Posted by Racer on July 22, 1999, at 23:20:51
In reply to Scared already..., posted by Joanne on July 22, 1999, at 21:21:57
I've gotten off anti-depressants, for years at a time, with no bad effects - except that eventually the depression comes back.
On the other hand, for years at a time, I haven't needed the drugs. Don't be too scared, because you can make the problem you fear come to be. The drug companies do have compassionate programs, so you should be able to get the drugs, and if you don't, you may find that you're fine without them.
As I understand it, the drugs correct the chemical imbalance, and once it's truly stable, you won't need the drugs anymore until/unless the balance is thrown off again down the line. I've read that 2 years is the minimum to be on the drugs at an effective dose before you can get off, and that stopping within that time can make you more prone to relapse, though. Maybe someone else here has read the same information and can throw some more light on it for you.
Good luck, though, and drat those lousy insurance companies, anyway. It can't be therapeutic to scare the daylights out of you this way, after all!
poster:Racer
thread:9118
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990628/msgs/9128.html