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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by TriedEveryDrug on April 1, 2009, at 8:46:08
Hypothetically speaking, if a person takes antidepressants for a while, and then stops, will they end up more depressed than before they ever took the ADs?
Let's say on a scale of 1-10 where 10 is the most depressed, they start out a 5. Then they take ADs for a year and then taper off. Are they doomed to be higher on that scale?
Thanks.
Posted by Relapse on April 1, 2009, at 11:05:52
In reply to More depressed after a course of ADs?, posted by TriedEveryDrug on April 1, 2009, at 8:46:08
Hi TriedEveryDrug, I am not sure, but that is kind of what happened to me. I was on Ads for over 10 years. I took an early retirement at 50. I felt a lot of the pressure was off of me. So I stopped taking my meds (Effexor and Zypreza). Things went along pretty good for about 6 months. As I think back, I really had some warning signs that I was starting to spiral back into a relapse. I ignored them and paid dearly. I hit a new low in terms of intensity and duration. I have felt better lately, but I am on more drugs (Zoloft, lithium, Seroquel) than I have ever been on. Side effects? Yes. But I would rather fight them than the beast. I don't think I will ever go off meds again. Good luck.
Dave
Posted by manic666 on April 1, 2009, at 12:50:57
In reply to Re: More depressed after a course of ADs?, posted by Relapse on April 1, 2009, at 11:05:52
why would you take meds at only 5 in the scale , you still have chance to reverse.got to be a 8 before you start , 5 is miserable, 8 is under the blankets , an 10 is hospital,
Posted by Phillipa on April 1, 2009, at 12:55:00
In reply to Re: More depressed after a course of ADs?, posted by manic666 on April 1, 2009, at 12:50:57
I don't know they just don't seem to work for me fighting it with excersise. Phillipa
Posted by desolationrower on April 1, 2009, at 19:47:05
In reply to Re: More depressed after a course of ADs?, posted by Phillipa on April 1, 2009, at 12:55:00
generally they will leave you a bit better off. people talk about down/up regulation (insert quark joke here) but the brain also gets settled into habits so to speak. bits of the brain you use lots grow stronger. being happy is good for you. you don't become stupider for having gone to university just because you knew more while you were there reading. and its the same the other way too: being depressed for long periods causes atrophy of damage to the brain.
-d/r
This is the end of the thread.
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