coming off meds

I've been on loxamine/paroxatine for about a year now. I've been taking half a tablet for the last week or so, now, trying to wean off them now that I find myself coping well with things. The first couple of days were okay, but by day 3 things just seemed to start falling apart. I'm struggling a lot of the time now, just finding that I have NO energy or motivation, all these thoughts keep running through my head, I've been getting a bit anxious/stressed about things, and I spend half of the day trying not to cry, and half of the evening actually crying. Over nothing in particular or things I wouldn't normally cry about (well not since I've been on ADs).

It's freaking me out a little since I'm so busy at the moment, with my two babies and in the last semester of my biomedical science degree... I just don't have the time to go downhill again.

What are other people's experiences with coming off meds? How long does it take to adjust to your new dose of AD? I'm wondering if it's worth it or if I should increase my dose again, until I'm not so busy... but then I keep thinking, I am coping fine now, so I can't really need the meds anymore, right?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Hey LB,

I've come off ADs many times before.

With a doctors help is preferable, they will be able to give you a suggested timetable. Otherwise, take it REALLY slow. I probably wouldn't do it at a busy time because that can enhance all the feelings that you haven't been having so much. Now, they say that AD's aren't addictive, however, there are withdrawl symptoms that may as well be withdrawl from a serious addiction. Some people get physical pain (headaches etc). If I started on the downhill that soon after stopping I'd probably rethink my decision to come off, or move to even 3/4 of a tablet daily (or 1 tablet then 1/2 tablet on alternating days) to reduce the effects it's having.

Can I ask how long you've been at a stable good level for (with the same dosage)? It's not advised coming off them or reducing the dose at all if that gap's been less than 3 months.

I wish you the best of luck coming off them, I'm sure you'll do great

It's interesting how quickly the withdrawals hit too, ie for me we went out the other week with work, and i never usually drink, i had 2 mudshakes and so decided to take my tablet in the morning instead as i didn't want to mix it all.... morning got busy, and i forgot. I got about half way thru my shift that evening and bam, foggy cloudy cotton-wool-filled head, just couldn't problem solve or anything, and i was sitting there thinking what the heck caused this, I then realised where i knew this feeling from and clicked that I didn't take my tablet so had effectively not had anything for near on 2 days!...realllly silly...I think that's my biggest fear that after missing 1 tablet, what the heck am i going to be like decreasing them.

I found that even when I'd gone 'cold turkey' I was accidentally missing a day, taking the next day, missing another in a semi-regular pattern which is a form of weaning.

The alternating strengths is the method that's actually useful, and really slow like Redbedrock said. If you get absolutely horrific withdrawl you're probably withdrawing too fast so it's too much of a shock to the system.

oh I hear ya about the withdrawl I can't go a night without my med's or I am totally stuffed.   I have to come off them just before I have baby and not worried about the emtional side of thing's just the the actual physical side effect's.   Good luck hope you manage to get a good plan in place.
I have found and was told by MMH that fish oil really hepl's not sure if you taking it but my lady had be on very high doses and it really did make a difference.

You can't think you failed at all, but I know that's what I thought 6 months ago when I went back on meds. If you feel better on them stay until you are in a better place with less on your plate.
You have an incredible amount on at the moment with two little ones, study and a home to run, be kind to your self for a while, let the meds help you and try again later on.
It not a failure, it's just not the right time
the withdrawal really takes it out, but it's not a weakness to postpone that