Venting Does anyone else struggle with antidepressants?

[bluemoon777]

I'm struggling to get off antidepressants, and it's not working. I don't wanna be on them for the rest of my life. Last time, I went down a dose every week, and it turned me into a raging monster, due to the withdrawal. That was a few years back and now I'm trying it differently, I slowly lowered it, and now I'm trying a dose every 4th day. It was working, until just now I had an irritability episode, and that's how my rage used to start. I feel hopeless, like I have no hope of getting off them. I want to just commit suicide, because I have no goddamn hope. Can anyone relate?

 

[A Dream of a Dream]

Tapering is slowly reducing the dosage over time, not skipping days.

 

[JoysoftheEmptiness]

I stopped cold turkey, they weren't working, and the side effects weren't worth it. Told my doctors, the psych team didn't give a monkeys.

 

[bluemoon777]

Tapering is slowly reducing the dosage over time, not skipping days.

I know, I was at 75, I stayed at it for a while until I was relatively stable, then to 50, then 25, then every other day, then every 2, 3, now I'm at 25 every fourth day.

Tapering is slowly reducing the dosage over time, not skipping days.

I should probably specify I don't have any pills smaller then 25mg

I stopped cold turkey, they weren't working, and the side effects weren't worth it. Told my doctors, the psych team didn't give a monkeys.

What did you experience going cold turkey? Also, I don't think doctors really understand most things about antidepressants and their side effects and withdraw symptoms

 

[A Dream of a Dream]

But what is "a while"? Depending on the individual and especially how long they've been on meds, the tapering can take months at each lowered dosage.

Doctors do know about effects and withdrawal symptoms. Going cold turkey if you've been on meds for a while is never advised. If I want to taper off I would definitely be talking to my doctor about it and what the schedule might look like.

 

[NumbItAll]

I know, I was at 75, I stayed at it for a while until I was relatively stable, then to 50, then 25, then every other day, then every 2, 3, now I'm at 25 every fourth day.

I should probably specify I don't have any pills smaller then 25mg

What did you experience going cold turkey? Also, I don't think doctors really understand most things about antidepressants and their side effects and withdraw symptoms

You would likely have a much easier time by grinding pills or filing them down to get gradually smaller doses using a scale. Unfortunately the pills aren't made with withdrawal in mind so the available doses aren't small enough for everyone to be able to safely taper. But you've made a lot of progress and here are some resources that can help you get the rest of the way if you are determined to do that. Good luck.

Why taper by 10% of my dosage? What is hyperbolic tapering?

ADMIN NOTE This topic is a general discussion of the principle of tapering. For case-by-case consideration of what YOU should do, please put your questions in an Introductions topic. Do not put those questions in this topic, because detailed discussion of YOUR particular circumstances will take i...

www.survivingantidepressants.org

NEVER SKIP DOSES TO TAPER

Many people come here with severe withdrawal symptoms after following their prescribers' or their own misguided plan to skip doses in order to taper. You may hear of people who got away with skipping doses to taper. That is possible, some people cold turkey without a problem. However, after cold ...

www.survivingantidepressants.org

Using a scale to weigh and measure doses

See also: brassmonkeys-tips-and-tricks-for-tapering Gemini Scale (and similar scales) weighing / measurement information and How to get very small doses at the end of your taper On 2/19/2022 at 7:52 AM, brassmonkey said: My final dosage was 0.016mg or 0.000016g. A very tiny dose. Things can get c...

www.survivingantidepressants.org

 

[Angst Filled Fuck Up]

I've been on them for a decade now. I've just sort of made peace with the fact that I might need them forever. The only thing is they make me kind of lethargic and I suffer from some anorgasmia with them, but it's nothing too terrible.

 

[_Gollum_]

If you're in the US you could consider services like TaperClinic: https://taperclinic.com/. They also have a YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@taperclinic

 

[bluemoon777]

You would likely have a much easier time by grinding pills or filing them down to get gradually smaller doses using a scale. Unfortunately the pills aren't made with withdrawal in mind so the available doses aren't small enough for everyone to be able to safely taper. But you've made a lot of progress and here are some resources that can help you get the rest of the way if you are determined to do that. Good luck.

Why taper by 10% of my dosage? What is hyperbolic tapering?

ADMIN NOTE This topic is a general discussion of the principle of tapering. For case-by-case consideration of what YOU should do, please put your questions in an Introductions topic. Do not put those questions in this topic, because detailed discussion of YOUR particular circumstances will take i...

www.survivingantidepressants.org

NEVER SKIP DOSES TO TAPER

Many people come here with severe withdrawal symptoms after following their prescribers' or their own misguided plan to skip doses in order to taper. You may hear of people who got away with skipping doses to taper. That is possible, some people cold turkey without a problem. However, after cold ...

www.survivingantidepressants.org

Using a scale to weigh and measure doses

See also: brassmonkeys-tips-and-tricks-for-tapering Gemini Scale (and similar scales) weighing / measurement information and How to get very small doses at the end of your taper On 2/19/2022 at 7:52 AM, brassmonkey said: My final dosage was 0.016mg or 0.000016g. A very tiny dose. Things can get c...

www.survivingantidepressants.org

Thank you, I am very appreciative <3. I only have capsules, so I will try to obtain some in pill form

But what is "a while"? Depending on the individual and especially how long they've been on meds, the tapering can take months at each lowered dosage.

Doctors do know about effects and withdrawal symptoms. Going cold turkey if you've been on meds for a while is never advised. If I want to taper off I would definitely be talking to my doctor about it and what the schedule might look like.

But what is "a while"? Depending on the individual and especially how long they've been on meds, the tapering can take months at each lowered dosage.

Doctors do know about effects and withdrawal symptoms. Going cold turkey if you've been on meds for a while is never advised. If I want to taper off I would definitely be talking to my doctor about it and what the schedule might look like.

A few months between every dose lowering. I spoke to my doctor about tapering, and she said to go down a dose every one week, which I tried before, and it didn't go well

I'm just very frustrated, I don't want to be on them forever

 

[NumbItAll]

Thank you, I am very appreciative <3. I only have capsules, so I will try to obtain some in pill form

It can be done with capsules too! I think it involves opening them and measuring/counting the beads inside to get the correct dosage. I haven't done it but that forum has a lot of info for how to get it right.

 

[bluemoon777]

It can be done with capsules too! I think it involves opening them and measuring/counting the beads inside to get the correct dosage. I haven't done it but that forum has a lot of info for how to get it right.

I have powder in my capsules, so I'll have to carefully weigh it I think

 

[concession]

Can anyone relate?

Are you willing to share which drug it is and the period of time you have been taking it?

 

[bluemoon777]

Are you willing to share which drug it is and the period of time you have been taking it?

Sertraline, been taking since 2022, only tried to get off it in the past year or so

 

[concession]

Sertraline, been taking since 2022, only tried to get off it in the past year or so

wish you luck

 

[bluecoopy79]

I struggle with insomnia on fluoxetine i can fall asleep but 2 hrs max i get everynight but its the only antidepressant i dont feel sick on my anxiety is off the scale due to lack of sleep