Hi all, I was recently prescribed Cipralex (Lexapro) and spent few days reading all the posts in the med section. I am afraid to take it, not as much of the side effects as of the thought how it`s going to affect me in 20 years from now.
I am 37 years old and was diagnosed with depression 12 years ago. I took Elavil(TCA) and medazepam (a benzo) daily for over 8 years. During the 7th year they totally popped off leaving me with only side effects so I begun weaning myself off of them, it took me about a year and am totally med free for over 1 year and a half now. I had therapy (CBT) which helped with anxiety and tried for a short time SJW and SAME which made things worst derealization wise.
Since I stopped taking any AD it`s been extremely hard, actually the worst period of my life. The depression came back (strange enough no anxiety though) full force and it`s incapacitating me. My biggest problem is my memory, attention span and dream like sensations (derealization). Don`t even know if that`s the effect of depression or the 8 years on medication. Now I have days when I feel almost normal, it happens twice a month or less, rest of the time I can`t work and everything I do requires a huge effort because my mind is almost blank. I am an architect; I used to be creative, understand volumes of space and am reduced now to sometimes count by fingers.
I know now that I will probably need some kind of treatment all my life and am scared of what will happen in time to come.
Does anybody know what the repercussions are after a lifetime of AD? Is it even an option? Do you know anybody who took AD for 20-30-40 years?
Thank you for bearing with me and please excuse my English.
Zena