-polar and have limited knowledge of it (other than what I've read here on Psychobabble), but that doesn't reduce my "awe" at what you've experienced.
I'm extremely cautious about severe lows because my brother committed suicide (he was schizophrenic). I have never had any signs or symptoms whatsoever of schizophrenia, but have suffered from major depression for over ten years.
I wish you the best and for your continued wellness!
LW
> Hi Leighwit,
>
> Well... I guess I'm a bit hestitant to say this... but after reading your post.. I feel I should...
>
> I quit all meds a couple of months ago. I had been on them for over 2 years... ( not the 3 plus you're looking for... so... qualify as you wish..).. I'm a type 1 manic depressive. Hallucinate constantly.. suicidal depressions on an almost daily basis.. deemed pretty serious by the 4 different docs I dealt with. No BS.
>
> I "spun out" a couple months ago... for a variety of reasons, I decided I didn't want to live like that anymore.. and I made my plans to do "the deed".. Drove off to find a remote place where I wouldn't be found.. and "saved"... Once there.. and walking off into the seaside forests.. something changed in me..
>
> Without getting too... whatever.. I returned home after many hours.. and decided I would live as "me".. or die trying.. and quit all meds, cold turkey, that day. Not such a swift idea.. withdrawl is NOT fun. But within a couple days.. I felt a clearity.. a "clean-ness".. a "sharpness" that I hadn't felt in so long. My "energy" came back.. motivation.. drive... enthusiasm... engagement in my life. I was living with a long time professional mental health person.. who had their concerns and reservations.. but.. they knew the alternative I had.. and watched. They have been SO impressed.
>
> One of the first things I realized was the extent to which the meds had altered my perceptions. Honestly, I had no idea... while on them, I just couldn't see/know that I was THAT affected... I'm SO different now. Back in "life" again. Hard to explain... but VERY real.
>
> No one can tell you what to do. I don't consider myself "anti med"... I think people should think about what they expect from the meds they take.. if they are fullfilling "the promise of a better life" for them, personally. And that is hard to do, while on them.. by the very fact that they affect the way we perceive and interact with the world around us.
>
> I didn't throw my meds away.. I still have them. I don't pretend to know "the answer"... but I've taught myself how to live with my episodes. ( I'm a daily cycler..).. how to recognize what happens, and not give the "stuff" any more "energy" than it deserves.. Yes.. they are all part of me.. and I learn from my "experiences" everyday... but I work hard not to let them control or define my life.. I can honestly say my life is, with out any reservations, better without meds, than it was with them...
>
> I also did alot of intensive psychotherapy... I think I need to add that.. That REALLY helped me put alot of things into perspective.. so I can seperate "stuff", from "me"... and not look for "answers" or "solutions" where they can't exist...
>
> I hope this helps in some way...
>
> Best Wishes,
>
> Uppendown
Posted by Denise528 on May 8, 2002, at 12:28:03
In reply to Successfully Discontinue Long Term AD Therapy?, posted by Leighwit on May 7, 2002, at 12:44:15
Hello,
I was on ADS with great success for roughly 10 years, firstly prothiaden and then Seroxat. However about 4 years ago I met someone I really liked and got on with and I wanted to see if I could have a relationship with them without being on ADs. When I initially came off them I felt physically drained but never as bad as I had done prior to taking them, I managed to stay off them for 4 years without getting too depressed, occasionally I'd start taking them again just to reassure myself that they still worked, having reassured myself I would then come off them again because I wastn't that bad without them, I could survive. However, last June I really started to dip and since then have tried to get back on the SSRIs with not success, infact I have felt much worse. In some respects I wish now that I had never come off them but whose to say that in time they wouldn't have stopped working anyway. I came off all ADs about 3 weeks ago and although I have felt very tired and lifeless have managed to cope. I am still not satisfied and will continue my search to find the right drug as I just cannot accept my life being like this. It is really difficult whether or not to advise someone to come off drugs because you just can't tell whether that person will relapse but then again they may develope a tolerance to the drugs and relapse anyway so there are really no rules. I just wish the Doctors new more about these drugs and what they do. Taking the drugs never cures you of depression it's not a case of putting back what you are missing and the situation then resolving itself. I'd advise you to ask your Doctor or Psyciatrist but I am very sceptical about whether or not they really know what they are talking about. If the depression was triggered off by circumstance and you feel confident that those circumstances are no longer an issue then I'd say it is worth a try, however, if it is endogoneous and biological then I don't know that it's worth it because you never know what triggers it off.
Denise
Posted by cmcdougall on May 8, 2002, at 19:28:53
In reply to Successfully Discontinue Long Term AD Therapy?, posted by Leighwit on May 7, 2002, at 12:44:15
Dear LW,
Hello again...
> How do we know if we still need them? The side effects keep most of us from ever feeling 100%, so who's to say that it isn't the side effects that keep up taking medication beyond its net efficacy?
I think my brain is sufficiently messed up to need meds forever. As far as feeling 100%, I feel that way now with only constipation as a side effect of my drug cocktail. I don't know how long this will last, and when my meds poop out its scary, so I enjoy today.
Love and luck,
Carly
Posted by Iago Camboa on May 9, 2002, at 2:58:10
In reply to Re: Successfully Discontinue Long Term AD Therapy?, posted by cmcdougall on May 8, 2002, at 19:28:53
Posted by Leighwit on May 9, 2002, at 9:48:20
In reply to Re: Successfully Discontinue Long Term AD Therapy?, posted by cmcdougall on May 8, 2002, at 19:28:53
Dear Carly,
If constipation is your only side effect, I say "WOW!"
That is simply fabulous, because quite frankly, you're taking a cocktail that had to have taken quite a bit of effort to put together (I've taken several cocktails myself in the past and I remember the adding and subtracting and how much work it was/is).
> I think my brain is sufficiently messed up to need meds forever. As far as feeling 100%, I feel that way now with only constipation as a side effect of my drug cocktail. I don't know how long this will last, and when my meds poop out its scary, so I enjoy today.
I don't give much credence to the latest study on placebo effect. It think it's undoubtedly a scientific trainwreck in terms of the protocol and I'm sure that will be proven and we'll hear about it a few years hence. In the meantime, most of us understand that if they are studying a valid population of major depressives, the placebo effect is secondary at best.That said, I too realize that I will probably need AD medications for the duration of my life.
The last effective "cocktail" formula I took of more than two medications together, was one I tried as a direct result of matching my symptoms up with those of someone on another medication bulletin board. He was feeling great, had a similar symptomology, a similar profile for side effects he would and wouldn't tolerate, etc., and so I printed his "list" and took it to my Pdoc. She doesn't like the internet as a reference source (I don't see her any more) but nonetheless it's how I began taking a particular formulary ~ and one that worked rather well for quite some time.
Maybe in asking the question of this thread, I was subconsciously hoping to read about someone who took ADs for a decade or so, and then was able to stop and function well without them. What difference would that make? Who knows. Why do we read biographies?
LW
Posted by jazzdog on May 9, 2002, at 11:01:07
In reply to Successfully Discontinue Long Term AD Therapy?, posted by Leighwit on May 7, 2002, at 12:44:15
I was on zoloft for ten years, and every time I tried to stop I crashed. I got down to 50 mg. but any lower and I'd start crying uncontrollably. However, since stabilizing on lamictal, I found I was able to discontinue zoloft with virtually no diminishing of mood. Also, my feelings returned, but in a healthy way - the zoloft numbed me out for years.
Posted by Leighwit on May 9, 2002, at 13:58:57
In reply to Re: Successfully Discontinue Long Term AD Therapy? » Leighwit, posted by jazzdog on May 9, 2002, at 11:01:07
> I was on zoloft for ten years, and every time I tried to stop I crashed. I got down to 50 mg. but any lower and I'd start crying uncontrollably. However, since stabilizing on lamictal, I found I was able to discontinue zoloft with virtually no diminishing of mood. Also, my feelings returned, but in a healthy way - the zoloft numbed me out for years.
Interesting. I've seen lamictal on numerous thread titles, but I know nothing about it. I think I'll go search the site. It seems to be getting a lot of press, and I presume for "good" reason.
LW
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.