TheRyGuy: antidepressants since 8 years old

[TheRyGuy]

Hello everyone I hope I am doing this right so someone please respond the topic if you see it.

I am a 26 year old who is looking to end ongoing use of antidepressants because I feel as if they arent doing enough for me anymore and I've been on them for almost 20 years starting when I was 8 ( pretty sure waiting on medical records to verify) and I want to know what my brain is like and life is like without them.

[getofflex]

Hello, and welcome to SA.  We are a volunteer-run community of people who have been or are getting off of psychiatric drugs.  You have come to the right place.  

 

Did you do a direct switch from escitalopram to sertraline in one day?  How did that go for you?  Did you have any symptoms?  

 

I see you have already done tapering of sertraline since May 7.  Have you been having any symptoms from the tapering?   It looks like you are tapering it a lot faster than what we consider a safe rate, especially after having been on it for a long time, and since a young age. Please be very careful, and take you sweet time tapering, you don't want to crash your nervous system.  I'll give you specific advice at the end of this post.  

 

Here is some important information about how these drugs actually work.  This explains why we get symptoms from going off of these medications, and why it's so important to taper slowly and carefully, and be very cautious about changing our doses: 

 

How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain

 

 

This helps you understand what withdrawal syndrome is: 

 

Video on Recovery from Psych Drugs

 

Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

 

Tapering is best done extremely slowly, and we generally taper by 10% of the current dose no more than once every 4 weeks, so that the reduction becomes exponentially smaller.

 

 Why Taper by 10% of my Dosage  

 

Tips for Tapering Sertraline

 

Here is a link with checklists of common WD symptoms: 

 

Dr Joseph Glenmullen Withdrawal Symptom Checklists

 

 

Here are some techniques to cope with symptoms: 

 

Non Drug Ways to Cope with Withdrawal Symptoms

 

Stability is really important when we are tapering off psych meds.  Please read the link about stability:

 

Keep It Simple, Slow, and Stable

 

 

We don't suggest many supplements, but 2 that many of us find helpful are magnesium and omega-3 fish oil. Here are the links for info about those. It is suggested to add one at a time, and start with a low dose to see how it affects you. 

Magnesium

Omega 3 Fish Oil

 

Since you have switched to a new antidepressant just a few months ago, and then are tapering the sertraline much more quickly than we suggest in here, I strongly suggest that you stay on your current dose of 12.5 mg sertraline for a while.  I suggest you give yourself a 6 to 12 month hold period, to allow your nervous system to rest and catch up.  If you read my link on how drugs remodel the brain, you will understand why this is important.  Often people can taper fast, but then once we get to the lower doses, it is much harder to taper, and symptoms show up.  We want to try to avoid destabilizing your nervous system, and putting you into significant withdrawal, which is likely to happen if you keep tapering fast.  Once the brain is destabilized, it can take a very long time (months to years) to recover.  

 

Please keep in touch, and let us know how you are doing.  

[TheRyGuy]

Hello there! Thank you for reaching back out and giving me such good advice. I did a direct switch from lexapro to zoloft in a day due too obsessive compolsive disorder thoughts. My primary care physician told me to switch and that a cold turkey switch would be fine, I experienced lots and lots of symptoms, these include;

 

depersonalization, derealization, dizzyness, brain fog, no libido, light sensitivity, eye floaters, waking up to a racing heartbeat, excessive yawning, thyroid twitches, brain zaps, increased anxiety, increased ocd, racing thoughts, diarrhea, increased heart burn, thoughts that don't make sense, aggitation, shakes.

 

Most of these side effects have passed, but some resurfaced as I dropped my dose recently. I plan to keep at my current dose for a long time now and wait for my body to sufficiently adjust. I will buy those suppliments immidiately. Thank you so much this feels really good to talk about it with people who are going through it and dont think I am overreacting.