23 replies to this topic

[mrs ajl]

Jumior he is on 40 mg a day

[Junior]

Ok. 40mg is ok. Just don't let his Dr increase it beyond 50mg which is the recommended maximum. Some of them do.

I hope he is ok

[Junior]

princess_mercedes, on 05 March 2012 - 03:47 PM, said:

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.

Hi Princess

I fully understand where you are coming from. I'm sorry your first depressive episode wasn't recognised and treated for so long I actually did my 4th yr psych thesis on that topic: parental recognition of adolescent depression. My first episode occurred at 18 and my mother, who is also a depressive, didn't recognise it.

Please don't get me wrong. I'm not at all critical of people who choose to stay on meds for very valid reasons. I was one of those myself. It's just that unfortunately these meds don't work for life. Believe me I wish they did. My side of the family has a strong history of depression, bipolar and anxiety. I have a son with autism and it is known that there is a link between that and bipolar. After my own 5th episode of depression I elected to stay on Aropax - believing I could stay on it for life. After 10 years it stopped being effective and I tried increasing the dose - from 40-50mg. That did nothing so I switched to Lexapro. After 4 1/2 months with symptoms ranging from inner restlessness to being suicidal, I tried switching again. This time to Cymbalta. THat didn't agree with me either and I had intended to give my body a break from all these drugs for a while - except that I couldn't sleep ...

I just want to let people know of the long-term consequences of these drugs. They definitely have a place. And I fully understand why people would want to remain on them. It's just that I've seen and heard so many stories where this has just not been possible AND the trauma these people have gone through / are going through in order to get off these drugs and heal. Some are more than 3 years down the track and have still not fully healed. I'd hate for anyone here to have to go through that.

[dee]

Glad to hear you a doing better and the meds are helping Call. It usually takes 14-21 days (although some variation is normal) for full effects but the knowledge that you are doing something gives you a boost earlier.

My two cents re long term. Even when you feel better it is best to stay on antidepressants for 12 months because this significantly reduces the rate of relapse. After that (when the episode is over) long term use is not usually needed but it does depend on the person and what is going on. Some people will have chronic lower level depression (or other diagnoses) that can warrant medications for longer periods. Slow tapering as junior said is very important.

Key message: medication can be VERY benefical even lifesavng, long term (5 years + ) is not usually needed but best plan is to talk with a doctor about all your concerns. You will not neccessarily replapse immediately. If you are not happy that your GP knows what they are doing get a referral to a psychiatrist for a medication check and to oversee the titration down.