23 replies to this topic

[callthenurse24]

Hey guys,

A month or so ago I posted about my experiencing depression post-banding. I really appreciated the wealth of support and stories that you all shared with me. I originally decided not to go on medication because I thought I could manage. But now, nearly 8 months after my banding I decided I have had enough of feeling so trapped by this illness all the time.

I saw the doctor and am now on Lovan. Looking forward to feeling better and getting my life back on track. The only thing I seem to be successfully doing at the moment is losing weight.

Thank you again, I appreciate you all so much and I love knowing that I can come on here for advice and support.

Just thought I'd update for those who shared with me

Thanks <3

[BeeBop]

Hi Callthenurse24,

I am so sorry for how long you have felt trapped - I know exactly how it feels. I was put on Lovan at the end of last year after finally realising I needed something more to help me. I have just been put on a different drug because, unfortunately it is like the band - takes a few tries to get it right! (for me anyway!)

One good thing about Lovan is it is supposed to be an appitite suppressant (the active ingredient being fluxetine) .... that is what I was told anyway so I hope it works for you!! Keep us updated
Well done on your weight loss - that in itself should be a bit of a boost
BeeBop xx

[Junior]

Good on you for making the decision to do something positive about your depression. I hope you are feeling better soon and can regain your quality of life.

Junior

[mrs ajl]

i was on lovan for about 4 years until recently found it no longer working so am now on pristiq. i loved lovan and found it worked really well. but i think it was time to change.
goodluck. hope it helps you.

[Junior]

mrs ajl, on 21 February 2012 - 09:04 PM, said:

i was on lovan for about 4 years until recently found it no longer working so am now on pristiq. i loved lovan and found it worked really well. but i think it was time to change.
goodluck. hope it helps you.

After 4 years you should be over your depression and able to come off medication. Don't let the Drs make you think you need to be on it for the rest of your life. BTW Pristiq is the same as Effexor and can be hard to get off.

[callthenurse24]

Thank you all

I was wondering how long it took for you to notice it working? I know it's different for everyone.

[Junior]

It is generally said that it can take several weeks as the meds actually change the way our brains work. In my case I responded to Aropax very quickly and was 'right' again in just 2 weeks. Having said that, I seem to be the exception. Most people take longer.

May I ask what you are taking?

[callthenurse24]

Junior, on 23 February 2012 - 11:20 AM, said:

It is generally said that it can take several weeks as the meds actually change the way our brains work. In my case I responded to Aropax very quickly and was 'right' again in just 2 weeks. Having said that, I seem to be the exception. Most people take longer.

May I ask what you are taking?

wow, thats awesome!

I'm taking Lovan. Call me crazy but after two weeks of taking it I can say I actually feel better. Still not 100% but definetely getting there.

[grinningchook]

I am on Cymbalta but can't say it is doing a lot for me at the moment. Off to the hypnotherapist tomorrow so will report back and let you know how it goes. Will give that a few sessions and see how it goes before going back to the Dr and get meds reassessed.

Glad to hear you are feeling better on the Lovan

[Junior]

callthenurse24, on 28 February 2012 - 04:41 PM, said:

wow, thats awesome!

I'm taking Lovan. Call me crazy but after two weeks of taking it I can say I actually feel better. Still not 100% but definetely getting there.

Lovan is Prozac. The actual drug is fluoxetine.

Glad you are feeling better. IMHO there is NOTHING worse than the abyss of major depression (I have major depressive disorder and have endured 5 episodes in my life).

It is generally best to stay on it for 9-12 months once you feel better as it takes that long for your brain / body to stabilise.

[Beth]

Forgive my ignorance, but I didn't realize there was supposed to be a period of time where you came off anti-deps? I've been on Lexapro for about 2 years now and I don't think I could come off it even if I wanted to just yet?

[callthenurse24]

Beth, on 28 February 2012 - 08:00 PM, said:

Forgive my ignorance, but I didn't realize there was supposed to be a period of time where you came off anti-deps? I've been on Lexapro for about 2 years now and I don't think I could come off it even if I wanted to just yet?

my doctor suggested that you assess after 6 months how you're going with it, and begin to cut down your dose? that seems to be the general consencus, though i know people who've been on anti-depressants for 10-20 years??

[Junior]

Beth, on 28 February 2012 - 08:00 PM, said:

Forgive my ignorance, but I didn't realize there was supposed to be a period of time where you came off anti-deps? I've been on Lexapro for about 2 years now and I don't think I could come off it even if I wanted to just yet?

I could spend hours telling you some of the things I've learned over the past 3 years but suffice to say that after over 10 years on Aropax I got addicted. I know they say you can't get addicted to anti-depressants but believe me, you can. I had wanted to stay on it for life since I've had 5 episodes of depression and also suffer from Generalised Anxiety Disorder but I now know that is just not possible. I am weaning off at the rate of just 1mg per month and will have to slow that rate soon as the sleep issues are just getting too hard to cope with. Besides, since getting banded I've found it hard to swallow the naturapathic pills that help!!

May I ask why why you don't think you could come off Lexapro now?

[Beth]

I came off Lexapro not long after I got banded and I was unbearable. I was irritable, stressed, agitated and it really affected my work and general ability to cope with life so I went back on them after my doctor told me I still needed to be on them.
I feel like when I don't take them I get so stressed and emotional it's just not fair to myself or anyone who has to be around me. I realized I actually have an anxiety disorder that needs medication for me to be a functioning person.
I hope I won't have to take them forever but I've accepted that may be the case.

[Junior]

Beth, what you have just said is something I've heard so often. It usually means that the taper schedule your doctor gave you was wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy too fast. What you and your doctor interpret as your original condition returning is, more often than not, withdrawal. Only doctors don't recognise withdrawal because there are no studies to support it... but studies are funded by drug companies who are only interested in making money.... and modern western society basically worships science..... and therefore relies on empirical studies.... but there are no studies supporting anti-depressant withdrawal..... so the drug reps tell the doctors it is the original condition returning..... and give the doctors plenty of financial incentives to prescribe their drugs.... etc etc etc.

Most doctors mean well but they are ill-informed. I'd lay odds that you could get off Lexapro if you just do a slow taper. By slow I mean 10% of your current dose every 3-6 weeks. If you want more info I'll pm you the link to a forum I go to that helps people with this.

BTW I have major depressive disorder and GAD so I fully understand why you would want to control your anxiety. However, a far better method is to have therapy whether it is talk therapy or CBT. Both give you the tools to learn to live with your anxiety and are far longer lasting than any medication.

I say all this not to frighten you, but from one who was on Aropax for over 10 years before getting addicted. Then switching to Lexapro for a few months before trying Cymbalta. After that my brain chemistry was so messed up that I couldn't sleep for love or money and finally sought help from a naturopath. I reinstated the Aropax, stabilised, and i'm now very very slowly weaning off.

Just wanted you to know. Whatever you decide to do is totally your decision

Junior

[Beth]

Thanks. I've just lost my brother to cancer so for now I'm not going to be moving any of my medications around. I would like to get off them one day though

[Junior]

Oh yes I remember you saying.... I'm so sorry for your loss

Just remember that when you do want to get off Lexapro that you need to do it a LOT more slowly than the doctors tell you. Also don't do the 'every other day' thing they often suggest because it only confuses the brain. You need to take some every day.

[mrs ajl]

my hubby is on aropax and is always increasing his medication. personally i would not be able to live with him if he ever came off them. he is mental without and even if he skips a day. he gets very depressed then it turns to extreme anger and its scary. he functions normal when on them. i also feel i function quite nicely medicated. i do have an addictive personallity which doesnt help.
i work for the govt dealing with demanding customers and this is very draining mentally also. after 22 years dealing with the public has had its toll but i couldnt imagine changing jobs.

[Junior]

Mrs Ajl, if hubby has to keep increasing his Aropax dose then he is probably addicted. Also some people get withdrawal symptoms after missing just the one dose and it sounds like your hubby is one of those.

May I ask what dose he is currently on?

[princess_mercedes]

Just had to stick in my 2 cents worth. I have been on Lovan for 6 years now, but it took a while for me to find the right med. I have tr8ied coming off mine a few times, very gradually, but have found that I don’t like the black hole I end up being in. I have major depressive disorder and for my sanity and that of my family I choose to stay on my meds.
I do know 2 people who both came of antidepressants after many years, but I'm too scared of the person I become without my meds.
I view my depression like asthma. I have to take a preventor to keep me breathing and for the same reason I take my meds to keep me alive. I wish that it was for only a little while, but have come to understand that for me it will probably be a lifelong problem. Depression runs in both sides of my family rather badly and I prefer to be on my meds, than risk myself and my children.

I first had depression in my teens and told myself that I didn't need medication. The depression continued for another 10 years before I did anything about it. That was a VERY scary time. I was more scared of the stigma of meds than I was of the depression. I realise that some poeple can get off their meds, but for others it may well be a lifelong condtion and everyone needs to be assessed and treated like the individual they are.