[introm]

When you stop taking antidepressants, what happens to your depression? Should it come back all over again?

As far as I understand the antidepressant is not meant to heal, but just correct the lack of serotonine/dopamine or whatever is missing from your brain.

So, isn't it obvious that the depression will be back some weeks after the last dose? Or am I wrong here and the antidepressants indeed 'repair' your brain?

Hi introm,

A doctor can answer this question in depth for you. So I would suggest to ask someone with professional experience.

I'm not a doctor however... but I'll share my experience. I *think* sometimes the medication can intervene and correct a chemical imbalance, which is why some people can take a therapeutic dose for some time and then discontinue the medication. However, this is not always the case and some people need the medication for a longer period of time (as is with the case for me personally).

I don't think recurring depression is necessarily the case, but it's something to be aware of. I just think some people have better luck than others. I find a combination of Therapy and medication works best for me.

[venusss]

So, isn't it obvious that the depression will be back some weeks after the last dose? Or am I wrong here and the antidepressants indeed 'repair' your brain?

they don't repair something that is not broken. Depression happens for various reasons... and chemical imbalance is a mere theory, not proven.

They do alter brain though, so you cannot stop cold turkey, because your brain is not naturally producing some shtuff anymore... so you need to ween off slowly, for your brain to readjust.

Also, if you have any trouble in your life... drugs may give you strenght to face it, but will not solve it. Sometimes you have to work on your life to help yourself out of depression.

Hard to say. Different for each person.

Did I stress it enough not to cold turkey?

[introm]

Not on topic VenusHalley, sorry to say that. The question is about what happens to the depression.

[dumburn]

Sadly there is no real way of knowing as everyone is different just like what caused their depression in the first place.
If someone has been on them short term because a particular issue in life has caused it, and that issue is no longer present then MAYBE the depression wont come back.
However if the depression came out of nowhere then MAYBE that person is in someway genetically programmed with depression and MAYBE it could come back.
There really are too many things to consider, so many things about depression that aren't yet known and so much that will never be known to give a definate answer

[introm]

Yep dumburn, I suppose it's a question of wait and see if the depression comes back. At least, antidepressants will provide a respite to keep on going.

[healingme4me]

It depends on the severity of your depression, I'd imagine. If your doctor has you Tapering off the AD, because cold turkey is a dangerous venture, then you'll be monitored.

I'd highly doubt, just 1 week later, it would just come back to where it was?! Not sure, not a doctor here. Just personal experience.

When I took an AD, I was dealing with depression, in talk therapy, and was losing my mom to cancer and in the process of a divorce, at the same time.

When I came off the AD, mom had already passed on, my divorce was finalized, I was in a new job, about one year into that job and I was doing much better in my emotional life.

[venusss]

Originally Posted by introm

Not on topic VenusHalley, sorry to say that. The question is about what happens to the depression.

sorry I didn't reply exactly on the topic, although topic "what happens to depression" is rather strange.

Let me rephrase. If you didn't solve your ****, "depression" will come back.

If you cold turkey, you will feel depressed or just real crappy. Does it mean "depression" came back? That depends on how you define it. What is "depression" anyways? Does it mean you need your pills? Not necesarily.

If you have enough coping skills you will say through down phases better or may not sink at all.

I don't know how you define "depression", so I have no idea what happens to it. I am a proponent of learning to expand your comfort zone when it comes to emotions. Hence, even if you feel depressed... you are somewhat okay, it's no longer scary and you know you'll make it.

It's complex. Hence... hard to stay on "topic", especially so narrowly and somewhat clumsily defined.

[rockgal]

Originally Posted by introm

When you stop taking antidepressants, what happens to your depression? Should it come back all over again?

As far as I understand the antidepressant is not meant to heal, but just correct the lack of serotonine/dopamine or whatever is missing from your brain.

So, isn't it obvious that the depression will be back some weeks after the last dose? Or am I wrong here and the antidepressants indeed 'repair' your brain?

This is a complicated question. And I think part of the complication is that the term "depression" is used to define what may actually be more than one condition. We probably just don't know enough yet about the causes of depression to tease out exactly what's going on with one person vs. another. The causes of the depression and the relative contributions of psychosocial factors and biology may vary from person to person. I've known people who were depressed (or bipolar) despite perfectly reasonable childhoods and good life circumstances. I've known others whose depression seemed more related to difficult things going on in their lives. I've known people who have done fine after a year on ADs and subsequent tapering, and others who seem to need to stay on meds.

I really think the only way to find out what will happen is to decide with your doctor when to attempt to come off, do so carefully and with supervision, and see how it goes.

[sewerrats]

Originally Posted by healingme4me

It depends on the severity of your depression, I'd imagine. If your doctor has you Tapering off the AD, because cold turkey is a dangerous venture, then you'll be monitored.

I'd highly doubt, just 1 week later, it would just come back to where it was?! Not sure, not a doctor here. Just personal experience.

When I took an AD, I was dealing with depression, in talk therapy, and was losing my mom to cancer and in the process of a divorce, at the same time.

When I came off the AD, mom had already passed on, my divorce was finalized, I was in a new job, about one year into that job and I was doing much better in my emotional life.

In your case depression was brought on by your emotions, once they had been eradicated end of depression. But for DEPRESSIVES most depression returns on a regular basis, if you have 2-3 episodes chances are you will have more an need to be monitored for the need of your life. YOU can have med free time but the chances of needing them again are high

[introm]

I have no idea what happens to it.

Then don't answer, VenusHalley. We are not competing to see who posts more. Your answer is again not relevant. Sorry.

[venusss]

I tried to be helpful and in my opinion what I said was relevant and could be usefull if you let go your narrowly worded questions. Sorry. I will not do it again.

Also, nice editting job on what I said. Must be easier then providing answer to how you define depression for you personally.

Another thing... admitting we don't know something is sign of strenght. I coulda pulled something out of my backside "this is what happenes to depression" based on some study or whatever. But would it work for you? Maybe not, and dangerous implication could be made.

[onionknight]

I don't know what happens after antidepressants...but as someone who is slowly tapering a drug that was nothing but trouble for them, I am excited to see.

[sewerrats]

Originally Posted by onionknight

I don't know what happens after antidepressants...but as someone who is slowly tapering a drug that was nothing but trouble for them, I am excited to see.

You will return to the place before you took them usually, so if you were in a bad place , odds on you will soon be back in it, so you will have to find another way of coping , unless you took ad,s for a minor prob which has resolved itself over time.

[Odee]

Originally Posted by introm

Then don't answer, VenusHalley. We are not competing to see who posts more. Your answer is again not relevant. Sorry.

It seems to me that you're the only one trying to host a pissing contest.

We can neither define depression nor honestly state what ADs do .... thus, none of us have ANY idea what happens after the medication is withdrawn.

There has been buzz lately that ADs 'heal' the brain by encouraging neurogenesis and thus implies that longer treatment duration leads to more favorable sustained remission rates (less rebound depression.) I believe a lot of this buzz has to do with doctors wanting that to be true -- it's obviously an extremely attractive idea (Even I want it to be true! How nice to take a pill that says that!). Obviously, people who have been on AD's for years can confirm to you that they have not been 'healed' even if they are treated, so the 'neurogenesis' theory doesn't seem to cover all its bases yet.

I believe it is possible to be 'healed' after a course of ADs by the changes in your life the medication allowed you to accomplish -- ie, healthier mindset, relationships, habits, etc.

But otherwise, some people fair well and others don't after weening off an AD.

[IndieVisible]

Originally Posted by introm

When you stop taking antidepressants, what happens to your depression? Should it come back all over again?

As far as I understand the antidepressant is not meant to heal, but just correct the lack of serotonine/dopamine or whatever is missing from your brain.

So, isn't it obvious that the depression will be back some weeks after the last dose? Or am I wrong here and the antidepressants indeed 'repair' your brain?

Pretty much the dopamine IMHO. But yes, if you have been diagnosed with major depression it will come back, in days or weeks but will come back.

Oddly enough despite understanding how these antidepressants work, SSRIs for example, they really are not sure what effects they will have on different people and why. SSRIs works great for some people but on some adverse effects and I actually feel worse on them.

I don't think we are technologically there to repair any thing in the brain yet.

[sewerrats]

If ADs are managing your depression, it stands to reason that if you stop the med it will return. WE who chose to take them for life have experienced what its like without some sort of medication I am a strong man and can take any yes any physical pain, but I am powerless with my mental health . With out meds I would die from drink or my own hand, call me weak if you like but I will fight any man or beast but put me up against the depression monster I have lost before I enter the ring.

[CassadayH]

Hoping this isn't considered off topic, but I just wanted to voice a word of caution:

I've heard from more than one doctor that if you stop taking an antidepressant, then start up again with the same med later, that it might not be as effective the second time around.

Certainly I would have serious discussion with your personal physician before stopping medication.

[sewerrats]

Originally Posted by CassadayH

Hoping this isn't considered off topic, but I just wanted to voice a word of caution:

I've heard from more than one doctor that if you stop taking an antidepressant, then start up again with the same med later, that it might not be as effective the second time around.

Certainly I would have serious discussion with your personal physician before stopping medication.

You are right , I have said this in a lot of posts