To Take Medication Or Not???

Mental health
1

I don't know whether we are better on medication or not.  I was on anti depressants for over 20 years, whenever I stopped it eventually came back.

Weaned slowly off anti depressant hust over a year ago and feeling anxious and a bit depressed.  What to do?  

I would like to know other people's experiences.  Do they feel better on medication or not?  Does it really help?  Read so many conflicting views on this, but would like personal feedback.  

What do you all feel about this.  To take medication or not.  Does it help to take it?

2

Hi Anne,

I have been on anti depressants several different times through my life.

The first time I was prescribed them was after I had my third child.  The birth was a difficult one which ended in an emergency c section.

I kept feeling panicky and getting weird thoughts.  I took them for 9 months then was ok.

I went on them another couple of times mainly because of panic attacks.

I came off Prozac  almost five years ago and to be honest I felt better then I did while I was on them. They made me feel better at first.

I felt better for about four years but last year the panic and anxiety have come back.  I have had a very stressful year and also going through the menopause.

My dr has suggested taking antidepressants to me but I'm not sure if I should or not !  

I have started taking vitamins b6, b12,ah medium with calcium and zinc, omega oils and vitamin d.

Some days I feel good but then others I feel like a nervous wreck, like today, have had a racing heart again and palpitations.

I am trying not to go on antidepressants but if this anxiety continues I may try them again.

Good luck to you and hope you feel better soon x

3

I was on Valium many years ago, but for me it was a crutch, a temporary fix, when it wares off, back to real life. So, I quit the med, and faced reality, sort of because I always had a few bottles of beer ready to go, just in case, Then I quit that potential crutch, and time more or less healed my anxiety.

One thing for sure, I cannot forget, no one can, so fighting anxiety is like banging your head against a wall, we all are programmed the same, so one more time, accept what anxiety is, a conditioned response to our own unique triggers which can be resolved, really.

4

my doctor is telling me the meds are making it worst dont no what to believe anymore

5

hi anne great question! i think meds dont help alone with meds and councilling and self help groups and relaxation and meditaion it can be managed! no pill will take it all away you have to work with them! this is my experience, julie

6

It's a difficult one as we all differ, for me I've a pre disposition to anxiety and reactive depression I'm told due to erogenous depression ie it's a condition which is genetic and means there is underlying depression which generally doesn't cause issues in life  on it's own. 

So after two serious breakdowns with chronic anxiety and sever clinical depression I agreed to taking a maintenance dose of anti depressants and have felt great on them.

i have relapsed because I stopped taking them 4 years ago and relapsed within 6 months and this time due to having an unhealthy relationship with the booze! 

Personally speaking I've no issues taking anti depressants especially if you find the right one for me it's Venlefaxine (Effexor), no side effects. 

Im also re doing CBT, and mindfullness and will look after myself more to limit the relapse risk.

 

7

Did I just type erogenous depression! Lol... It's meant to be endogenous...

8

hehe made me giggle that :-)

9

I agree, best not to fight and try to let go, let it pass. I find if I fight it I just get weaker. It's a very personal decision whether to take drugs. Me myself I have got really bad but I won't take drugs. I am afraid they will take away who I am. I like a few beers, but I am careful not to slip into self medicating. I really bel

10

Hi I've been on and off 20mg of citilapram for 15 years and when I'm on it I always feel better no 100 percent though! And I always think I shouldnt be on meds and its bad for me! So I come off them the proper way and slowly the anxiety comes back! Without meds only 20mg of citilapram I don't feel normal! So after 15 of fighting it I'm bloody staying on them! I'm totally symptom free 😇 so the meds defo work for me after I stopped fighting them! Some people need to be on them end of! You read all these story's on this site about coming off the meds if they make you feel normal then why the hell would you come off them when the alternative is unbearable symptoms! Mind you took me 15 to reolise this!!!! Good luck

11

Sorry cut myself off! I really believe in positive thinking,

12

We also have to remember Anne that everyone is different and medications work for some people and not for others.

I think that if you feel better whilst taking meds and they are making you well, then take them.

X

13

Hello Tina.  Thank you for you reply.  You are in much the same boat as me, wondering whether to take medication or not.  I have always taken Omega 3, Vitamin B complex, and multi vitamin and mineral supplements.  Like you, some days better than others.  I get the jitters in my chest and palpitations too.  

I know I was pretty good on anti depressants, but my doctor suggested I come off them, as had been on them for 20 plus years.  She must have had a reason for wanting me to try without.  I know in the past, like you, when I stopped the anti depressants, after a time the anxiety and depression returned.  This time, just over a year since I stopped, is the longest I have been medication free.

I am pleased that I have managed, but now sad that anxiety, and now depression returned.  I think recently a few stressful episodes have made me "down."  Hopefully I can get over this, and battle on again.

Let me know how you are doing and whether you do go back on anti depressants.  Let you and I try and manage it ourselves.  We should be proud at how we are managing.

Take care.

14

Hello Susan, are you saying that your doctor is telling you that the medication he prescribed is making you worse?  How can that be?  I know when we first start an anti depressant we usually feel worse before we feel better, but our bodies should settle down after a few weeks.

Has the doctor suggested you try a different madication, or taken you off the one that is making you worse?  What have you decided to do?

15

Thank you for your kind reply Julie.  I have tried most everything over the years.  Been without anti depressant for a year now, and that is the longest I have been without depression and anxiety coming back.  In the past the anxiety was not too bad, but now it is that that is bothering me.  

Like everyone says the tablets cannot cure our problem only alleviate it.  But that is what most of us want isn't it?  You are very wise, and I thank you.

16

Thank you for your reply.  I was on Effexor and it helped me a lot.  It was my doctor's suggestion I come off it.  I thought she had her reasons for suggesting this.  It took so long to wean off it with no side effects, I really don't think I can face going on it again.  If I did, I know I would be on it for the rest of my life.

Perhaps that is not a bad thing.  I suppose I had to see if I could do without.  Still managing, as not too serious at the moment.  I have been extremely ill in the past, so at the moment I am a lot better than I have been.

Take care

17

Hi Simon, good for you.  Yes if we are doing well on medication why stop?  I would not have stopped if my doctor had not suggested it as I was doing very well on Effexor.  Like you, when I stopped in the past, the problem always came back.  Good for you making a decision to stay on the Citilapram.  

You have made me think seriously about this.  Thank you for your input.  All the answers say one thing - it is a personal choice.  

You have made me grin with your answer and that has cheered me up no end.  Thanks

18

I'm glad to have been at your service!! 😉

19

Yes Tina you are right.  Still unsure what to do.  I will battle on for a while.  Nice to hear other people's views.  Are you taking any medication?

20

Hi Anne,  

I am not taking any meds at the moment but I have in the past.

I have been on Prozac a few different times.  First time was after I had my third child, it was a difficult birth, I was really ill after, anxiety was so bad and was having weird thoughts,  then a couple more times through my life.  I came off them about five years ago now.

It was hard for a couple of weeks but then I started feeling better !  I was so glad to come off them.

I even started going on the underground, which I hadn't done for years because I used to panic to much.

This time round now that my anxiety has got quite bad again, I am trying not to go on meds.  I am sure a lot if it is because I am going through the menopause.

I am taking b6, b12, magnesium with calcium and zinc, vitamin d, omega 3 oils and menopace.  Have been taking the bit d and menopace for over a yr now but have added the others over the last month but only started the b12 last week.

I have noticed that some days I feel so much better but still getting bad days.

Although I have had a very stressful year since last October, lots of stressful situations, it's not surprising really.

Hopefully when I do finally start my new job things will start to get better.

Hope you feel well soon Anne, take care xxx