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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by flyingdreams on January 16, 2004, at 15:35:12
Depression - My Experience
Ok, yeh I got depressed and I needed medication, but for how long I ask you? 14 years? I don't think so. Trama happened in my life and I needed help. Medication was the answer according to the doctors. Ok, maybe so, or maybe I just needed alot of support people around me and shoulders to cry on? Or maybe meds for a year or so, but certainly not 14. Well that what the doctors lead me to believe. Well that's the past, bygones be bygones. Here and now, I'm finally getting off the anti-depressants (Prozac then Effexor). I am going thru withdrawls so bad that I feel like a drug addict getting off Cocaine or some other evil drug! Now, what does that tell you? This drug I've been taking for 14 yrs has done something really bad to my body! Doesn't take a genius to figure that one out! So all this time the doctors, and there have been a ton of them, have been telling me they are helping me? Well let's see. Before medication take a look at what I did: I flew a Cessna solo several times, I went to Europe for 14 days by myself and traveled 7 countries, I went to college by myself in another state, I made a good living for my age group. Now, take a look at what I do: nothing! In fact, going to the local store causes me great anxiety! Now it doesn't take a genius to figure out the medication is not helping, in fact it is doing quite the opposite! Only having been off the medication for a couple of days, I am now seeing this light. But I must say the fear and withdrawls are causing me temptation to go back on the medication. See this is what the doctors and drug companies are banking on. They know I will go back to their drugs as I have many times. They have made this medication addictive but claim it is not. It's all hush, hush. But I am living proof this is a lie. See this is not the first attempt at getting off these medications! So I am writing this in attempt to fight back, to let others know they are all lies, so you too can see the light I am finally seeing now. If only someone else had shown me this light, what would have come of the last 14 yrs for me? Look back to what I accomplished before medications! Just image what would have come of this person without medications? Now I'm trying to get back some of what I've lost. But I must say fear is coming, it has been so long that I've been really me. Who am I without medication? That's another thing robbed of me from meds, my memory, short and long time memory. The drug companies don't want you to know that. Now I must break, for a symptom of my withdrawls causes me to run to the bathroom. Ok, I'm back. Might I add, it's 5 in the morning and I haven't slept since the day before? Another withdrawl. Sleepy all day and insomnia when I'm suppose to be asleep. Two days before that I slept all day and all night. Withdrawls, they are hoping this will break me and cause me to go back to the expensive medications that the drug companies are getting rich off. Have I mentioned the price of these medications? Oh yeh, they are making a pretty penny off of many people putting these scare tactics into place. They are taking advantage of the weak. And lately, in recent years, the advertising on tv is discusting to say the very least. They are trying to make normal innocent people think they too are depressed and need medication! They are brainwashing millions of innocent tv viewers into this same trap I fell into 14 yrs ago. So pray for me, pray I get over the withdrawls, pray I can get thru it and have the confidence to be the real me once again. The me I was 14 yrs ago. That I can remember who that was. The memory is such a weak one. Will it come back? Or have they caused me brain damage too? Oh yeh, that's another thing they don't want you to know. Another hush, hush. Who knows what these drugs do long term. Pray for me and I'll pray that you too can see the light.... May you be blessed, healthy, happy and drug free! No more "happy" pills for me!
Posted by Nanter1 on January 16, 2004, at 16:00:40
In reply to Depression - My Experience, posted by flyingdreams on January 16, 2004, at 15:35:12
Flying dreams:
I've been med free for about 6 months after having been on meds for about 8 years.
My short term and long term memory are abysmal, and don't seem to be improving. I've read numerous accounts of people unable to recover their memory after cessation of the drugs. Here's hoping we regain at least some of it.
Best of luck. I finally decided I'm unwilling to do further damage. Here's hoping that the damage I *did* do isn't too extensive or completely irreversible.
Keep us up to date on how you do.
-Luke
Posted by flyingdreams on January 16, 2004, at 16:28:31
In reply to Re: Depression - My Experience, posted by Nanter1 on January 16, 2004, at 16:00:40
Thanks for the response!
Congrats on being drug free for 6 months!!!
Yeh, I think I'd give it at least a year to get our memories back. After all after surgery, it usually takes an entire year for the body to heal completely. So I would think the same could be said for drugs.
Wendy
> Flying dreams:
>
> I've been med free for about 6 months after having been on meds for about 8 years.
>
> My short term and long term memory are abysmal, and don't seem to be improving. I've read numerous accounts of people unable to recover their memory after cessation of the drugs. Here's hoping we regain at least some of it.
>
> Best of luck. I finally decided I'm unwilling to do further damage. Here's hoping that the damage I *did* do isn't too extensive or completely irreversible.
>
> Keep us up to date on how you do.
>
> -Luke
>
Posted by PoohBear on January 16, 2004, at 17:39:52
In reply to Re: Depression - My Experience, posted by flyingdreams on January 16, 2004, at 16:28:31
My memory has actually improved with the addition of an antidepressant.
TR
Posted by JohnFromCalifornia on January 16, 2004, at 19:51:25
In reply to Re: Depression - My Experience, posted by Nanter1 on January 16, 2004, at 16:00:40
Luke, do you drink alcohol? That messes up your short-term memory big-time. So does Lorazepam, by the way. Apparently it DOES come back when you quit.
For some people these drugs (SSRIs) seem to have a benefit. I'm not one of them. I too am in the process of kicking (Lexapro), and it's a lot tougher than withdrawing from opiate pain medications!
My doctor, who is pretty good in general, gave me NO warning about SSRI withdrawals. But then, doctors have not the slightest idea of how to treat depression for the most part. Prescribing SSRIs indiscriminately is not a conspiracy on their part so much as ignorance I feel. (Pharmaceutical companies, different story!)
Posted by AreMedsGood on January 17, 2004, at 1:28:57
In reply to Re: Depression - My Experience, posted by flyingdreams on January 16, 2004, at 16:28:31
I wish doctors and pschycotherapists would be more informative when it comes to these drugs. My doctor seems to look at it as a business deal, in that, now I am a regular patient of his. This would improve his business profits
This is the end of the thread.
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