Depression Support Group
Depression is a real and debilitating condition that is often misunderstood by family and friends. Its meaning can range from a prolonged period of sadness to an actual mental illness with specific symptoms. Find and share experiences with others who are going through the same struggles.
Hello,
I've suffered from several episodes of depression. Meds helped but caused extreme apathy. I have no energy or motivation to do anything. Not even shower.
On top of that, the last 3 years I can't stop the meds that are not helping me and may be making things worse. I cut only 10% per month and sometimes I tolerate it but other times it gives me bad anxiety, depression and other symptoms. I know for a fact this is caused by cutting the med.
I'm about to lose everything I have if I not get better this year. I'm desperate. I've asked drs and counselors. No one knows how to help me.
They want to add more meds or do ECT, but how can I trust them with that if they can't help get off the 2 meds that are not helping and are in fact making me worse?
I feel I have a brain injury caused by these medications and no one can help or even compensate me for the damage that was done to me by taking meds as prescribed.
I feel like dieing every day.
If you have any insight about this, please help me. I beg to God every day to help me.
One dr said if I added Prozac to Effexor I could get off Effexor easier. I trusted him and now I'm stuck tapering both Prozac and Effexor and both give me horrible withdrawal no matter how slow I cut. I'm stuck taking 2 meds for 3 years that don't help and only cause withdrawal.
I'm pretty familiar with the research literature and these meds can indeed cause brain damage. Benzodiazepines are well known to cause this. See: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/side-effects/201011/brain-damage-benzodiazepines-the-troubling-facts-risks-and-history-minor
There are thousands like me who have been damaged by antidepressants too. There are many support groups on facebook with thousands of members. This forum has thousands of people who are stuck tapering antidepressants for years unable to get off and severely damaged by the meds: Survivingantidepressants.org
I've been taking these meds for 17 years. Tried them all. I have a graduate degree in a mental health field. I'm not just speculating. I know what I'm talking about.
I know I was injured by these drugs. They help temporarily, but they have serious risks, especially with long term or repeated use. Please be careful.
My method was halve the dose, stabilise for 3 -6 mths. Halve again. This has worked. If leaps are too much go back up a step, or go back up half a step. And wait a little longer.
When you lower a dose, expect to feel... off. Hinky. Wrong. Like you've quit smoking or something, and nothing feels quite right. Note when you get upset with someone or some thing. Note when you think you're having a heart attack. Remember that the withdrawals will have a lot to do with it, hunker down like you're in a gale in a desert, and wait that out. when you've felt okay for a month or two, lower the dose again.
It's like, for the first time in my life, I had to listen to and think carefully about the state of anxiety, and watch the different ways of thinking when I was on a dose that dealt with everything versus when I was on a dose that didn't.
I learned a LOT about managing stress and resolving issues from doing this.
I'm now off the drugs, have gone on again a couple of times but come off fairly quickly as I realise they aren't necessary and the way I am feeling is quite temporary.
But it's slow and organic, and you have to listen to your own inner states before you go down a level.
I have tried all those things: one drug at a time;wait until stable for cutting; small cuts (10% per month) and adding another med (Prozac). I still get withdrawal. I get withdrawal from both Effexor and Prozac.
I took both years ago with no issue. I took Effexor twice and never got withdrawal. Now I get withdrawal from all antidepressants.
These meds change the brain for the worse with repeated/long term use.
Wish I could cope with the symptoms, but they're unbearable. I'm disabled by them. I can only shower once a week. Have no energy or motivation. Can't do school or work. If I push myself to do things I get more tired and more depressed. I have anxiety non-stop 8 hours a day from withdrawal. Its been 3 weeks since I reduced Effexor just 5% and I'm on just 7mg.
These drugs ruined my brain and my life. Yes they helped temporarily with anxiety/depression 3 times in my life, but they ruined the rest of my life in exchange.