Posted by saintjames on April 23, 1999, at 12:24:51
In reply to withdrawal symtoms vs. depression symptoms, posted by ruth on April 23, 1999, at 8:38:56
> Hi,
>
> I've posted earlier about struggling with the question
> of whether to continue to take meds, or to go off
> meds and see if I can manage my depression on my own.
> I have mild depression and
> been on meds pretty consistently for four years,
> and initially saw it as a temporary thing to help me
> out of my rut and regain some balance. Here's what
> confuses me though: how can I tell the difference
> between what seem like withdrawal symptoms (weepiness,
> irritability, anger, fatique, unable to concentrate)
> from the symptoms of depression, which are also similar?
> If it is indeed withdrawal, how long should I wait to
> see if the symptoms fade? I don't want to wait too
> long, in case it's really that I'm sinking deeper into
> depression, but I also don't want to be impatient if
> maybe it's just a withdrawal period that I need to
> wait out, and get through. Can anyone share their
> symptoms of withdrawal from meds (ssri's) with me, and
> tell me what it was like for them? Or any experience
> that resonates with mine? I'm really confused--I want
> to give going off meds a fair chance, but I also don't
> want to be dumb about it.
James here...If you taper the dose slowly enough you will not have "withdrawal" (this is not really withdrawal abd AD's are not addictive, but I can see how this name fits as well as any) Most SSRI are very long lived so you come off the med slowly.
Anything that happens mood wise 1-2 months after stoping the med has nothing to do with the med.
I hope you are making this decision in concert with your doc.
james
poster:saintjames
thread:5208
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990401/msgs/5219.html