keeping thinking I need another med

[matthew T]

As I lower and taper lexapro, as depression comes, I keep thinking that maybe I should be on some sort of AD drug. I keep thinking just try something else, it works for millions of others.
I know its false thinking, but when I need relief, it gets tempting to ask dr for something else.
I mean, I did have depression [ no t the suicidal thoughts that lexapro has brought on] prior to lexapro, so wont I have depression once off lexapro. I am in CBT, it is helpfull, but i do not get full benifit of it while on lexapro,
I just do not find pleasure in anything since on lexapro..

[babs]

Matthew that's just your depression talking. It's very normal to be thinking that way, because you are desperate for relief. But if you've read around here at all, you must know that AD's are at best a short term solution and have the potential to make things a lot worse for you. None of them cures depression, all they are is a band-aid, and one that may very well not work for you anyway. Let your body heal, and stick with the CBT so you have some coping tools to deal with depression relapses once you are med-free.

[rob.pow]

Hey... i'm feeling exactly (symptom wise... flat as a tack etc.) the same way. Just have to remind myself continuosly that it'll pass. I think about maybe i 'need' meds. Then remember that though i've come a long way with this taper.... it's not over and there's gonna be another chapter after zero to deal with. We'll get there...! Stay Tuff.. Rob

[Songbird]

Read the book 'Healing Without Freud or Prozac' by David Servan-Schreiber. Meds are not the only option for depression. But remember, lexapro w/d is also contributing.

[pboy]

The thing is, if Lexapro did this to you, even if you tried another med, it might have the same effect. And then you'd have to search for another med...which also might not work. Basically you'd be using meds to ease depression CAUSED by other meds.

I have heard of many people who go on meds, come off them, get depressed again, and go back on because they think they need to be.

It's just replacing the original problem that caused you to go on meds with even bigger problems. I originally started on SSRis to ease my social anxiety, but it actually made it worse long-term (and my depression). What I really needed was to see a good therapist, get some good treatment and be surrounded by encouraging supportive people.

You need to think longterm here. I too HATE the pain Im getting from Lexapro weaning, and many times I just think "I may aswell be on meds for life since my life is basically over". But the truth is, meds don;t seem to work, and longterm will certainly not give you a quality life.

Anyway I think you've done amazingly with your taper!! I think that at 5mg you may want to take it slower. I'm now at 4.2mg Lexapro and from here on will only be dropping by 0.2mg. As I get lower I may only drop by 0.1mg. The reason you're feeling depressed could be from dropping too fast. I have noticed that I have periods after dropping my dose where I feel really depressed, tearful and think "whats the point?!!" but then maybe the next week...I'll feel ok. If I had dropped faster than 0.2, I think it would have been a LOT worse. I know it can be heartbreaking to taper so slowly, you feel as if you're chained to a big ugly monster. But, in order to live an ok life as you taper, you need to do it slowly. I can still manage to shop and see my friends, which I doubt I would if I dropped too fast or cold-turkeyed.

Hang in there and keep posting on here, we'll support you all the way.

[matthew T]

Originally Posted by pboy

The thing is, if Lexapro did this to you, even if you tried another med, it might have the same effect. And then you'd have to search for another med...which also might not work. Basically you'd be using meds to ease depression CAUSED by other meds.

I have heard of many people who go on meds, come off them, get depressed again, and go back on because they think they need to be.

It's just replacing the original problem that caused you to go on meds with even bigger problems. I originally started on SSRis to ease my social anxiety, but it actually made it worse long-term (and my depression). What I really needed was to see a good therapist, get some good treatment and be surrounded by encouraging supportive people.

You need to think longterm here. I too HATE the pain Im getting from Lexapro weaning, and many times I just think "I may aswell be on meds for life since my life is basically over". But the truth is, meds don;t seem to work, and longterm will certainly not give you a quality life.

Anyway I think you've done amazingly with your taper!! I think that at 5mg you may want to take it slower. I'm now at 4.2mg Lexapro and from here on will only be dropping by 0.2mg. As I get lower I may only drop by 0.1mg. The reason you're feeling depressed could be from dropping too fast. I have noticed that I have periods after dropping my dose where I feel really depressed, tearful and think "whats the point?!!" but then maybe the next week...I'll feel ok. If I had dropped faster than 0.2, I think it would have been a LOT worse. I know it can be heartbreaking to taper so slowly, you feel as if you're chained to a big ugly monster. But, in order to live an ok life as you taper, you need to do it slowly. I can still manage to shop and see my friends, which I doubt I would if I dropped too fast or cold-turkeyed.

Hang in there and keep posting on here, we'll support you all the way.

thanks for the encouragement. I assume you are usng liquid paxil?
what strengh, was it compounded? where did you get it? do you get waves of depression,?

[pboy]

Originally Posted by matthew T

thanks for the encouragement. I assume you are usng liquid paxil?
what strengh, was it compounded? where did you get it? do you get waves of depression,?

No, I get Lexapro in 5mg tablets. I crush them with a pill crusher, and mix the powder with 5ml of juice. I then use a liquid measuring syringe, and remove 0.8ml of the juice/lexapro mixture to leave me with 4.2ml Lexapro/juice mix.

After I reduce my dose, I go from feelings of mania and anxiety, where I cant settle down, to periods of intense depression where I cry a lot and my mind fills with lots of negative memories and feelings, where I cant see the future and just want an end to the suffering. Luckily, these periods dont last forever and I feel more stable afterwards. It seems that its usually 5 days after the dose reduction where I get the bad feelings, and then by the third week after, I feel more stable and ok.

[denguefever]

Hi Matthew

Have you thought about trying T3? It's bioidentical active thyroid hormone and used by some psychiatrists to treat depression, particularly the resistant kind.

It is supposed to improve clarity of thought, cognition etc. so it might be helpful particularly as Paxil messes with your thyroid anyway. I actually took and it boosted my mood tremendously. But the downside is it's expensive so I stopped. I'm on a small amount now and it's still helping.

dengue

[scotia21]

Matthew - anybody who has tapered from an and had withdrawal knows exactly what you are going through. The thoughts of "maybe I am somebody who really needs these meds" is very normal. I had them and I am sure that a lot of other people have too. Looking for an answer in another pill is NOT the answer. You don't know what another med would really do to you and it could just make things worse. Keep up the CBT, take the tapering slow, and be kind to yourself. Please, please, please do NOT add another med (including supplements) to what you are taking now.

[matthew T]

Originally Posted by scotia21

Matthew - anybody who has tapered from an and had withdrawal knows exactly what you are going through. The thoughts of "maybe I am somebody who really needs these meds" is very normal. I had them and I am sure that a lot of other people have too. Looking for an answer in another pill is NOT the answer. You don't know what another med would really do to you and it could just make things worse. Keep up the CBT, take the tapering slow, and be kind to yourself. Please, please, please do NOT add another med (including supplements) to what you are taking now.

Please xplain about not adding suppliments?
fish oil is ok correct?
I take a boat load of suppliments daily, name the ones that are ok or not ok

[scotty]

Originally Posted by matthew T

I take a boat load of suppliments daily, name the ones that are ok or not ok

What are you taking?

[nickels]

Matthew, I'd wait till you were off meds completely and stabilized before you make the decision to take another AD. Continue with the CBT therapy and try to read some of the books that were suggested here for additional methods of dealing with your original depression. The way you feel now is not how you will feel once you are med free...it won't be instant, but its something that I can guarantee.

I often thought the same thing at times and wondered if I was just one of those people who would just need meds. I had anxiety prior to meds and yes, its still present, but not constant, like it was while I was tapering. The depression I had while in withdrawal was the worst of my side effects, but the further out I get from meds, the better I feel. Of course I have bouts of depression now, but its temporary and not even a fraction of the severity of the medically induced kind.

BTW, I found fish oil to be very helpful with mood and cognitive function, if you don't feel as if its giving you a reaction or side effect, then I would continue it. JMO

[luc]

Matthew! You're in the tapering now. It will get better! Don't switch one med for the other. You WILL heal. I know it takes time, but you WILL heal.

[pboy]

Originally Posted by nickels

BTW, I found fish oil to be very helpful with mood and cognitive function, if you don't feel as if its giving you a reaction or side effect, then I would continue it. JMO

Really? Ive been taking fish oil since the start of all this and cant say Ive noticed many benefits, but then again maybe I'd feel worse if I wasn't taking any at all.

Was the difference very noticeable when you started taking it? And how much do you take? I keep wondering about fish oil, maybe I'm not taking enough, or maybe it just doesnt work for me.

[scotia21]

Originally Posted by matthew T

Please xplain about not adding suppliments?
fish oil is ok correct?
I take a boat load of suppliments daily, name the ones that are ok or not ok

I tried to take fish oil and vitamin B6 and they both made my anxiety so bad that I wanted to claw my own skin off and my insomnia was the worst it has ever been. After that I decided not to try any more supplements and have done pretty good. I don't think that there is a supplement or vitamin out there that can't be found in a healthy, balanced diet.

[nickels]

Originally Posted by pboy

Really? Ive been taking fish oil since the start of all this and cant say Ive noticed many benefits, but then again maybe I'd feel worse if I wasn't taking any at all.

Was the difference very noticeable when you started taking it? And how much do you take? I keep wondering about fish oil, maybe I'm not taking enough, or maybe it just doesnt work for me.

You want to buy a good quality fish oil, not all are the same (make sure its molecularly distilled)...I also took it along with 400IU of Vitamin E b/c its supposed to help it work better. For me (and I know that everyone has different opinions on this) I made sure to at least get 1000mg of EPA per day. I found a brand that took only 2 pills to acheive this...I didn't like taking so many fish pills...led to fish burps.

I started taking it mid-way through my taper and after about a month or so, I noticed a difference....could be b/c I started it when I felt my worst. Either way, I don't think it can hurt to continue taking it.

Originally Posted by scotia21

I tried to take fish oil and vitamin B6 and they both made my anxiety so bad that I wanted to claw my own skin off and my insomnia was the worst it has ever been. After that I decided not to try any more supplements and have done pretty good. I don't think that there is a supplement or vitamin out there that can't be found in a healthy, balanced diet.

I agree with what you are saying for the most part. But, some of us here have deficiencies...for example, there are a bunch of members with VitD insufficiency (myself included) and personally, I was finding it hard to get it in my diet and with sun exposure. I'm not on a supplement for it now b/c of being pregnant, and I really do think that some of my muscle aches could be a result of still being low in D. I also don't really eat enough fish in my diet to get the maximum benefits that are in fish oil.

With that said, if you can't tolerate them...than thats a whole 'nother story. (this coming from someone who isn't even taking pre-natals b/c I can't tolerate B-vitamins!)

[LCrawford67]

Originally Posted by nickels

I agree with what you are saying for the most part. But, some of us here have deficiencies...for example, there are a bunch of members with VitD insufficiency (myself included) and personally, I was finding it hard to get it in my diet and with sun exposure. I'm not on a supplement for it now b/c of being pregnant, and I really do think that some of my muscle aches could be a result of still being low in D. I also don't really eat enough fish in my diet to get the maximum benefits that are in fish oil.

With that said, if you can't tolerate them...than thats a whole 'nother story. (this coming from someone who isn't even taking pre-natals b/c I can't tolerate B-vitamins!)

I agree 100%. If everyone ate a healthy, well balanced diet; supplements wouldn't be needed and people wouldn't have deficiencies. Fact is, 98% do not. This has nothing to do with ever taking medication. Not all obesity and diabetes are related to SSRI use. We're a lazy, fast food, processed food, huge portions society and our diet is very unhealthy.

As well as I eat, I know I don't get enough fish oil, Vitamin D, C, etc., which is why I take, and will always take, vitamins and supplements. Not tolerating them, is a whole 'nother story, though.

[matthew T]

Originally Posted by scotty

What are you taking?

b 12 shot
vit d lots of it liquid form
fish oils
all other vitamins I cant remember, wife gives them to me

testosterone replacement therapy [ helps body alot]
HCG [ Keeps testis full size , since there not making testosterone ]

thyroid
synthroid and
natural thyroid [ armour]