[rjgnkr]

Hi all,

I'm new to this forum, and feeling pretty desperate - suicidal thoughts, am on medical leave from work for the past 2 months, no income, and likely not returning (toxic work situation traumatized me).

Anyway, last year, after 15 years successfully managing my depression on prozac, it became gradually more and more ineffective. So, I stopped it last December. At that time, I tried an experimental natural medicine, which worked briefly. Then I got in a massive car accident in February which sent me slipping again. I have since tried Lexapro (which precipitated suicidal thoughts) and have now been on Lamotrigine for nearly 7 weeks, no difference, and now backsliding again toward suicidality.

Since I had been on prozac with such success for so many years, and since it was only ineffective for a few months, and since it's been 8 months since I was last on it, I'm wondering if it can be effective again. It's the one thing I've taken that I knew worked for so long. That is, until it didn't. All this to say, I'm wondering if anyone on this forum has had renewed success with an SSRI after it stopped working for you?

Thanks so much.

[CANDC]

Hi rjgnkr. Welcome to Psych Central. Sorry you are having trouble finding a med that keeps you stable. Really the only safe way to do this is consult a professional and have them try to help you through this challenge you face.

If you are using a professional now, then it may be time to tell them that the current dosage is not keeping you stable and see what they suggest.

[rjgnkr]

Originally Posted by CANDC

Hi rjgnkr. Welcome to Psych Central. Sorry you are having trouble finding a med that keeps you stable. Really the only safe way to do this is consult a professional and have them try to help you through this challenge you face.

If you are using a professional now, then it may be time to tell them that the current dosage is not keeping you stable and see what they suggest.

Thank you - I am working with a naturopath who specializes in mental health, a psychiatrist, my therapist, and also have consulted with my brother who is a doctor, none of whom have definitive answers. I'm not looking for advice, but just interested in learning if others have had experience with re-starting on a med that used to work and then stopped.

[Sunflower123]

Hello. Welcome to PC. I'm sorry you're having a tough time. I've done that successfully with Prozac. After a few months off it and falling into a deep depression, my pdoc prescribed it again at a higher dosage. Good luck. Sending big hugs.

[952p65823]

Yes. I have stopped and then restarted Paxil, Celexa, and Effexor (SNRI).

Paxil worked both times, but made me REALLY sleepy on attempt #2. I then switched to something else.

Celexa worked both times, but I was more depressed on attempt #2, so I believe I took a higher dose.

I am currently on Effexor for what I think is my third lifetime attempt. It has always worked for me, it's just that I've stopped intermittently for dumb reasons. I ain't no doctor, but I am a medical student, and it seems to me that if you take enough of something with that strong an effect on norephinephrine (a close relative of adrenaline), it's bound to work whether you've been on it before or not. The pure SSRIs are maybe a little more mysterious.