Should I stop my meds?

[Eccentrics]

I have been on fluoxetine 20mg for just under a year now, but I haven't been able to see a professional for over 6 months because my mother doesn't think I need it and thus refuses to take me. I have just been getting repeat prescriptions from my doctor, which she still complains heavily about, making me feel very reluctant to ask.

I have been relatively stable for a month or so, but because of my Mum's reluctance to support my medication often forgetting / not wanting to take fluoxetine for days at a time.

I'm wondering if I could / should come off? I dont have anyone to see and therefore ask about this, so I would have to do so by myself. Im on the lowest dose and encountered no side effects going on, so Im just not sure what to do.

- Holly

[Morpheus]

I wont recommend doing it without advice from a professional at all. It can go very wrong.

[Shenanigans]

Can you not phone your doctor and ask for a telephone appointment to discuss this? It'll mean you can speak to a professional about it but you wont have the issues surrounding going to the doctors practice for the appointment.

[sherlock holmes]

A month of being stable is not a very long time, it's recommended that antidepressants are continued for at least 6 months after symptoms of depression have gone! If you stop now you run the risk of the depression coming back.

Can you talk to your mum and tell her politely your health is your business and not hers?

[Imperfect.Star]

^ exactly what I was going to say - it depends how severe and how long your depression has been as to how long you should stay on antidepressants after you feel better. You could just see/speak t your regular doctor - it doesn't have to be a psychiatrist.

[Bellatrix]

Def speak to someone first. But taking medication intermittently can be just as bad as suddenly stopping it, so I'd make that call pretty quickly.

[darlkill]

I have tried it to come off fluoxetine but I'm on a higher dose 60mg and it didn't work it made me worse and I did speak to my gp and she said to go back on it

[Eccentrics]

Thankyou everyone for the kind and helpful replies. At the time of writing this I didn't have a very good head for writing on my shoulders so I was worried I'd come across as stubborn.

I need to ring the doctors tomorrow, so while I'm there I'll see if I can find the courage to call CAMHS and ask what to do about my medication. I didn't think of a phone appointment, but if I can that would be ideal right now!

I have tried sitting down with my Mum about why I need to see my psychiatrist, but she is 100% convinced that I don't need it and is extremely stubborn. She thinks that because I am at home I dont need any support, but really the opposite is true - I need support because I want to go out and get a job/do things! I've tried explaining this to her too but she says the psych wont be able to help me, and that I need to do it myself.

[Snow White.]

^ That's a good idea. Tell her about the side effects and potential for harm if you keep taking it intermittently or come off it workout supervision. Maybe then you'll be allowed the appointment to discuss the situation with a professional. And if they think you need to stay on it a bit longer maybe they can talk to your mum about why (though I know it's tough my dad is stubborn too about medication).

Wishing you all the best x

[Eccentrics]

That's a good idea Auror, I'll be sure to tell that to my Mum. (Although I would like to continue seeing someone, its a start getting her to let me go once!)

I unfortunately didn't manage to give CAMHS a call today because I was heavily upset by some bad news from the doctors. I didn't realise until too late though that it was Easter weekend so now I wont be able to try again until Tuesday, drat! I have enough meds to last the weekend so I'll take them normally and ask for an emergency perscription on Tuesday.

Coincidentally, I got a call from a CBT therapist about giving me an appointment today. Unfortunately the only dates she can provide coincide highly with my Mums' work, so Im very unsure about how this is going to turn out... It's not looking good.