Hello...I'm new here....looking for support...
 

Has anybody here been on Effexor for anxiety/depression? I am going off of it and in some desperate need of some moral support. Right now, after being completely off since Sunday, I am having bad "brain jolts", dizziness, etc. I've been weaning off from 300mg down to 0mg since January.

Check your private messages.

(thread moved to health)

welcome to the club

Those are withdrawl symptoms. You can't just stop taking the drug, you have to slowly wean off of it over a period of weeks. See a doc if you have one.

Der, I missed the withdrawl bit in the original post sorry

Good luck.

Why are you quiting? Dr.'s advice? Not prying just interested. I've never taken an antidepressant except for a brief trial period. I hear a lot of folks say they feel MUCH better after stopping these drugs. One friend said he had taken his for years and had he known how much better he would feel, would have quit a lot sooner.
Stay in touch with your Dr. is my advice. I think the less medication we take the better off we are. Since I quit going to the VA hosp. I have dropped from 7 scpripts to 2 full time and 1 part time. I can tell a difference.

Thanks, Capnhowdy...

I decided to go off the medication because I feltmuch better and I didn't like the side effects. I have the support of my Dr. and my husband. It's been a long and sometimes frustrating road since starting tapering off in January. In the past six months I've gone from 300mg down to 0mg. I'd have to say that the worst has been this past week after dropping down to 0mg. I think my body is still craving the benefits of the medication. Today, though, I'm not as dizzy as yesterday, but had bad anxiety this morning and have been extremely tired. I agree with you that we are better off if we can get by with little or no medication at all. Thanks for the support!

Effexor has *nasty* sexual side effects. They affect some people more than others.

Huh, go figure. I was just gonna post a thread about antidapressant meds. Welcome GC'68, thanks for posting and good luck.

I have been on Zoloft for 5+ years. Within the last 6-8 mo it seems to have quit working despite playing with the dosage and trying to make some lifestyle changes. So, I finally saw a new doc, and as of this morning am trying out Lexapro. I was just wondering if anyone had any experience with this, and what their opinion was. I will keep this updated if anyone wishes to hear my experience. Thanks!

Effexor (continued....)
 

Hello LabRat...

thanks for the input and welcome. I, too, was on Zoloft for a couple years. Then I was off it for a couple years before having a rough time with anxiety. My doctor then put me on Effexor. It helped tremendously with the anxiety and all. I hated the side effects, though. Weight gain, little or no sex drive, jitters and shakes, headaches, and what some people call "brain jolts". I haven't found a real good way to describe the "brain jolts" to people who haven't experienced them. It's along the lines of dizziness, but different. They cause a feeling of sudden movement and sudden stops. They make my eyes, hands and face tingle for a couple seconds at a time with about 15 seconds or so between the "jolts". Really something that one has to experience to understand. Today, I'm feeling quite a bit better with fewer, less intense "jolts" and stomach isn't so upset. But, I noticed this morning and last night that I'm getting real "bitchy" and trying to not show it. For instance...my husband made a comment last night about a "project" of mine. I have things that I make and sell on-line and I ship them in a small box. I prefer to do that because I don't want to take the chance of them getting mangled in the mail by shipping them in a padded envelope. Well, every time he sees me packaging up a shipment he ALWAYS makes the comment "isn't there a different way to ship those?" and I ALWAYS explain why I ship them in a box. So last night when I was boxing up a package he made that comment again. I think I kept my cool pretty well. I said with a smile "you don't like the box...do you." He said "it just seems like overkill to send it in a box. I just thought there might be another less expensive way." I told him, like I've told him time and time again, that it costs the same to send it in a small box as it does to send it in a padded envelope. I said "i've explained over and over why I ship in a box and still every time you see me package an order up you make that comment." Plus...he is the "weed police" as I call it. We'll be in the yard and I'll point out some flowers that are coming up in the flower beds that I've worked so hard on and he'll say they are pretty and point out a weed. Or in the garden I've planted (he usually does the veggie garden, but he has other things going on this year so I'm doing one) I pointed out how the plants are starting to come up and he points out weeds that I need to take care of. It just seems like lots of negatives that I don't need right now. It would be much better to hear "the flowers are sure pretty", "the garden is doing good", and "that's a great way to ship your product."

Sorry for going off on a tangent. Kind of got off the subject there for a minute.

Half of my coworkers are taking Lexapro. They seem to be doing okay with it, and much prefer life with vs. without. Sorry I can't be more specific than that ... I'd ask them, but I'm on vacation and don't have the usual level of access. If I remember, I'll ask them when I get back in.

half of mine should be taking it.

Hi there -- I just joined today after checking the place out.

I've been on Lexapro for 3 1/2 years. It has worked wonderfully for me and I haven't experienced any sexual side effects. I started on 10 mg per day and that seemed to be just the right dosage for me. My teenage niece, however, is up to 40 mg per day. You'll have to see what works for you.

Good luck!:)

Ain't that the truth!!:right:

I hate to admit this, because this is more revealing than I usually am on the cellar, but I have taken Effexor, and yes, I gained weight, had "brain jolts" as you call them and had a horrible time getting off it. The "brain jolts" are unbearable when they occur every 5 seconds. Like you, I got down to 0 from 300 and couldn't stand it. I even got to the point where I was counting granules to ease myself off as slowly as possible, but it was still awful. Sometimes, I would get myself drunk, just to soften the withdrawals...it helped a little. Finally. after having tried for several months to get off the stuff, I made a gradual switch to zoloft and then a gradual switch to Welbutrin and then off Welbutrin. This method worked for me, because moving to a different medication didn't cause the withdrawal symptoms and getting off Welbutrin wasn't difficult for me. Yes, Effexor also caused ugly side effects for me, and I have heard this about a lot of other people using the drug. Sex drive suffered, too. I feel much better, now, not being medicated at all. It has been several months since I got off anti-depressants and I have lost the weight I had gained while taking them and feel good. I think they were helpful in some ways, but I wouldn't do it again, just due to the side effects.

I have a close friend who took Lexapro. It worked well for him for a while, but wore off over time until he was at the max dose. Then it stopped "working". He finally just got off the drug. He had some of the same symptoms that I had with Effexor. I don't think they were nearly as strong as mine, though, from what he tells me. He gained weight on the medicine and found it extremely difficult to take the weight off. Once he stopped taking the medicine, his weight was as easily lost as it was before he took Lexapro.

I have known people that had no real trouble getting off these drugs or even taking them.

almost 2 weeks off of Effexor
 

Well....this Sunday will be two weeks since my very last dose of Effexor. I have felt good for the past week. Still get the "brain jolts" very rarely and they aren't as bad when they do happen. For the most part, I am feeling good. I have so much more energy now and I feel like I'm starting to lose the weight I gained.

I really appreciate all your support here. It's so comforting in an otherwise lonely situation of going off Effexor.

Thanks!
{{hugs}}

That's one thing about the Cellar that is unmatched in internetdom. Everyone here, it seems, has at least one notch in their belt from emerging victorious in their personal battle with some gawd-awful dragon.

Your personal victory is sufficient gratification. But, now that all you have to worry about is an 800 pound dragon carcass in your driveway, perhaps you can stay a bit and jump in a thread or two.

Personally, I'd be interested to hear more about Wyoming - a beautiful state from what I hear but I know very little about it.

:) Nice post

I actually hadn't noticed that, but it may well be true.

I thought that was just sardonic wit maggie.

Lexapro update.

Last Thursday was a 1 week check up with the doc after being on 5mg for 7 days. The only thing I noticed was several nights in a row of very vivid dreams that I remembered when I woke up. Nothing crazy, some slightly scary though. :3_eyes: I mentioned that to her, and she said that was a good sign that the serotonin was increasing in my brain. I didn't notice any other side effects. So, we went up to 10mg (official theraputic dose) starting last Friday. Saturday, my husband and I replaced a ceiling fan in our living room. We actually went to Menards, picked one out, took down the old one, then put up the new one and I never raised my voice or got any uptight tense feelings. In fact, he was the one who got testy a few times. :) I honestly don't think we have ever worked together that seamlessly ever. We've been married over 7 years.

The thing I have noticed now, though, is a headache back behind my ears about 9 hours after I take my pill. I am going to gradually take it a couple hours later, so that the headache would hit when I am asleep and see if that makes any difference. I am still having vivid dreams. Last night I was delivering pizza with Aston Kutcher. (That 70's Show, Demi Moores boy toy). He drove. I did the deliveries. WTF?! I have noticed that when I wake up, I actually feel RESTED, not like I was just hit by a truck. It's so much easier to get out of bed and get going. I ran in the morning for the first time in weeks yesterday. Another thing is that for forever, I could never find the right word when I was trying to talk (or post). It felt hard to think, and my concentration was getting worse and worse. It was taking me twice the effort to get the same amount of work done. At one point I actually wondered if I had a brain tumor. Seriously. I swear that my mind feels quicker. Not smarter, but quicker. When I need to do something, I just do it, I don't have to concentrate so long or hard. I don't think these things are placebo effects, I really think Zoloft either A. wasn't working, or B. was f-ing me up more. My next appointment is in another week or so. It's still early, but so far, aside from the headache, all I really have to say are positive things.

PS.
I'm glad to hear yu are feeling better, GC68! Check out the rest of the place!

Maybe. I was perhaps thinking only of the old skool Dwellars; most of whom have led interesting lives.

Then I wish they would come back and share.

Well, that's what archives are for. :-)

Also, the sharing of life stories here has been episodic, and driven by the topic under discussion.

I'm back at work and on the board after being diagnosed with depression and having been signed off since March. I've only just started on medication really, so I can't offer any relevant information on coming off it. Just didn't want to start a new thread specifically to talk about me!

I was started on fluoxetine in March and after a week things had gone downhill so badly that I spent half the night on the phone to the Samaritans. Lovely chap called Tim with a down to earth Blackburn accent reassured me that the beds on mental health wards were far too full for them to section people who could still talk as rationally as I did. Fortunately for him the sun comes up early in Spring, and I could cope better by then!

Am now on paroxetine hycrochloride 20mg and it is working much better. I am over the side effects mostly, just twitching occasionally. Would rather have kept the loss of appetite! The fact that I am capable of coming into the workplace shows that it must be working, otherwise I'd still be catatonic on my sofa, but it's taking a lot of effort. I had hoped the drugs would suddenly kick in and I would no longer have to fight apathy to do even simple things like maintain personal hygiene, but it seems to be small steps uphill at present. Just have to keep reminding myself that even small steps are steps.

Glad to be back for the intelligence, the wit and the irreverance as much as the support. You folks got a good place here.

Welcome back Sundae Girl. I had wondered at one point where you had gone. Obviously, I had no idea you were going through such a rough time. I'm glad you are feeling well enough that you are able to function, and hope things continue to improve for you. Here's some good vibes for you.

It'll take quite some time for the full effects to kick in. You'll know it's working when you find the world colorful again.

A large percentage of Paroxetine users find they have no sense of hunger while on the drug. If you thought there might be a link between depression and hunger imbalance, there it is in the brain chemistry.

I'm so glad Sundae Girl is back! I so missed her! (She's really my long lost twin in England) Here's a hug and good vibes your way, Sundae. Two mantra's that have been a bit of help to me: "This too shall pass", and, "I won't feel this way forever!"

:welcome: back!

Welcome back, I am glad that you are doing a little better. I hope things keep getting better!! My :2cents: is this: After awhile, if you aren't doing as well as you think you should be, don't be afraid to change meds. Each med works in a slightly different way, and one might be better than another. Get some honest imput from someone close to you if possible. I thought my old med was working OK, then just quit. Hubby told me nah, it hadn't been working for awhile, and you hit a big dip. I only really noticed the big dip. A new med, and I am back to 'normal'. So says hubby too.

Lexapro update: Week 3 @10mg. The dreams have tapered off a bit, though last night was another really crazy vivid one. Anorgasmia is a potential side effect, though since I rarely have a full blown orgasm I really have no opinion on this potential problem. The few times we have had intercourse I think I was thinking too much to really relax enough to enjoy it, so after a few more weeks I'll be better able to comment on this. No other side effects. Whoot!! Met with Doc this week, and we're going to stay here @10mg. Haven't had a menstral cycle since being on this, she said I may have a shallow dip during PMS, but as long as it's transient not to sweat it. I sometimes have some PMS (pre menstral shitties) when I am otherwise feeling peachy so I don't plan on getting too concerned.

Won't update again unless something develops. Good luck to everyone.

I'm on 450 mg wellbutrin XL. I was on prozac for YEARS but lately it makes me sooooooooo numb that I wonder which is worse--the depression or the numbness. Wellbutrin has a little norepi kick. I could, frankly, use more of a kick. Too bad cocaine isn't recommended for the 3pm blues. ;)

Well, I know nothing about that particular drug, but I have a little experience of Seroxat and prozac. I can say in my limited experience that all of these drugs carry their price and it tends to be exacted when it's withdrawn.

Stick around in the cellar if you can. We might not be physically present but we're with you in spirit. *hugs* you'll get through. You'll be stronger and better very soon.

Maybe talk to Wolf. She's our resident expert in all things psychi and whilst we often clash on politics I'd say she seems to know her stuff and has a whole boatload of empathy in such matters.

Wow.
I've been coming here for just a short time, and I can't get enough of the wit, and insight, and support, and intelligence...I could go on. I hadn't seen this thread until today.
I am taking Effexor and Welbutrin. Effexor was doing well for a while, but then I started having really bad depressive episodes again. If it had gone on, I was afraid my job would be in jeopardy, because at the same time it was very stressful and I couldn't keep a handle on my emotions.. Though my friends try to understand so many don't get it; I felt like a leper, though they did not view me as such.
I have been on Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil. Effexor had worked best for me, until recently. My doc gave me the option to up my Effexor scrip or add another, like a person not responding to blood pressure meds. I opted for adding Welbutrin. I'm doing pretty well.
The withdrawal effects of Effexor are just horrible. It has a half-life of less than a day, and I hadn't had it filled for a couple days and I was SO sick. I felt like I might die.
But I don't worry about having to wean myself off it. As my doc says, I'm "chronic" and will probably need antidepressants for the rest of my life. It's just who I am, and I don't feel ashamed of it. It's an illness like any other illness.
Of course, I have an ex-friend (whose favorite hobby is to get drunk with her husband and fight in public) who had the nerve to tell me she used to be on meds but she just made up her mind she didn't need them. Her husband says "it's just mind over matter." They, however, are uneducated, barely tolerable humans taking up space, so I just consider the source.
Thanks for a place to chat about this. It's nice to vent that now and then.

I have now been off Effexor for a little over a month. It's been kind of rough, but I don't want to go back on the medication. I'm now dealing with anxiety attacks in the mornings again....like I had before taking Effexor....which has brought back my irritable bowel (IBS) symptoms of upset stomach and frequent, urgent trips to the restroom (if you know what I mean). So mornings are pretty frustrating for me especially working a full time job from 8:00am-4. I'm doing some reading on alternative remedies such as exercise and breathing techniques. My mother and I joined Curves (a women's workout center) last year and I did real good. Then when I started going off the medication, I didn't feel like going. Now, I'm making myself go on a daily basis and I'm feeling a bit better. Exercise helps release a chemical called seretonin...which is lacking in people with depression/anxiety. So, it's been a long hard road, but I'm hanging in there. Thanks for all your support!

Sounds like an awful lot of suffering not to persist in finding a med that works for you.

It is a lot of suffering to go through rather than finding a med that will work for me, but I feel I will be better off once I get over all this withdrawal, etc., and can control it naturally through exercise, breathing techniques, etc. rather than depend on the medication. If all else fails, I will go back on some sort of med. I see my doc next month for a physical and will discuss it with him. I just feel that if I can control this naturally, I would rather do that than be on a medication.

Would you say that if you were diabetic? Just asking.

I've been taking Lexapro for three or four years, now. My wife says we'll go without food and shelter before she'd let my prescription lapse. FWIW, I take 20 mg once per day.

My problem was anger control. I got down and didn't realize it, and then was being pretty disagreeable as a result. Very, very negative. I can honestly say that Lexapro has made just about as positive a difference in my life as stopping daily boozing did.

I have spoken with several others who have this same experience, including greater energy, better rest, improved clarity of thought, etc. Good shit, Lexapro.

No, I would not. Because, with diabetes it's a life or death situation. My mother is diabetic. I know how that is. I'm just saying that I'm going to give the "natural way" a TRY. If it works, great! If not, I'll try something else. If at all possible, I just believe natural will be better for ME. I can't speak for anyone else. What ever works for an individual is what's best.

So good to hear all of this!
 

Hi....this is an old thread, is anyone here?

This was SUCH a good read for me today! I went off Lexapro (10 mg/daily) cold-turkey 2 weeks ago. I ran out...it seemed like it had stopped working anyway, I've gained an obscene amount of weight (which made me HATE myself) and just didn't want to take them anymore! So, right or wrong, I did it; perhaps it gave me a little feeling of control. NOW...I feel pretty good, I'm losing weight....but cannot sleep well and OH, so those are brain zaps, eh? Whoaaa, I've felt like Frances Farmer (okay, that's mean) and/or like I'm becoming senile!!!

As I said, it's been 2 weeks...am I in any danger? Any ideas as to how long this will continue, and/or if there's anything I can do to help this "detoxing" along?

Thank you all so very much....hoping to hear a response.
B.

Hi, B. Welcome.

You need to let a doctor take you off meds.--when and if and how should all be up to him/her, with your input, of course.

Go see your doc. ASAP.

Hi, and thank you!

But please, tell me why? I'm not a threat to myself or anyone....I've now been off for 2 weeks. Are there actual health reasons, or is this simply your personal opinion?

B.

It actually is my personal opinion, but it happens to be backed up by every medical study out there. You're not the doctor--you're the patient.
After two weeks off you might be done detoxing, but, maybe not. And, how do you know you won't have a relapse? Patients don't treat themselves--doctor's treat them. Let your doctor know.

I like the diabetes analogy. If you were diabetic and felt great, would you just take yourself off insulin without consulting your doc? No way. Same kinda thing here.

Hi hon;

Again, thank you for your 2 cents! I do appreciate your posting.

As I said, it really had ceased working anyway...and I will certainly know if my depression symptoms return (for me it was circumstantial depression for which I myself sought help rather then mental or emotional illness, referring to your concern of "relapse"). Sigh....I'll think about calling him, lol. I SO hated being tethered to meds, especially without the benefit of feeling better, you know?

Barbara

Hi Barbara. Welcome to the cellar. I lived in western NY most of my life. That's where my home is and where I consider home. I know Buffalo ( the largest suburb of Amherst, NY) extremely well.
I know that you are correct ( Brianna) in your reasoning. Still I enjoy people like Barbara who question conventional wisdom. If she feels good and can recognize it then let her go. Sadly, consulting a doctor can be a financial decision many of us are increasingly skipping.

Hi, Farfromhome;

I went to Amherst schools for 2 years - marvelous area, so different (much more $$) then ours in Kenmore!

Funny you mention the financial thing; actually, my doctor has given me samples since the beginning (that nasty singlemom/deadbeatdad/livinghandtomouth thing)...in spite of my appreciation, I really hated calling for more when I ran out. The real financial problems came when he tried to get me on something else; recognizing that the Lexapro was no longer working out, he sold me on another med (can't remember it now) - how it should be perfect for me. Then we found that my insurance wouldn't pay for that Rx; he didn't receive enough samples of it, I certainly couldn't afford it...I felt as if staying on the Lexapro was a sad consolation price....not the right reason to take such a chemical, in my mind.

(Brianna, I just now phoned my doctor to inquire about my safety in going off cold turkey...:o I'm a good girl!)

Still....I do want to know the answers to my initial Q's, if anyone can....I'm fascinated by these 'brain jolts'!

Have a great day, all! (bzzzzzp!)
Barbara

FLW--

Famous Last Words.

It is entirely possible that the brain jolts are artifacts of your neurochemistry trying to make do with the lower amount of serotonin available. I get dizzy and "zaps" when I miss a single day's dose, and if I go for two days, I'm not really very functional.

Most SRI's and other neuromeds require a slow taper to allow the body to adjust to the alteration in function caused by the lower med doses. I'd see my doc, seriously. Brain zaps ain't normal. Also, one of the most frequent things heard by head docs is "I don't need this stuff anymore". People who get to feeling better while on meds tend to think that they are now fine, and stop taking the stuff. This is pretty much counterintuitive and is a false impression. Usually, they're better *because* they're taking the drugs...

mmmmm... Ga., eh......

welcome, B.S..... we need all the help we can get.

* wonders why I have hangover even tho I didn't attend the 'Redneck Games'. *

Dear Elspode;

Yes...that explanation makes great sense. No, brain zaps aren't normal but they certainly seem symptomatic of Lexapro withdrawal, as you yourself have experienced missing only a pill or two. I myself have never been to a "head doc;" but I spoke to my GP (who prescribed the medication for me) today and he said the withdrawal symptoms should let up in a few weeks.

I personally was not a danger to anyone and/or non-functional prior to my doctor's Lexapro recommendation. One thing that we must remember is that, should anyone decide to quit taking this antidepresant (and we're not - I'M not - talking about anti-psychotics here), returning to medication is always an option. My guess is that, knowing who I am and my strong survival instincts, my physician trusts that I will come to him once again if I come to find that the cessation of my daily Lexapro was a mistake.

Thank you for your explanation and your encouragement. Have a super day :) !

Barbara

Hey Stranger. Been there, done that. I did the Paxil thing back in 96 when when the withdrawl "brain shocks" or "zaps" were just coming to be understood. I tried to explain to a doctor what I thought was going on and he just flushed out my ears (what an ass!). You gotta come off that stuff slowly. I knew someone who literally poured out his capsules and reduced his dose by a few granules every other day. It's that powerful. I'm on Effexor now, but have lots of trouble with sleep and night sweats. I wake up at 4:30 am and can't sleep until about 6:30. I bought a shortwave radio so I can listen to some decent broadcasts from the BBC and such. If I can't sleep, I'm gonna be a news junkie.

Good luck.

Lexapro update:

Met with the doc again yesterday. Things are all good. I did have a pretty low dip for 4-5 days before my period, but have been great since. We decided to try 15mg the week prior to my period see if that heads it off this month.

Nothing other to note. It feels great to feel 'normal'.

Elspode, this has significantly helped my anger. I used to get this burning in my gut and overall feeling like I was a cat with claws out about to freak at the slightest provocation. I liked to throw things. A lot. This was what brought me to the new doc. My daughter started asking me "Are you mad at me?" for nothing. I realized how out of control I was getting and it had to stop before I did some real damage to one of my only reasons for being. Throwing stuff at my husband was one thing, but I didn't want to get to the point where I might freak on my little girl.

Gosh you sound like a real doctor. I sometimes forget how smart you are and then bam...right in the kisser.

Positives is priceless
 

Going thru depression, and anxiety is a very difficult battle. I have been on 6 different medications in 7 months. The side effects have been to much for me. The last med I was on, helped for several days, then I experienced the worst panic attack ever. I had severe trembles, total confusion, couldn't respond to questions, my mind was blank. Later in the day, I had another attack. After it passed, I knew it had to be the medication, so I stopped taking the med. The attacks kept coming, but was getting lighter. Now I am free of the attacks. Even though I feel better, I am now having these brain jolts. They seem very light, but very frequent. Forgive me, Im rambling on. The point I want to make is that, we are very strong minded people. Depression, and anxiety goes way beyond sadness. Those that lives with depression, or has delt with it in the passed, knows the right down to earth facts of how severe it can be. We all want the samething, and that is to get well. We do not want pity, we want understanding, and support. Positive thoughts, and ideas are always welcome. Negatives is never welcome.

update
 

Its been a week or longer since my last visit here. I am still having these brain jolts. Today was worse (more frequent) than yesterday. I also experience short term memory loss. I am not certain of the reason why. Could it be due to the medicene? (citalopram) I have not takin this meication since the panic attacks. If anyone knows about this, please let me know. Everyone please remember to be strong, and be positive.

Yes, the brain "jolts" are a known side effect of withdrawing from the medication. Your brain chemistry is changing; your system has developed a dependency on this drug, and is now changing. There's no permanent damage done, as far as they know, from this type of withdrawl, but it is uncomfortable.

I think you should be under a psych-doc's care; you shouldn't have to make that decision to stop the meds alone. You should know what the likely effects are, and if there are any alternatives. If you want to come off the medication, psych-docs will do things like put you on an intermediate alternative med that's easier to withdraw from.

Also it generally takes a longer period of time than 7 days for some of these drugs to really have an effect, and the docs will know what's up with that panic. It may be that you went on them too quickly. Most such drugs need you to wean onto them just like you have to wean off. For the first week you take a quarter dose, second week a half dose, etc. GPs often don't know the details of this, and just write a prescription for a full dose from day one. Oops.

Many times, this is a matter of finding the right thing for you, fine-tuning the meds to fit more precisely what you need. Different brains react differently - different people react differently. Have some patience to find the right levels for you. Of course it's going to take months, take a lot of patience, but at the end of that road is... normal.

Good luck southern. I hope you get through this soon.

Undertoad nailed it. I have nothing to add to his comments.

I just feel that if I can control this naturally, I would rather do that than be on a
 

Keyword Linden Methed, this website has helped me quite abit. it is all based on positives, and learning what it takes to switch off depression, and anxiety. I know this seems to good to be true, but it helps. Anytime I feel depression or anxiety coming on, I do my best to focus on the positive information in the site. I try to avoid listening to all negative comments. I have fear of all medications for depression,and anxiety. The Linden methed will hopefully be a cure.

Southern, without knowing anything about the Linden method I am unable to comment. I know Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is more successful than drugs in cases of mild to medium depression and is more likely to prevent recurrences, but I also know that that is backed up by medical studies.

All I will say is that drugs are NOT the answer for everyone. They are over-used. If you can manage to do without them you are much better off. HOWEVER. Drugs have a physical as well as a psychological effect and you should only come off them or switch drugs after careful consideration and conversation with a health care professional.

Take a doctor's advice, and the drugs, while you start work on whatever non-drug programme you feel will work for you. And make regular appointments once you have come off them.

What we call depression/ anxiety isn't only caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. No-one should ever feel they are wrong to have it controlled medically, but at the same time therapy can benefit many more people than it is offered to - people still unhappy or anxious when they are on anti-depressants should look for other types of help.

My doc recently talked me into taking a small dosage of Lexapro, 10mg, in order to help me out of my fatigue slump (and because she secretly believes I'm depressed). I've been on Celexa, Lexapro, Zoloft and now I'm back to the Lexapro. I've never noticed any brain "zaps" although I stopped cold turkey the first time I was taking Lexapro and the Zoloft. Now I know how very very bad I was for that, I won't do it again...I promise. The main thing I've noticed both times on the Lexapro is my increased "shivering." Otherwise I believe non-medicated is the best way to go, who knows what other things we mess up when we interfere with our chemicals like that especially for long time periods. I'm trying to get myself back to a healthy place, eating right, exercising, socializing ect ect. A thing that really helps me when I get really down is talking to someone I trust, like alcoholics with their sponsors. I suggest counseling or just an available friend, even my mom works for me. Just saying all that is frustrating and worrying me, getting it out in the open helps relieve the tension.