Anti-Depressants : Is it possible to quit cold turkey?

[Ranger X]

I'm curious ...

Has anyone done this before? Would this severely screw you up and worsen the symptoms that the drug has been curing?

 

[Riprorin]

Don't know but have you looked at natural mood enhancers like St. John's Wort?

 

[Mail5398]

Very bad idea if you have been taking them for any length of time.

 

[Gyrene]

No. I have to quit since I joined the Marines, and the doctor said that if I don't ween off over a 6 week period, I could develop permanent neurological damage.

 

[Mark R]

The vast majority of anti-depressents need to be weaned down gradually over a period of a few weeks (longer, potentially 3-6 months, if the course has been a prolonged one). Withdrawal can be unpleasant with symptoms such as chills, mood disturbance, nausea, diarrhoea, headache, insomnia and panic.

The precise set of symptoms depends on the type of antidepressants, with the more modern drugs like Prozac and Seroxat (also called Paxil) being particularly troublesome.

Although potentially highly unplesant, there is relatively little research that suggests that there is significant risk or long-term injury attached to withdrawal as in most cases it is easily treated by reinstating the drug and weaning it off more gradually.

 

[Nocturnal]

I take 20mg of Lexapro once a day. I've missed my dose for a day and I can already feel the withdrawal effects. Everyone is totally different though.

 

[Electric Amish]

People have done it, but it is seriously NOT recommended.

 

[Riprorin]

Originally posted by: dtyn
No. I have to quit since I joined the Marines, and the doctor said that if I don't ween off over a 6 week period, I could develop permanent neurological damage.

I assume that you're taking them for a reason. What's going to happen when you stop?

 

[Gyrene]

Originally posted by: Riprorin

Originally posted by: dtyn
No. I have to quit since I joined the Marines, and the doctor said that if I don't ween off over a 6 week period, I could develop permanent neurological damage.

I assume that you're taking them for a reason. What's going to happen when you stop?

Light stomach pains. I'm not taking them for depression.

 

[StageLeft]

They should be weened, and why the heck aren't you asking your doctor, who can tell you with more certainty than anybody here? Don't forget: These cure the symptoms, not the problem. So, unless the underlying issue (be it environmental, or chemically-driven) is resolved, going off these drugs will see you back to where you were before taking them.

 

[Ranger X]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
They should be weened, and why the heck aren't you asking your doctor, who can tell you with more certainty than anybody here? Don't forget: These cure the symptoms, not the problem. So, unless the underlying issue (be it environmental, or chemically-driven) is resolved, going off these drugs will see you back to where you were before taking them.

Oh, I'm not on anti-depressants. I figured someone would know on here because I've read some threads previously where it appeared as if plenty of ATOTers were taking them.

 

[RU482]

I think you need to cut back slowly. Your body gets used to having the chemical in you body.

Also, I wouldn't recommend trying in the winter time, due to seasonal blues

Most importantly, WHY THE FVCK ARE YOU NOT ASKING A DOCTOR THIS??

 

[43st]

Do a search of OT. Many folks here have been in that boat and it's been discussed.

Doctors are the main problem I think as they recommend a pill over actually finding the sources and eliminating them. I was on Paxil for about 2 years... I figured out that my problems were lifestyle related (stress from work) and fixed them, a drug can't do that.

Don't touch St. John's wort... It's unregulated in the US and thus the dosages differ greatly from capsule to capsule. It'll cause more harm than good. Just cut your current pills up into little pieces and slowly take less and less, you should be fine after a few months.

 

[prvteye2003]

yes, it is possible. I did it! Of course, it depends on the medication that you're on and your independant tolerance to it.

 

[BeauJangles]

I've gone on and off my medication a few times, each time stopping completely within 24 hrs... never had any adverse side effects related to withdrawal.