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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Nanter1 on April 1, 2004, at 13:48:43
I posted this on a previous thread but I messed up the subject so I don't think anyone ever read it...
I was on and off the SSRIs for about ten years. While I was on them, I felt flat and emotionless (doc refers to as anhedonia - inability to experience excitement). Now I've been off them for about 9 months, and I *STILL* feel just as flat and emotionless as I did when I was taking them.
Has anyone else had this experience? Have these drugs permanently changed my brain chemistry so that I will never again be able to feel joy? What a terrifying prospect...
Haven't felt excitement in 10 years.
:-(
-Nanter1
Posted by crazychickuk on April 1, 2004, at 14:04:44
In reply to SSRIs and feeling flat 9 months after cessation, posted by Nanter1 on April 1, 2004, at 13:48:43
Are you on anything now?
Maybe an upper such as reboxatine or any other snri's could help.. i would forget about the ssri's they are useless for alot of people... or maybe you could try an maoi ... just a thought..
Posted by shadows721 on April 2, 2004, at 1:35:07
In reply to SSRIs and feeling flat 9 months after cessation, posted by Nanter1 on April 1, 2004, at 13:48:43
I had that flat feeling with Prozac. I know what you are taking about there. It's not a good feeling at all.
Anhedonia can be a symptom of depression too. Can you take other meds for depression instead of SSRIs?
Posted by Nanter1 on April 2, 2004, at 9:53:17
In reply to Re: SSRIs and feeling flat 9 months after cessation, posted by crazychickuk on April 1, 2004, at 14:04:44
I'm not on anything now; I'm not particularly keen on ever using drugs again. I am highly concerned about the as-of-yet poorly understood long term effects of these drugs.
Posted by Nanter1 on April 2, 2004, at 9:54:56
In reply to Re: SSRIs and feeling flat 9 months after cessation, posted by shadows721 on April 2, 2004, at 1:35:07
Thanks for the response...
I never had anhedonia before starting all these meds years ago, and it wasn't depression that prompted me to start them, rather OCD / anxiety. It is my concern that these drugs have caused this (along with the lasting cognitive deficits) and I don't want to exacerbate it by staring a different medication.
Posted by bookgurl99 on April 2, 2004, at 19:51:48
In reply to Re: SSRIs and feeling flat 9 months after cessatio, posted by Nanter1 on April 2, 2004, at 9:54:56
Hey nanter --
I understand your feelings. I also originally started on meds for OCD-type symptoms, and wish that there had been another way. I've been off an SSRI for 6 weeks and feel flat, though I'm also on an anti-epileptic for migraines.
Something I've read about is that there are amino acids that are used to help drug addicts overcome brain problems due to drug use. This may not be as obvious of a problem, but I wonder if it would be possible to do the same thing for people getting off of psych meds. The book "Depression free for life" by G. Cousens mentions several of these.
I personally was about to get back on my SSRI before reading these posts. I'm considering them a warning. What I'm looking to do now is find a better way to treat my migraines, and slowly reduce off of all my psych meds. Then I may visit a psychiatrist and get his assistance with amino acids if necessary.
It sounds like you are most of the way there -- you are already off meds, and you know what you're like without them. Now you can find a solution to the problem.
BTW, have you tried to get your thyroid tested? My ocd symptoms went away once I was treated for low thyroid.
This is the end of the thread.
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