Weaning Off My Medication
 

Hello,

A few months ago I posted about 'how do you know when you're ready' to come off of an antidepressant.

I've been taking wellbutrin now for over 2 years and I feel like I'm ready to take the road into medication free land.

I spoke to my doctor, he didn't really agree with me ( not surprising) but he started lowering my dose. Today is week two and so far so good. Feeling fine, no real withdraw symptoms.

I love Wellbutrin and I took Zoloft in the past and loved it too. But I just can't handle any more weight gain. Since I started taking antidepressants back in 2011 I have put on a lot of weight.( AND I'm a 112 lb success story...yup, I lost 112 lbs back in 2005 and kept it off for 6 years before the antidepressants) I've put on over have of what I've lost.

Now I have to start all over again with my weight loss journey. I think the hardest part is 'starting' for me. Once I get the ball rolling and the pounds start coming off Its 'bring it' time. ;) But as of right now, im having a hard time letting go of the things that made me fat.

I guess im just venting right now. But I would love to hear of any 'success after antidepressants' stories out there to help motivate me. :) Oh and I have my first visit with a counselor in April for my anxiety. I'm excited.

Quick Update :
7 more days and I will completely be off wellbutrin, I feel fine. No major withdraws so far. Just wanted to share :-)

Hi Amy,
I have been on and off meds for 9 years. I understand your wanting to go off of them. Each time I went off, about 6 months later I would have a complete break down. In 2011, it was so bad I had to stay a week in the hospital. I will never go off again. I hope its works out for you and you never need them again.
Just a word of advice.....keep your eyes open for early warning signs of anxiety/depression. Good luck to you!

I've also gone off antidepressants several times, and like snootson I had a breakdown the last time (fortunately no hospital though!) and I will never try again. But it sounds like you've been doing well. I know that as soon as I started tapering my Paxil there was a real difference.

I also agree that it's important to keep your eyes open for warning signs. My problem is when I'm really depressed I don't always believe it. I just figure there's something situational affecting me. So when I tried going off antidepressants before, I asked my mom or husband to promise to tell me if they noticed a change. They would be more objective than me.

Good luck!

I went off Geodon because I was hallucinating whenever I took it. It was awful. I would take it before bedtime, and fifteen minutes later it was like a kaleidoscope in front of my eyes in the dark. I hated it horribly. He switched me to haloperidol and I haven't had a problem since. I just got the ok to switch to a lesser dose of that too :)

I don't know if I'd ever go off my anti-depressants. Every time I run out and don't get them filled for a few days I have trouble sleeping and I get moody and anxious. Good luck to you and I hope you have no problems down the road on a breakdown.