[Dx1347]

I've been off my antidepressant for about six weeks, and it has been sheer hell. It wasn't my choice to quit, although I was tired of relying on meds. My insurance company messed stuff up, and I was forced off cold turkey. But then when everything finally got straightened out, I decided to stay off the med because I'd already been through so much with the withdrawal.

But I'm tired of waking up nauseous and jittery, feeling lost and hopeless. I keep thinking it's going to get better, but maybe it isn't. Just the idea of being on meds again depresses me. The discontinuation syndrome from Cymbalta is crushing, and I can't tell if I'm in rebound depression or just being steamrolled by the withdrawal. So tired of feeling like it's the end of the world all the time.

[Open Eyes]

Oh I am so sorry you are struggling like this, it is never good to stop a medication like that cold turkey. Your brain is used to having these chemicals in it everyday and often a medication can make the brains natural way of producing these chemicals very weak so it can be even worse then when a person started on a medication. It is always recommended that medications be ended "gradually".

You should talk about this challenge with a professional and not be struggling like this on your own, especially since you are struggling the way you have discribed.

[BLUEDOVE]

Please DO NOT blame dear self,IT IS THE DRUGS.
No matter how bad you feel,it does NOT originate
from you. It will be an enormous achievement if
you can get free of them,but if not,it is STILL not
your fault. These are powerful drugs,and really
should not be prescribed,but they save time,and
therefore money.You need all the compassion you
can muster for self; if interested,here is book for
same: "Self-Compassion" by Kristen Neff.

[Fuzzybear]

[notalone11]

Hi, I'm sorry you wake up so sick and still depressed. I'm on meds that have me nauseous and cold every morning, too, and less intensely during the day again. It feels so bad that it makes me more depressed, you know?
I self medicate with medical marijuana just to not vomit and shake. This doesn't stop the jitteryness, frequent yawning even when alert and feeling like I'm on amphetamines when I'm really exhausted and other side effects. Being on these meds for awhile has not lessened the side effects, so lowering some of them. I'm sorry it had to be cold turkey. Open Eyes is right, a professional would be a lot of help.

I was really ashamed for having to take meds; no one around me was comfortable with that. But, it is more important to treat it. Some people take insulin every day or take other supplements...meds are just another earnest way to treat ills. Coming off your medications and sticking to it was a strong, valid choice. Having that control and input into your care shows responsibility over yourself. You can be proud of that. You're not alone in this, and your support system and resources will make it all that much easier to be feeling well.

I don't want to endorse marijuana, so another way to combat nausea that I have found is having a warm blanket and a hot cup of tea to sip and rest on my upset belly. Being warm alleviates a lot of it.

I hope you feel better soon. In the morning when we'll not be feeling well, I'll send you good thoughts. I hope that energy manifests in a way that helps you. You aren't alone in those times of discomfort, I'm feeling it too, bets lots of others do also. I think it makes a lot of sense that side effects will ebb the longer you're off it.

I was taking 200mg bupropion/wellbutrin 2x, 75mg venlafaxine/effexor, 200mg lamotragine/Lamactil, plus deplin and levothyroxine. Wanted to get off pot as I stabilized, but I didn't respond to this combo for three months (wellbutrin I had been taking for 2 years already, but doubled the dose when lamictal (spelling?) was added. The effexor was added during an emergency inpatient stay for depression.) As of last week, the doses were halved for the Lamactil and effexor. Tapering down pot use too.

Feel better soon. The storm, one helluva storm, will pass. Hope you can feel the good thoughts about you in the morning. If you can't feel it, know that they are there.

[Francinee516]

I know just what u feel like! Many years .......too much medicine.........finally after much trial and error I'm on ONLY 1 antidepressant, new to the market, ( Brintelex) and it seems to be working slowly. I might need a bigger dose but I 'm feeling much better just knowing I'm not on so many meds anymore! Good luck!