Who here is actually taking antidepressants?

I have been on Lexapro for over 7 years, tried unsuccessfully to wean off several times. My doctor emphatically states that I will be on it for the rest of my life.... I am determined as heck to prove him wrong. Right now, I have weaned myself from 20 mg to only 2.5, and I am almost ready to go off altogether.

Is there anyone else in my shoes? Are you taking meds, weaning off, or have successfully remained med free for any period of time? I would love to hear your story.

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Permalink Reply by Nicolas on October 11, 2010 at 9:49pm

My current, limited, and perhaps faulty, understanding, tells me that the 80-10-10 diet will give you lots of serotonin (http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2004/carbs.html), whose pre-cursor, 5-HTP, can deplete tyrosine, the precursor for dopamine, possibly causing amotivation (for someone who doesn't exercise a lot to keep dopamine levels up). Likewise, supplementing with just one or a few amino acids could also cause such neurotransmitter imbalances (but in our case, going for just l-Tyrosine, to balance out the serotonin, might work well for a long time - I'm thinking of trying it). So, given that you were also on the high-carb diet, did you feel the 5-HTP made you "all too complacement"?

Permalink Reply by Liam G on October 12, 2010 at 12:32am

Fruit and vegetables. Maybe some seeds. If eaten in high enough amounts. With good variety. Will give you everything you need. I was taking these things before I found out about this diet. I used to be very into supplements. I found 5HTP made me more calm but in a bad way. Too relaxed. I needed something to give me some motivation. Which is why I considered tyrosine. Which to my understanding boosts the hormones for feeling excited. Like dopamine for one. Will it work (taking a supplement)? A little I guess but with possible side effects. Maybe not in the short term but in the long term. How do you eat currently? And how do you feel? Experiment with flaxseed if you don't feel fruit and veg is enough on it's own.

Permalink Reply by Linda on September 26, 2010 at 8:28am

I hav ebeen taking antidepressants for many years, with few more or less short, or long, interruptions. I have been taking venlafaxine, Efexor is one of its commercial names, for many years now.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venlafaxine

Permalink Reply by Linda on March 1, 2011 at 7:38pm

Leese, antidepressants must be stopped very very gradually. The most gradually you can, you are never gradual enough!! It' normal! Believe me, if you stop them gradually, you'll stop them in not a too long time, and you won't feel any withdrawal symtoms anymore, then!! It doesn't depend on how many years someone has taken them.

I cannot say anything about depression symptoms, of course, they are very very personal.

Permalink Reply by Liam G on March 1, 2011 at 8:56pm

Depends on what antidepressants you're taking. I had no withdrawal symptoms from abruptly quitting mine.

Permalink Reply by Linda on March 2, 2011 at 7:55am

OK, it's probably true, sorry for my mistake

Permalink Reply by Linda on March 31, 2011 at 3:19am

Sorry for my late reply!! I'm doing as usual, but I'm not raw yet!! I keep trying!! :-)

Permalink Reply by Brian Reegs on March 31, 2011 at 1:56am

I was prescribed Xanax for about 4 years. Slowly weaned myself off and now I only take them when flying or if I have a terrible panic attack. Ive found that St. Johns Wort works well to ease the anxiety, but I also practice meditation and breathing techniques + lots of exercise. Still working on myself, its really tough sometimes, especially during the winter.

Permalink Reply by Justin White on February 11, 2012 at 9:24pm

Just tried St John's wort for the first time today. OMG this stuff rocks! Feel good again for like the first time in several months.

Permalink Reply by rallyally on May 11, 2011 at 9:13am

i was on lexapro for several years a while back. I took a lot of magnesium to calm me down while i was coming off it. Man, it was the worst withdrawl ever. I could feel my brain swooshing inside my skull ever time i moved... There is the product called Natural Calm (ionic Magnesium) that helped a bit. Other than that i just locked myself in my room until the worst had passed. I wish you the best of luck, know that it is totally possible to get off of and you'll be stronger in no time!

Permalink Reply by Christine Herself on August 24, 2011 at 6:21am

I've been taking 20 mg of Cipralex a day for 5+ years. I'm just not starting to think about weaning off of it (but I'm pretty scared because my life while depressed was pretty terrible). I snapped out of my depression when I switched to a whole food, macrobiotic diet and since becoming primarily raw and vegan I seem to be getting happier by the day.

I am going to be speaking to my doctor about beginning the weaning off process next month so I figured that connecting in this group would probably be really good for me to do now.

Permalink Reply by Dennis Hamilton on August 30, 2011 at 3:32am