What's with people going off anti-depressants?

[TrogL]

There's a thread over on User Friendly about somebody going off. I heard from a psychiatrist that there's a fad amongst health professionals to get everybody off anti-depressants.

:wtf: is going on?

Some people really do need them.

[DemExpat]

1. Maybe because many people don't need them?

:shrug:

DemEx

[ernstbass]

2. I work in the field

and I haven't seen evidence of a fad getting people off meds. Some people are on them who don't need them and others need them. I'm glad they are available to those who do need them.

[hedgehog]

3. Given that depression is a cyclical disease

how many people go off during a good phase in the cycle only to have the world come crashing down when a low point hits? As far as I know, this is bad because cycling on and off the SSRIs causes changes in the brain that render them ineffective. In other words, go off the meds when you're feeling good only to render them ineffective the next time you need them.

[DemExpat]

4. Some people may try to balance out the cycles in other ways.

This is the only reason I can imagine that some want to stop them after awhile.

Do you believe that once on anti-D's - always on anti-D's?
Or that once on these meds your brain is in a way "hooked" on them for good? That if you get off they are useless later?

I believe that some people do need medication long term, but I also believe that many people are on these meds for trouble dealing emotionally with problems in their lives, not a disease per se.

:shrug:

DemEx

[hedgehog]

6. I'm a little fuzzy on the details but the theory is as follows;

Depression is caused by/causes changes in brain structure (size of hippocampus, etc) and actual brain cells (# of dendrites, etc.) The SSRIs not only control seritonin levels but encourage the growth of dendrites and help brain structures assume normal proportions. The problem is that if a recurrence of depression trims off more dendrites, the cells can no longer communicate well regardless of seritonin levels. A lot of damage takes place on the cellular level well before symptoms flare up.

[rox63]

7. I've tried this - It doesn't work

I've finally accepted that my life is a lot better when I am on my meds. When I first started on antidepressants (10 years ago), I felt a kind of shame and guilt that I needed meds. I thought of them as a sort of crutch. It didn't help that I came from a family with a history of substance abuse. Anyway, I'd get to a point where I felt like I was pretty functional, and I'd decide it was time to come off the meds. Once I got past the withdrawl symptoms, I'd start a months-long downward spiral, until I was in such bad shape that I couldn't function at home or work. My physical health would also seem to go downhill, and I'd eventually end up at the doctor's office, thinking I was dying of some awful disease. After a bunch of tests that never found any serious physical illness, they'd ask me if I was still on my depression meds, and was I still seeing my therapist. Suddenly, light would dawn on marble head, and I hightail it back to my psych professionals. Within a couple of weeks back on the meds, the improvement was astounding. Within a few months, I'd be back to an almost fully functional unit.

[no name no slogan]

8. I'm with you rox63

I've been on various anti-Ds for ten years now, and have tried going off them with disastrous effects. I've basically resigned myself to being on some sort of medication for the rest of my life.

The good part about my depression is that I know it's caused by a chemical deficiency in my brain. My pituitary gland does not function properly, and so I have low levels of several necessary chemicals in my body and brain.

The anti-Ds do a lot to balance out the chemical stew, much more than can be done with just talk therapy. Therefore I take them, until they come up with a better solution.

[EFerrari]

12. Yep. We must be related.

Except I don't go to the doctor for tests any more because I can't afford to even think about them.

[Kire]

5. so you're not "pro-choice" on this?

you heard from a psychiatrist about a fad?

I hope they didn't tell you this as part of their treatment of you. If so, I'd say get a new psychiatrist.

[EFerrari]

9. These meds have gotten a lot of bad press recently.

And it seems that the medical establishment may be reflecting that.

Also, there's that thing where people feel good and think, "Maybe I don't really need this any more."

Stir in, sometimes less than great meds monitoring/communication between docs and their clients.

A few years ago, we made a house rule here. We take our meds. If we're thinking they need to be adjusted or stopped, we talk it out here first, then both go into the doc's so we three can stay on the same page.

I like this solution because it's good to feel like you have a team routing you on. And of course, all three of us appreciate the input from the other two.

fwiw.

[rockedthevoteinMA]

10. UGH sfexpat... this part

Also, there's that thing where people feel good and think, "Maybe I don't really need this any more."

That's the part that kills me! :crazy: I know that I need them to stay well, but at the same time, as soon as I start to feel better/or start on a manic upswing, (or a borderline mood swing) I stop taking them. The worst part is, I know how bad it is for me to go on and off meds all the time.

I also have to fight this other battle - I know big pharma is NOT looking out for my health or my best interest... it's a catch-22. And those around me are understanding, most of the time.

It's great that you have established such rules at your house - you sound like a great advocate for your SO! :hi:

[EFerrari]

11. Hey, we do what we can.

I'm more prone to this kind of thinking than Doug is. He takes his meds like clockwork. I get worried about money and think, well, maybe I could cut back. And, lol, it's *always* not the right choice.

At what point does "always" become predictable?!

But we do what we can. :)