Originally Posted by
Geranium2
Most people who are prescribed anti-depressants don't need them forever, although some do. Side effects do tend to increase with higher doses, so it is worth asking about other options first.
hope some of that helps x
I took myself about 6 months ago my medication, both my antipsychotic and antidepressant. Though I had to go back onto the antipsychotic (well changed antipsychotics in the end), but I am currently not on the antidepressant. I feel great and my psych is aware of that I am not taking it. I do have a month's supply so if I am getting depressed again, I can retake (as I was on low dose) it rather than waiting for my next psych appointment.
I know normally it is not a good idea to go off meds without professional advice, but for me (depression wise) it was the best thing I did. A similar thing happened 5 years ago when things were going ok (depression wise, I was still on my antipsychotic), is that I got off the antidepressants. However, that was talking to the psych I had at the time, and he agreed that I could try without the antidepressants, and that time it was done properly. I managed a year without antidepressants before I had to go on them again (ironically enough it was sertraline that I was prescribed that time!).
So when things are going well, and you have been on them for ages (and I mean at least a year, because antidepressants do take ages to work), then I would talk to your psych (or whoever prescribed them in the first place), about trying without them. But you would have to be stable, but I thought I would give my experience that it is possible to be off the antidepressants.