HI...a little background. I had the baby blues after my last child 6 yrs ago, felt a little better for a while, but just kind of always sad. Two years ago, I became sick and developed chronic pain, I have since been diagnosed with Lupus and auto immune thyroid disease. At first I was really down, thinking of a life of continual pain, but as time went by I have accepted it. I have always been a worrier also, and of course being diagnosed with a potentially fatal disease has just made it worse. For the last year or so, I was just feeling sadder, and sadder. I would get up, take a shower, do my makeup...go out and try to "be" happy, but it just wasn't working, my worries and fears were getting worse also. I went to some Lupus message boards and it seems depression/anxiety is quite common, since Lupus affects the central nerous system.

I started on Effexor 75 mg 6 weeks and I feel so much better, I am also sleeping much better.

Of course after reading all the horrific posts here, it scares me....but I don't want to feel dead like I did before. I just feel like my old self again now.

Anyhow...for those that have gone off all AD's, did you just feel you didn't need them anymore? Also, are there people like me with chronic disease that just take them for life?

Thanks

My depression is very severe and I'll probably have to take them the rest of my life. I ran out a few months ago and thought I was dying (not from withdrawals or anything like that but because my depression came back and hit me hard). :nono:

Be sure to let your doctor know that you want to see what it is like to go off of the antidepresants. You will be able to tell if you can stay off of them. If you need to go back on, don't feel bad about it. You might just need to give yourself more time. I had one dr tell me that it is a chemical rewiring. You need the antidepressants to help your body relearn the correct chemical pathways.

I take 150 mg of Effexor XR before bed, and I love it!! I've tried Zoloft, Serzone, Valium, and something else (can't remember) throughout the years.

I will most likely stay on the effexor for good, and that's just fine with me!!! ;)