Discussion anyone gave up on meds without consulting the doctor?

[ecmnesia]

I've been on sertraline (50mg), venlafaxine (175mg), xanax (0.5mg) and zolpidem (10mg). It helps with sleep and anxiety, but I don't think I want to take them anymore.

Has anyone here ever gave up on their treatment on their own? What made you come to this decision? How was it like?

I've heard that effexor withdraw is hell, so I'm a little bit scared.

 

[IsThisTheEnd?]

I just stopped venlafaxine for a month and just had some slight head rushes I actually felt better for a bit then had ab episode and advised to take them again, I personally don't think they do anything anymore but if I stopped again I would consult my doctor because you know they moan.

 

[okdoomer]

I stopped Wellbutrin 300mg awhile back not as a choice but ironically because I was too depressed to get up and take the meds...needless to say the withdrawal gave me a seizure. But in the past I've also stopped drugs I felt weren't working, like low doses of Prozac or Mirtazapine and had no side effects really. Since you're on four different drugs simultaneously I'd probably consult your doctor.

 

[LittleJem]

If a med is working then it's better to stay on it - I have seen stories of meds not working the second time around if people come off them. There are support groups on FB for people on or coming off medication, and people there can advise on how to reduce. Speak to your doctor too, but not all of them know very much about coming off meds. So also do your own research. As you are on a combo, it might be more complicated.

 

[kohaku]

I've been on sertraline (50mg), venlafaxine (175mg), xanax (0.5mg) and zolpidem (10mg). It helps with sleep and anxiety, but I don't think I want to take them anymore.

Has anyone here ever gave up on their treatment on their own? What made you come to this decision? How was it like?

I've heard that effexor withdraw is hell, so I'm a little bit scared.

You can come off the antidepressants if they aren't working, sure, but I wouldn't recommend it. Two reasons.
1. If you've been on them for less than 6 weeks, they haven't even had a chance to START working,
2. Withdrawal. You'd need to wean yourself off of them gradually until you're taking the lowest possible dose. If you only have large pills, that's not possible.
The xanax and zolpidem is what's helping you with sleep and anxiety the most, so if that's what you want, you can keep it.

One piece of advice: Don't take medication's effects for granted, or you'll end up suddenly violently suicidal when you go off of it and wonder why.

Of course, different people have different reasons for coming off medication. I weaned myself off mine a few times because it wasn't working and I didn't want to spend money on more after running out before my psych appointment, which was always a 3 month wait.

 

[IRIYAMA]

I'm on and off medication continually, without asking the GP.
Sort of cyclic, only on Endone and Lyrica as the main medications but when I flare up and have extended periods of being symptomatic I usually hit a wall and stop all meds ans then start again when it;s unbearable...

 

[Mr2005]

Yes. Does no one listen to me? I went cold turkey a couple of months ago. I don't think I need to tell you how I feel

 

[_Kaira_]

Gave up on mine. Watching the bottles stack up.

 

[Sk1n1M1n]

I came off my anti depressants in no time, didn't care about the withdrawals just had a meaningless headache, no big deal. I'm used to headaches due having fibromyalgia snd tbh I am no better on them than off them meds can be a pointless activity . Apart from Xanax that's stuff I get through other channels and I love that med, great for weekend escapism and great to get away from my friends sense of humour. (Too childish)

 

[Deleted member 1465]

Yes. I stopped Prozac cold. I was on a high dose and it was disassociating me to a dangerous degree. I also stopped Mirtazapine by tapering because I became aware of how it impacts the glucose metabolism. My doctor gave me zero help because he didn't approve. I followed an online guide. They also told me Zopiclone was benign and I could just stop with no ill effects, despite having been on it for almost a year. Fucking useless idiots. I tapered that one too.

However, I think I'm atypical. Many of these medications have had little positive effect on me, and when I've stopped them cold that's also had little negative effect. i don't think that's the case for many people, so be careful.

Edit: what I did with the Mirtazapine was to request that my GP prescribed twice as many tablets of half the dose that I was meant to be on. That way I could control the dose and cut the tablets to offer even further tapering control. It took him awhile to understand what I planned to do.

 

[Wisdom3_1-9]

I had horrible withdrawal symptoms taking myself off sertraline. Took over a month to start feeling okay. On Cymbalta now, and if I skip it for two days, I'm a mess.

 

[catscradle]

a few times, but the withdrawal was so bad I couldn't do it.

 

[jesse]

I stopped both sertraline and xanax by myself. The withdraws for both were beyond horrible. I strongly recommend tapering off with a doctor's supervision.

 

[deadbeat]

Is experiencing no difference in mood while taking medication, as well as experiencing absolutely no side effects while stopping cold turkey a sign of treatment resistant depression?
I haven't been on meds in years but both times I experienced no improvement in mood, and I stopped cold turkey both times and had absolutely no negative side effects.

 

[LittleJem]

OP, when the doctors talk about meds not being addictive, they are only now beginning to be more honest about withdrawal symptoms and a lot of doctors don't know anything at all much about these medications and how to withdraw from them. You will be lucky if your doctor (or even your psychiatrist) knows about how to safely withdraw. So just to repeat, please ensure you do your own research too and hte Facebook support groups for medications are helpful.
I haven;t personally had withdrawal symptoms as yet - but I was only on an SSRI for 3 months and was lucky in that respect to not have any - apart from two days of happiness when I came off it! I did a bit of a taper, but it was making me so exhausted I wanted off.