[DemiLove]

Hi. I've been on at least one antidepressant since I was 14 years old. I am now 31. I was diagnosed with OCD and depression at age 10. I have been dependent on antidepressants for 16 years now. They work well for me with a combination of other things. When I try to get off of them, I have bad withdrawal affects. One is insomnia, and I never get off of the medication because these withdrawal affects are bad. And I can't live without these meds. I get depressed and have anxiety. When I get these withdrawal affects, I go to support forums like this one for withdrawal affects of psych meds. And the people there tell me to try and get off. Also, I go to depression forums and they also tell me there to get off of them. Ever since I've been seeing a psychiatrist for the past 16 years, they are always wanting me to take them and stay on them.

I am afraid I'm going to die of liver failure or something internal because I believe that these meds are going to eventually kill me.

Anyone in this situation as well as me? Anyone know how to deal with this?

[~Christina]

Have you talked to your Pdoc about options of your medication? Have you explained that you don't want to take them forever. You concerns about long term use is valid and you should be able to discuss them with your Pdoc .

I know alot of people who have been successful weaning off meds and managing okay , but you have to make a lot of life style changes to get the best results , they include Mediation, Mindfulness, Yoga, Exercise, Eating healthy, Sleep hygiene, Good Support system, etc etc ...

As for tapering off any Psych meds, well its a process, most people do report withdraw issues, Many people can't manage going off meds and the withdraws and that's a shame but its okay.

I will say as a person that went off Bipolar meds , Even tho I tapered down , I had withdraw issues. These medications fiddle with your brain chemical.

Since people typically have to wait 4-6 weeks when they first take one to notice any difference , Well its going to take time to get it out of your system and then you brain needs to get back to functioning sans Meds.. That withdraw stage is when many people go running back to there Pdoc's .

Research and learn as much as you can and take your time making a decision as important as this will be.

Good luck and welcome to PC

[possum220]

Welcome to PC

It is your body and your choice if you take medications or not. If taking medication helps you to be a functional person in this world then why let what other people think determine what you need? I have been on meds for over 25 years. If I hadn't been on meds I doubt if I would be here.

Be guided by what you want/need and discuss it over with your p'doc.

[DemiLove]

Thanks for welcoming me, this looks like a great site! I found it 12 hours ago, I need a lot of more time to browse it.

I've talked to my past pdocs about this before. But I will talk to my new one about it . I've been seeing her for a little over a year. But they all say the same thing, and that is positive things about the meds. They also recommend that I stay on them. But I will talk to my new doctor about it and see what she says. Maybe I'll get a different answer this time.

Also, I would like to stay on meds. Other people, like on the internet point out the long term affects of these meds, and I get scared. I do research on these meds and there are some long term affects. But I do have to say, no one lives forever, psych meds or no psych meds. My opinion is if the pill helps you feel better then why not take it. I'm just scared of the long term affects.

[possum220]

Originally Posted by DemiLove

Thanks for welcoming me, this looks like a great site! I found it 12 hours ago, I need a lot of more time to browse it.

I've talked to my past pdocs about this before. But I will talk to my new one about it . I've been seeing her for a little over a year. But they all say the same thing, and that is positive things about the meds. They also recommend that I stay on them. But I will talk to my new doctor about it and see what she says. Maybe I'll get a different answer this time.

Also, I would like to stay on meds. Other people, like on the internet point out the long term affects of these meds, and I get scared. I do research on these meds and there are some long term affects. But I do have to say, no one lives forever, psych meds or no psych meds. My opinion is if the pill helps you feel better then why not take it. I'm just scared of the long term affects.

Yes, PC is a great site. Take your time to look around. It is a nice place to belong.

You can read a whole lot of information on the internet about anything. Long term side affects is something they have to put on a warning label. It's like going in for an operation and the surgeon has to tell every possible outcome. Once you have that information then you can decide what you would do for the best outcome. Possible does not mean probable.

What may happen to another person may not happen to you. Even if something does you will deal with it at that point in time.

Take time to talk to your new doctor and see what they say. Good Luck.

[avlady]

i am a lifer on my meds, tried several times to go off of them and had pshycotic breaks, as i am schitzophrenic, depression and bipolar. i say if they are heping your quality of life quality of days lived is better than quantity. i lived through every bad thing that could happen to a person and my family is also supportive of my meds as they all saw how bad i was. now everyone is telling me how great i sound and am doing. i am a supporter of meds along with a good doc and t, i know alot of people are against them, but i put my faith in mine now after trial and error.good luck

[InfiniteSadness]

I have similar feelings- i find myself questioning things way too much..