Anxiety meds and anti depressants?

[lostindigo]

Hi all. I wasn't talking about tapering off of my meds without consulting a doctor, I just wanted to get some more insight. Thanks for all the advice so far.
I agree with talking to your doctor and making some sort of change in meds. Maybe there's a different one that works better for you. I have been on anti-anxiety / depression meds for 14 years. It was always the same kind, until about 2 years ago I felt that it was giving me a side effect that I didn't want to experience. So, my Dr. put me on 3 - 4 others to try and they made me a complete mess. So -- I went back to the original medication as the pros completely outweigh the cons.

I highly recommend not tapering off on your own. There are also physical effects to take into consideration, being a female, it could throw your whole hormone system off balance. Three years is a long time on a medication, your body has already adjusted to it, definitely talk to a health professional or get a second opinion, maybe even consider a holistic physician. Good luck.

[loopylucid]

Talking purely from my own experience here and the wonder that is hindsight, the worst thing I ever did for my anxiety was quieten it through medication and treat only its symptoms, it delayed me many years u cant get back.
They had there place for me but for my humble opinion medication alone is a bit like covering your eyes when the suns out and thinking you wont get sunburnt.
So if im to offer anything here, its to agree only consider medications withdrawal under supervison of a professional, but also and as importantly, to get to the source of your anxiety, and that's possible, it hurts a lot, but its worth it.
And if you want the help, even though you may have to go through some apparently unhelpful places to get there, you will still get there.

Unfortnately not every therapy is a magic wand, but never give up, because although anxiety can feel like an eternity, I truly believe, after disablement by it for many years, that within you, with help to surface, is all you need to realise the beautiful person you are, freely in this universe.

Love be with you always :)

Loopy

[innerlight]

Originally Posted by lostindigo

Hi all. I wasn't talking about tapering off of my meds without consulting a doctor, I just wanted to get some more insight. Thanks for all the advice so far.
I agree with talking to your doctor and making some sort of change in meds. Maybe there's a different one that works better for you. I have been on anti-anxiety / depression meds for 14 years. It was always the same kind, until about 2 years ago I felt that it was giving me a side effect that I didn't want to experience. So, my Dr. put me on 3 - 4 others to try and they made me a complete mess. So -- I went back to the original medication as the pros completely outweigh the cons.

I highly recommend not tapering off on your own. There are also physical effects to take into consideration, being a female, it could throw your whole hormone system off balance. Three years is a long time on a medication, your body has already adjusted to it, definitely talk to a health professional or get a second opinion, maybe even consider a holistic physician. Good luck.

That seems like an awfully long time to be on medicine for anti-anxiety/depression, 14 years. Are they still offering you help, do you still feel the same way today as you did 14 years ago, that you still need to continue to take them? I did not know those types of medicines were meant for long term usage. I would have to wonder how your body is changing will being on them for so long.