Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA My dad was clinically depressed his whole life, and was prescribed medicine. He would out of the blue say, 'I stopped taking Celexa two weeks ago.' 'Why would you do that, Dad?' 'I'm feeling better.' Arrgh! That's when you should CONTINUE taking your medicine. It seems to be a common thing for depressive patients to want to get off their meds. I don't know exactly what that's all about, but I've seen it many times in my life. I take a blood pressure and a cholesterol medicine and it would never occur to me to just stop taking them. Anyway, glad that you're seeking your Dr.s advice, jasmine7. <At least when I want to blow my brains out that means I am alive, really alive. That is better than what that stuff does to me.> dshyates, my Dad used to lay that kind of talk on us. Given that he was seriously depressed, and had tried to take his life over the years, to hear him say that he was 'going to blow his brains out' (with lots of sarcasm and 'humor') made me want to slap him across the face. It's just not funny.
Originally Posted By dshyates "dshyates, my Dad used to lay that kind of talk on us. Given that he was seriously depressed, and had tried to take his life over the years, to hear him say that he was 'going to blow his brains out' (with lots of sarcasm and 'humor') made me want to slap him across the face. It's just not funny." Its not a joke.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb All the more reason it's not funny. You've got some a couple of precious young ladies who need their dad to do right by them even when he doesn't want to do what's best for himself. <---ok, I'll but out now (yes I know I spelled that wrong)
Originally Posted By Sara Tonin Gosh, when I'm out of paxil I just have really bizarre dreams...but I've been on antidepressants for years. I quit resisting the idea after two first cousins on my mom's side committed suicide...so I've got the gene. I call them my 'don't want to stick my head in the oven' meds. I've decided for me, it's better to be a little bit bland than the feelings I had before.
Originally Posted By dshyates Oh, I know. That is why I'm still here. Taking the easy way out is not an option or an answer. That is not to say that I haven't had my brushes with it in the not to distant past, but it simply is not an option. But what I was saying earlier was that after being on "meds" even being suicidal makes you feel more alive than being on that stuff. There is a reason why everyone one on it wants to be off it.
Originally Posted By dshyates I should add that there is something potentially exciting happening right now on the employment front. I don't want to jinx it, but you guys will be the first to know if something good happens.
Originally Posted By Pixie Glitter dshyates and everyone else who has felt "numbed" by their antidepressant: You were on the wrong drug or wrong dosage for you. It does not have to be that way. Stopping your antidepressant cold turkey is flirting with death. Yes, I mean that literally. For the love of whomever you love, don't give up on antidepressants because your doctor hasn't found the right one for you yet. There is absolutely a better solution for you. Talk to your doctor. And toss out the ridiculous notion that antidepressants are for weaklings. They are as necessary, as physically necessary, as insulin for diabetics and blood pressure meds for those with hypertension.
Originally Posted By dshyates But there are at least 2 types of "depression". What I had back in '87 was a chemical imbalance. And the drugs we necessary. I was haveing constant anxiety accompanyed with panic attacks. What I have been experience in the past couple of years is just plain kicked in the nibbly bits by life kind of sadness. Drugs don't really help with that. Sure they can make you not care, but these are the things you should care about. I've just gotten really good at taking a punch.
Originally Posted By beamerdog >>antiperson pills<< funny I agree that having the right meds will not make you feel numb. When I first went on Cymbalta after my husband left me (after 36 yrs of marriage, huh?) I couldn't do anything creative. Which was a bummer as I make money designing art pieces and beads. But it all came back after a while. I still get depressed sometimes, cry and even laugh so hard that I cry. But this was a "situational" depression, not chronic. I never wanted to kill myself although there were a few times that I still want to kill my husband ;-) joking, of course
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 Jasmine, I'm so glad that you contacted your Dr I fully agree about the meds being as necessary as blood pressure or whatever meds are making you live your life. Your Dr. can help you take a break if that is your choice and then be there to help you again if your problems come back. Hopefully they won't There are so many different meds out there and so many dosage possibilities and it takes time to find the right one. I think the idea that we are "bothering" the Dr. or being whiney or difficult plays into not calling them and letting them know that we are having side effects, including the zombie feeling. The first one they put me on for panic attacks had me so zonked that I couldn't get off the couch. This med was supposed to help me "get out of the house." WAY to strong for me. Anyway, I guess my point is that we should all do what is right for our bodies and mental health, our family, our jobs and get us out into the world and keep going. Jim in Merced, a relative who is bi polar is doing the same thing as your dad did. On and off, on and off and boy is it obvious. I understand the pain you went through Jasmine, I hope you have a good day today
Originally Posted By jasmine7 <<I think the idea that we are "bothering" the Dr. or being whiney or difficult plays into not calling them and letting them know that we are having side effects, including the zombie feeling.<< Yes! That's it exactly. I had that problem just a few minutes ago. I was debating on whether to call the nurse back because I've been having a lot of heart palpitations and just feeling overstressed (which is what I got on the stuff for), and it was exactly that feeling of not wanting to be a whiney pest that was making me not want to call. I talked to my mom, though, and she said to give her a call, and the nurse was able to get me in tomorrow at 11:30 with a different doctor in the group. It helps to know that it's just a little over 24 hours to get through vs. 3 days, and it really helps to know that you guys are all here, too. I'd be in so much worse shape if I didn't have the wonderful LPers around.
Originally Posted By ilvdland For me, Paxil is the devil. I took the highest dose you could take for 6 months. After not feeling ANYTHING, no happiness, no sadness, no desire for anything Disney (hello big giant red flag) I said to myseflf I was done, and while on vacation in Palm Springs I decided to flush them all down the toilet. That was a bad idea. For about 3 days afterwards on my vacation I couldn't stop crying. Which after not crying at all for 6 months was overwhelming. The crying fits continued for about 3 weeks afterwards until I started to feel like "myself" again, which I feel I lost while on the medication. All the while I never did go back to the doctor about it. When I finally did go back a while later I insisted on never taking anything like that ever again. I would rather have the me I am now, the manic, impulsive, funny, sometimes erratic me, than a numbed up shell of myself. Last time I went to the doctor to speak to someone, after not even an hour they wanted to give me Lithium - ????????? All of you that know me know that is not neccessary. After that my trust was kind of blown. Please be careful with stopping any anti-depressant medication cold-turkey. I'm glad my symptoms were minor compared to some.
Originally Posted By TINK-MOBILE Hi There...Jasmine...PLEASE............ Have a Chat with your pharmacist , he or she shall help you, consult with your doctor with any changes you are making in regards to your dosages or elimination of doseages, paxil is very additive...after taking it for two years, your body is relying on this medication , it is very dangerous to just eliminate it , please consult your doctor and talk to the pharmacist....they are the champions in the knowledge of all medications..I am sure others before us have mentioned the same thing...talk to your pharmacist keep us imformed...even though we don't know you, we care about you...take care....hugs from Snow White and The Tink-Mobile ...
Originally Posted By -em >>You were on the wrong drug or wrong dosage for you. It does not have to be that way. Stopping your antidepressant cold turkey is flirting with death. Yes, I mean that literally. For the love of whomever you love, don't give up on antidepressants because your doctor hasn't found the right one for you yet. There is absolutely a better solution for you. Talk to your doctor. And toss out the ridiculous notion that antidepressants are for weaklings. They are as necessary, as physically necessary, as insulin for diabetics and blood pressure meds for those with hypertension.<< I'm with Pixie.. Stopping ANY prescription medication without the consult of the medical dudes can lead to worse problems.. I also agree that if its not working then its time to chat and find out something that WILL work.. Ive been medically dependent for 23 years now and under constant supervision for the last 10 so trust me- Ive been on and off more things that I can name and sometimes its taken LOTS of re-dosing, and changing to find the right mix...
Originally Posted By beamerdog jasmine, you are very brave to be going off your meds and also very brave to call your doctor. Sometimes that takes the most amount of guts ;-)
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 How are you doing Jasmine? I hope the visit with the Dr. went well and you were able to get some relief. One of us is always around if you want to "talk"
Originally Posted By jasmine7 Hi guys. I just wanted to give you an update. I'm doing much, much better. The doctor switched me over to Celexa on Wednesday, and by Friday afternoon, I was feeling mostly back to normal. I can kind of laugh at it now, but Wednesday was so rough. My mom came up to visit, on her way out of town, and spent that night with me. I was just laying back in my recliner, and she said she could see the color fading out of my forehead, going whiter and whiter, and she knew I wasn't feeling well. She wound up going out and getting me some soup and ice cream. I'm just so glad I'm back to normal now. I didn't even feel like reading my normal internet sites last week, and that's really off for me. I just caught up with all my reading this morning, lol. I ended up pigging out a little this weekend, now that my appetite was back, but I'll get back to normal eating tomorrow, lol. Thank you all again for sticking by me and giving me support. I couldn't have made it through without you! **hugs**
Originally Posted By beamerdog >> She wound up going out and getting me some soup and ice cream.<< Now, that's my kind a mom, lol. I'm so glad you're feeling better. {{{{Jasmine7}}}}
