Thanks, kimmydawn - it's clear you put a lot of time and thought into this reply.

I hear what you say about talking to my GP and I promise not to do anything before talking to him. Unfortunately when I have reduced my meds in the past I have got to a certain point and then come crashing into a major depression. I guess the question is can I survive and ocme out the other end of a major depression, if it were to happen. I'm not sure I want to try it in order to find out.... On the other hand my body appears to be crumbling rapidly at the moment. More symptoms today, and the thing is I am on so many meds now I am not sure what is a side effect and what is maybe something I should worry about.
I agree with what you say about listening to your body. I know I am lucky with my GP and he would not intentionally keep me on a-ds unless he felt I needed it. He trusts me with a lot of the week to week management of my meds in terms of reducing when I have been stable and better for a long time. I only see him when there is a problem really. But I am so unhappy with the way I am feeling and the weight of my meds right now that I just don't know what to do.
Thanks for the input.
Caroline