There has been so much press lately about the most popular anti-depressants being over-prescribed. I found myself in the thick of this debate because two months ago I decided to begin tapering off my anti-depressant - an SSRI or serotonin reuptake inhibitor. I have been using this medication for eight years and lately I have noticed that I feel worse than I ever have in my entire life. I was prescribed this medication because of chronic migraines and the depression that comes along with that condition. What I finally realized is that the medication was actually making me feel worse than the migraines. A trusted healthcare provider told me years ago that getting off an SSRI was as about as bad as withdrawing from heroin. I didn't believe him. Now I do.
Tapering is the Key
I made the mistake of cutting my 40 mg (the highest level of Celexa you can take) to 20 mg a day. For six weeks I was on an emotional roller coaster with mood swings, severe insomnia and just plain panic. I began to do research and found a few sites that discussed this topic as the "anti-depressant discontinuation syndrome." While experiencing all the side effects of withdrawal, I also felt better than I had in years. I had more energy, more joy, and my zest for life had come back full force. I was doing things and going places and actually living again. I was writing again, able to concentrate for hours at a time and appreciating (or not) my relationships with my family and friends.
During my research I learned that SSRI's can actually cause a lot of medical problems, including sleep disorders, brain ticks, and a multitude of medical problems ranging from gastrointestinal to lymphatic. This means if you started taking a SSRI because you are depressed over a physical problem, it can manifest those problems and make you feel worse in the long run. People who have been taking SSRI's for a long time (like me) usually end up on sleep medication and some type of anti-convulsant drug due to these side effects and this is exactly what happened to me and what I am afraid is happening to a lot of people on these drugs.
The best source for information I found was at a book titled, "How to Get Off Celexa Safely," written by James Harper who is a nationally known speaker and author of the breakthrough book "How to Get Off Psychiatric Drugs Safely." He has tailored a book for other SSRI's as well such as Lexapro, Zoloft, etc. I do not work for Mr. Harper, nor do I advocate his products, however, the book was of tremendous use to me and I ordered the supplements and I have used them with success. I would highly recommend using this book as a resource and to talk to your doctor about it.
It's been two months and I'm still working to get off the rest of this medication. I now understand that this is a very slow process and it. That's what I want you to know if you are reading this. I didn't get into this overnight and I won't be able to get off these medications overnight. Neither can you.
The Dementor Drug
I have started calling SSRI's "the dementor drug." This is a reference to the Harry Potter ghoul that puts its mouth on yours and sucks the happiness and your soul from your body. They are soul-sucking drugs and they will steal your joy of life and your health away. I do not want to negate their effect for people who are psychotic or bi-polar, etc. but for the rest of us, which I believe is the majority, these drugs are simply bad medicine.
Consult Your Doctor
The first thing that anyone will tell you to do before starting to discontinue an SSRI is to consult your doctor, and while I respect my doctor's opinion, most doctors are not equipped to help you. From additional research, I have learned that most doctors are under the false impression that these drugs do no harm. My beloved doctor once switched me willy-nilly to another medication without so much of a blink of an eye - and it almost killed me.
So, yes, talk to your doctor, if they don't know how to help you get off an SSRI, find a doctor who does, there are plenty of good doctors who see this as a real problem. Once you have worked out a plan to taper off the medication, know that the withdrawal symptoms do pass and you can live a happy and productive life with the normal highs and lows.
Today, I am off almost all the medications, the migraines have subsided for the first time in 20 years due to bio-identical hormone therapy and I'm living a full life. My husband recently told me, "I finally have my wife back."
Pam Gersh is a public relations consultant and freelance writer with 20+ years of experience. Gersh formed her own company in 2000 and has worked with a variety of clients in diverse industries to build successful public relations and media relations programs. She is also a prolific writer who writes on a vast array of topics. Her goal is to help small to medium-size businesses get the recognition they deserve and to educate consumers about everyday issues. You can reach her at http://www.gershpr.com
- Related Videos
- Related Articles
- Ask / Related Q&A
- Are Antidepressants For Depression The Right Decision
- New Medications For Depression: Old Methods Give Way To The New
- Do You Know The Types Of Depression Medication?
- Treating Depression With Antidepressants
- Zoloft: A Proven Treatment for Depression in Adults
- Wellbutrin: A Safe and Effective Depression Medication
- Pros and Cons of Taking Medication for Manic Depression
- St. John's Wort for Treating Depression
HealthSource Chris Tomshack | The Best Treatments for a Herniated Disc
By: Mike McCoy | 11/12/2009HealthSource, Christopher Tomshack Present Pain And Back Pain With Today's Topic, "The Best Treatments for a Herniated Disc." For More Information Go Tohttp://www.HeatlhSourceChiro.com
A New Approach to Cure Stress That Can Change Your Life Forever!
By: T S Gill | 10/12/2009This article reveals the truth about stress and guides how you can cure it fast and naturally.
Remember Smoking That First Cigarette
By: Ira Collins | 10/12/2009Smoking is one of the commonest habits in the world, one of the worst habits that anybody could ever take up - once you start, you'll want to stop smoking before you know it. When you find out about all the crazy chemicals that are contained in cigarettes (no, they're not organic!) and how they can cause lung cancer, other cancers,together with an array of other deadly health issues, it causes one to wonder why an individual would ever start smoking. Well there are quite a few d...
Livestrong Treadmill Review - Are Livestrong Treadmills Right For You?
By: Vienna Miller | 10/12/2009Thinking about a Livestrong treadmill? Wondering if they're a good fit for you? Livestrong is one of the newest treadmill brands on the market. Livestrong also produces elliptical trainers and exercise bikes. Endorsed by super-athlete Lance Armstrong, part of the proceeds from the sale of these treadmills go to the Livestrong Foundation. This...
What is Axillary Hyperhidrosis?
By: Colin Craig | 10/12/2009Axillary Hyperhidrosis is the medical name for suffering from an excessive sweating of the armpits. Each form of hyperhidrosis has its own name such as palmar hyperhidrosis for the hands and plantar hyperhidrosis for the feet. People who suffer from this axillary hyperhidrosis suffer the embarrassment of wet, sweaty patches on their clothing as well as sweat stains on their clothes.
Weeding Out A Marijuana Addiction
By: Colin Craig | 10/12/2009There is no magical way to stop smoking weed, no pills that need to be taken every few hours every day for a month, no injections, but despite how easy the answer is the task of quitting can be rather difficult and many people who smoke marijuana and want to quit can find that the stress of quitting can make them want to smoke even more.
Tips to Keep Away From Dark Circles Under Your Eyes
By: Colin Craig | 10/12/2009Many people thousands of years ago were searching for the secret to true beauty, today there are just as many people still doing this and in the future the trend is sure to continue. Every woman out in the world no matter where she is or what kind of life she leads, wants to be desired by someone.
Tips To Help You Stop Underarm Sweating Problems
By: Colin Craig | 10/12/2009There is one main question on the minds of people who suffer from underarm sweating and that is how to stop underarm sweating. Te ac of sweating is caused by the body responding defensively to a trigger which is either psychological or physical such as overheating. When your body temperature is raised higher and higher you begin to sweat as an automatic bodily response in order to cool your skin down and lower your body temperature.