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Avatar universal

Am I the only one that is always told this by doctors?

In my 18 year battle with depression and anxiety and having to make many med changes in that time, I find it funny that none of the many Psychiatrist I have seen in the past many years will admit that antidepressants cause withdrawl when switched or discontinued.

Even when you ask them, they hop scotch around the question or say no there is no withdrawl symptoms.

Just one time during a med change I would like a Psychiatrist to be honest and say, "oh yea buddie, your going to feel like **** for a good several weeks when you stop this drug."

Is it that they know and just don't want to admit that antidepressant withdrawl really is a real symptom?

I get tired of the dis-honesty of many psychiatrist. They know my illness is severe and cronic, yet they never tell me, " oh yea your pretty well screwed and may be beyond treatment."

I know that they know I am beyond effective treatment. Why can't they just be honest about it, as I already realize that fact.
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Avatar universal
This is not my experience hensley. Early on these supposed experts lied to me, big time and maybe they still do that to most people. I got lucky nearly a decade ago and found a pdoc that tells me what I need to know. He is very pro active about telling me about a new med and what the side effects and so on are.

When I first went of Effexor, the first one in that decade, he was very explicit about coming off problems and the need to do so carefully, slowly and to ring him if it got too hard. With a view to hospitalisation to do it easier.

As I said, I struck lucky but really once you've been on D meds for a few years you are not doing your job if you either start or cease a med without researching it yourself via forums like this and others you know. As well as asking the doc specific questions.

I hope you find a good doc soon, it really does make the difference as I see it.
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Avatar universal
I've been warned about all of my meds beforehand, and he gives me a week to make a decision knowing these factors. I've never had a doctor NOT tell me. I"m sorry to hear you've had a bad experience(s)  I also fully research these drugs and check blogs about them. The responsibility is in the hands of both Doctor and patient. Unless I was very sick with something in the hospital.
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910915 tn?1340676849
Two points:
1) Technically it's not withdrawal that you experience, since it's only called 'withdrawal' if the drugs are addictive' - I think this is what your doctors have been skipping around, HOWEVER...
2) Yes, there is an effect of 'coming down' off anti-depressants and the like. It's part of your body just getting used to not having those drugs in you system.
I think your doctors were just being pedantic, because although it's probably not technically withdrawal, it can screw you over to come down off such drugs.
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Avatar universal
I think part of it is they want "sell" the meds. If they don't have to mention something, they wont.
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Avatar universal
I think my post was not fully understood by some of people that commented back.
As far as reasearching the meds I take.... I know of no one that does more research on any and all psychotropic medications. In fact I go far beyond just researching them, but actually learn about their specific molecular structure and what neurotransmitters they effect in the brain.

I was simply making a point that all too often many Psychiatrists do not ever admit that there is a discontinuation syndrome associated with most antidepressants when they are switched or stopped.

Brontasaurus; The reason most of us refer to this effect as withdrawl is simply as a tag line for the symptoms. Yes we all know that this "Withdrawl" is far different than the kind of withdrawl an addict would get from stopping a Vicotin, or heroin habbit.

Antidepressant "withdrawl" should probably be refered to as "discontinuation Syndrome."
I guess it just easier to say "withdrawl." Either way we all know it hurts.

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928608 tn?1244205410
None of the prescribing Dr.s I 've gone to in all the years(many)that I've been dealing with my problems has ever been frank,honest up-front,candid,or even humanly decent with me when I 've asked or (yes)complained of withdrawal symtoms or side-effects of psychiatric medications.I've always been met with a brush-off,silence,and dis-belief.
It is the number one thing that makes dealing with my illness,so dis-heartening and difficult
I could never figure out if they were uninformed,uncaring,or deliberately denying the truth because they were taught to.
In over 40 years I'm still trying to figure it out.
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Avatar universal
In my 30+ years of experience with anti-depressants,  I have never had a doctor not tell me of what to expect when stopping or switching medications.  It is withdrawal, plain and simple as it is a controlled substance.  Switching from one medication to another should cause no problems, stopping one gradually should also cause no problems. But, if you are still depressed and anxious, then all your symptoms will come flooding back. I'm sure all of you know that stopping one of these abruptly can be very dangerous, and cause many problems, thus it must be done gradually under the care of your doctor. As for doctors lying, I've lost a son and grandson due to negligent doctors, so I am much too familar with this.  May I ask why you feel you are beyond treatment?
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Avatar universal
My beyond effective treatment situation was not always like that. In fact for the first 12 years of my condition it has been very responsive to medications. It's the last 6 years that I have become almost completly medication resistant.

I currently have the number one most respected Psychiatrist in the entire mid-south working very hard with me to find some way to get me responsive again.

In the last 18 years I have been thru over 26 med changes. If you can think of an antidepressant, Mood stabilizer or anti-psychotic medication then I have been on a combination of many for long periods.

Currently I am taking Protriptilyne (powerful Tri-cyclic antidepressant) along with a high dosage of Lithium and Lamictal. This combo has given me some relief, but I know my body and soon this combo too will poop out on me. I am really hoping for even 1 year on this combination. If I can get just one year at 50% functioning then that will be a gift from God.

It's gotten so bad that my Psychiatrist has put the MAOI option on the table. Sheesh! I never thought I would get that bad, but desperate times call for desperate measures. I just don't like the idea of taking an antidepressant such as Parnate that can kill you if you eat the wrong thing by accident.

So now you see why I think (know) that my condition has advanced to a point that is close to beyond treatment.
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Avatar universal
Wow, you've been there and back again!  Sorry to hear all this, but happy you found a good doc to work with you!  I do wish you all the luck in the world in finding something that works.  Take care............
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Avatar universal
Hey Hensley,

Maybe you should just say what you want to say first up and not beat around the bush mate?

Given what you say about your own research skills I'm thinking the docs are sitting there saying silently to themselves "Well, I've told this guy but he always knows better so it's his problem".

In other words docs are likely to be pissed off if you continually try and outdo them on knowledge. They don't need to compete. Maybe you are confusing yourself with too much irrelevant information.

What I mean by that is how useful to you as a sufferer is knowing the molecular structure of a med? I've somehow managed without ever even considering that issue. What does it do for you? Why do you bother? Are you obsessing about this stuff?

Try keeping to the straight and narrow Hensley, the facts. How does it help others, does it help me. How does it help or not, both good and bad, and can I stay on it or do I need a change?

Try discussing meds with your doc instead of telling them perhaps. t's supposed to be your decision but based on expert advice, the doc.

This ain't having a go at you, I'm just worried for you in that you seem totally absorbed by things that mean nothing in our treatment. They may be fascinating to you personally but is it really any help at all? Could you spend that time better on more relevant parts of your treatment? Say in talking to others about therapy as meds don't do it for you do they, except in relief as they are supposed to?
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Avatar universal
Oh yea, in fact on several occasions when it gets real bad I almost didn't make it.
I have a date with a train that may be inevidable.

It's an odd thing to have such profound and cronic depression because it has a way of making thoughts of your death make you feel warm and good inside.

I know that sounds sick and it really is, but after so many years of doing battle with this beast it just has a way of eventually breaking you. I have always managed to hold on to a small sliver of hope, but now days as my disease has progressed it is starting to look terminal for me. I just don't know exactly when.

If I could tade my right arm for it to be gone then I swear that I honestly would make that tarde. In fact I would probably trade it for even a deadly physical disease and take my chances.

You know the really funny part about my severe depression.... I have never suffered a traumatic experience in my life, nor does this illness run in my family. So much for the theory that depression must be caused by some life situation or past trauma.

Nope, perfect parents, perfect brothers, lots of love in my family. Even my dad tells me he loves me all the time and I am 39 years old. People would kill to have the support and family I have in my life. Friends? I have many and they are loyal and would do anything for me.

So much for that trigger theory that a person with depression must have some past deamons or abuse. I have no question in my mind that my depression is almost 100% chemically related. For reasons unknown I just happen to have a malfuction in my brain that causes brutal depression and anxiety and meds do little at best.

In fact I honestly wish I has some past abuse or trauma in my life. At least that way I could have something to work on and maybe get better.
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Avatar universal
Depression is NOT always the result of any type of trauma in your life, it may be a chemical inbalance.  Many people who suffer from depression have had good lives, but you have no control over a chemical inbalance.
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Avatar universal
I think that your 100% correct, but most often people and even doctors always relate Major depression as caused by some life trauma. They refuse to beleive that it can exist simply as a disease of it's own.
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Avatar universal
Wow, I didn't realize how severe your problem was!!!   When you asked me for help in thinking, I suggested a book to you, I don't think reading the book will help.

If it's purely biochemical then you might have to have some periodic brain scans to make sure you're doing ok.

Right now it seems like you're coming from a dark place. I think talking about your concerns to someone who is not in your situation, BUT SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS  what you are going through will effect your brain chem in a positive way.
I don't think your family or friends understand the FULL EXTENT of what you are going through....  As a result of this, it will make you feel ISOLATED and make your thoughts a little MORBID.

I can't really help in any MAJOR way. ALL I CAN DO IS ROOT FOR YOU and be on your side.
Don't give up, Hensley!!!   Find your "higher self" and purpose. Having hope is the only thing that can make really really painful things bearable.
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