10 February 2009

Green and yellow, but definitely not blue.

Over christmas I made a rather subconscious decision to stop taking Fluoxetine. Not particularly wise given it was Christmas time, but as I say, it was subconscious.

I had them with me, I just didn't take them for no particular reason.

I've been managing fine from a drop of 40mg to 0mg, yet the last two weeks seem to have pushed me too far.

I'm starting to recognise where I was in the first year when I started them in the first place, and I'm not sure what to do.

Do I start taking them again or bear it out? Part of me wants to avoid my GP and the 'I told you so' face, not to mention I can't get an appointment for 12 days with my normal Prozac GP.

What would you do?

8 comments:

The Shrink said...
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The Shrink said...

Start 'em.

Unless you're clear that there's a better way to get back on track.

Being depressed is bad. Partly because you don't cope so well. Partly because you don't function so well. Partly because you won't perform so well. Partly because your life's passing you by in a manner that's less vibrant and rich as it should be. But mostly being depressed is bad because depression harms you. Being stressed causes excessive catecholamine release, which is neurotoxic.

So each and every day you're really fraught and frazzled, you're poisoning your brain. Much badness.

The answer may be tablets. It may be time with mates. It may be talking therapy. It may be a break. It may be distraction/immersion in something. I don't know what works for you.

But I'd wish for you to go for a solution that works for you, rather than just leave it, and if the solution that works for you includes tablets, then I'd be the firstin line to get back on 'em.

Eclipse said...

I had a friend at uni. She was in a pretty bad place and used to try cutting down on her tabs cos she didn't really like the idea of being on them. When she did finally come off them, albeit very slowly and under doctors advice, she did say the hardest bit was the last 50mg. Maybe you should go back on them and reduce the amount you take bit by bit (yeah I know this involves taking quarter tablets which is a pain.), especially if you recognise yourself going back to the same place that caused you to be on them in the first place. I think you should go see your doctor and ask him/her to help take you off them.

Dragonfly said...

Sometimes it is worse not to be on medication then not to be on medication and need to be. If it was anti epilepsy medication noone would argue about it. If you feel uncomfortable about it because of the stigma, please still take them if they are what you need, just only tell people you are comfortable telling if and when it is necessary. Hang in there.

Anonymous said...

Take them. Between 2002-2008 I was on and off all kinds of pretty coloured tablets for depression. Just looking at the tablets provoked all kinds of emotions, mainly they infuriated and frustrated me. It seemed like everyone else in the world could function without medication, so why couldn't I?

The only way I've been able to stay off medication is to take it. Crazy, huh?

The last two years on medication were the hardest because I felt well, stable and content. I reckon it was those last two years that have enabled me to enjoy being medication free for the last 11 months (and counting!).

Take care Merys.

Helen

Anonymous said...

Personally, I'd start 'em again, but maybe only 20mg...

IMO, it might be that you need to keep taking it, but maybe not at the higher dose? You can always change your mind again later?

I hope you have whatever support you need in the mean time... and it's prob worth atleast mentioning it to your GP!

Laters... Lou

Anonymous said...

I'd go back on them. University is hard enough without an unmaintained medical condition to deal with.

ambrosen said...

I take antidepressants, and I have to say, probably because I have other tablets I need to take every morning, I can't think of the last time I gave a second thought about taking them. It's no failure to take pills, and no big deal, and no more faking it than all the other things that take away the life or death stressors whose absence gives an environment for depression to flourish, like a ready food supply, central heating and general abstraction from the nitty-gritty life or death matters of survival.