Re: Which antidepressant is the more easy to get off
I've not had a problem going on or off Zoloft.
I've heard the ones that are more commonly difficult are Effexor and Cymbalta. I don't think they are SSRIs, but SNRIs instead. maybe that's the difference.
Re: Which antidepressant is the more easy to get off
Rim, I have to ask why you are asking?
Why is it important to know what antidepressants others find easiest to come off of?
I find this an odd question. Maybe setting yourself up psychologically to expect to be unsuccessful with medication. Therefore, wanting to know which people find easiest to come down from.
Re: Which antidepressant is the more easy to get off
Yes, everyone will react differently. My psychiatrist told me that in general antidepressants are not considered to be addictive medications (at least in the physical sense), if that's what you're wondering. But I don't see how you can't become emotionally dependent on them though, at least somewhat. I know that I depended on my mine to keep my emotions in check, so of course it took some adjustment when I went off them but I survived. Certain anti-anxiety drugs are different; I believe some of those are considered to have a risk for addictiveness particularly ones taken on the spot for panic. But you need to ask a doctor. Don't be afraid to express your concerns with your doctor. He/she is the person you should be trusting with prescription advice.
Re: Which antidepressant is the more easy to get off
A number of big drug companies are being sued for what is known as the discontinuation syndrome which in english means addiction. Both Effexor and Paxil include this risk with their literature now.
That being said if you are making the decision to go on antidepressants they do take upwards to six weeks to become effective, all of them have side effects to some degree and the chance of being on them for six months and longer. Antidepressants are too easily prescribed now a days when they should be the third or forth on the list after making health changes, seeking therapy, trying over the counter helpers and then the topic of antidepressants should be approached.
When it was time for me to start antidepressants the focus was getting out of my living hell and not concerned about the potential of problems of coming off of the meds. I have been on this board for a long time and have been on what seems like every antidepressant and what I have observer regarding antidepressants is what may be heaven for one may be hell for another. With any mental med there is a risk.
trg247
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Re: Which antidepressant is the more easy to get off
I just these week weaned off of Effexor. It was terrible. I was exetremely fatigue and lathargic. I had horrible nausea and brain zaps (feels like an eletric shock in your head). Also had terrible dizziness. I would never reccomend anyone taking this drug. I had a horrible time. I was only on it for 8 weeks.
Re: Which antidepressant is the more easy to get off
I understand that you may feel "addicted" to the medication.. However, addiction is when your mind and body craves the medicaton.. Like alcohol, cigarrettes and cocaine. But there are major withdrawel sydromes with most anti depressant. When you come off , you just have bad side effects. You are not craving the drug like cigarettes. You are just experiencing awful side effects. But I completely understand what you are feeling/saying about the feeling of addiction.
I should know..LOL I am a addict in "recovery" from active addiction. I was addicted to Klonipan...
The worst one I had was Paxil... I went crazy... LOL
Quote:
Originally Posted by SOE
First of all, they can be quite physically addicting.
I had the hardest time with Paxil and Effexor. The easiest one for me was Prozac.
Re: Which antidepressant is the more easy to get off
jasaac, did you remain off the effexor? how long did it take before the withdrawal symptoms eased and stopped?
I've taken it for close to 5 weeks now and can't take the side effects anymore, I've never felt worse than on this medication. I do have a doctor's appointment this afternoon (hubby made it for me this morning) but I refuse to take another effexor. I rather go through the hell of withdrawal than having to take another one of these pills.
Last edited by sobedaya; 09-29-2008 at 10:42 AM.
Reason: adding poster's name so he/she knows it's a question for him/her
Re: Which antidepressant is the more easy to get off
OH GREAT. I just came on here to see what kind of withdrawl symptoms folks had weaning off of antidepressants. Guess what I'm taking? Effexor!
I've been having headaches and think it's due to this med. Any thoughts?
Re: Which antidepressant is the more easy to get off
I only took effexor for a month but had daily headaches, bad ones at that. Not to mention the other side effects.
This past Monday I took myself off the effexor cold turkey, could not take another one of those pills. the headache I got by doing that was beyond bad, and I also got the brain and eye zaps they talk about, am still getting those but the headaches are mercifully gone now.
Re: Which antidepressant is the more easy to get off
I was just reading about Paxil last night because my mom takes it. It is the worst anti depressant to come off of. The withdrawal symtoms can be horrible. Now, Effexor is hell to come off of too, however, that is in a different class of meds. It's not really considerd an AD.
I went of Effexor very, very, slowly and it was still very bad.
I recenty went off Prozac pretty much cold turkey but it was replaced with Welbutrin, so I didn't know what my headaches were from.
Re: Which antidepressant is the more easy to get off
I took myself off of Celexa a few years before I was switched to Effexor and my side affects were horrible feelings of fear and anxiety and I just wanted to jump out of my skin. I was wondering if anyone had this from coming off of Effexor.
Re: Which antidepressant is the more easy to get off
I've been off Effexor(or any antidepressant) for a year now, it took a good 3.5 months to quit having brain zaps & the dizziness on a daily basis. I've found if I take benedryl, it brings them back with a vengeance & I still have them occasionally if I'm very tired.
Lexapro was was easy to quit, wellbutrin also, Celexa was horrific almost like taking meth for side effects for me jittery, unable to sleep or sit still, I had to have ambien after I quit taking the Celexa because I hadn't slept for 4 days, the effects continued for another 6 days after I stopped taking it.
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Re: Which antidepressant is the more easy to get off
this is off topic but have you heard of Dr.s that would prescribe Prozac 20mgs AND Wellbutrin... Looks like one or the other would be enough.....Thanks !
Re: Which antidepressant is the more easy to get off
in response to the post about prozac and wellbutrin - they are very different drugs in regards to the mechanism by which they work, and what they work on. Prozac is still for many, many people the best anti depressant ever marketed. It is one of the easier ones to come off of, partly due to its very long half life in your system. The newer generation AD's (SNRI's) have far more and in some cases far more severe side effects, and stopping them can be very hard, not because they are "addicting" (I think its really important to keep the differences between addiction and dependence in mind) Wellbutrin is one of the older AD's and is well know for its incredibly benign list of side effects. Most people experience very few, and if they do have side effects, they are not troubling. Wellbutrin acts on Norepinephrine and Dopamine - and its combination with a SSRI which acts solely on Serotonin - is a wonderful combination for some patients whose depression has not been adequately addressed by Prozac alone. Just my two cents worth.
Re: Which antidepressant is the more easy to get off
Quote:
Originally Posted by nchantng
in response to the post about prozac and wellbutrin - they are very different drugs in regards to the mechanism by which they work, and what they work on. Prozac is still for many, many people the best anti depressant ever marketed. It is one of the easier ones to come off of, partly due to its very long half life in your system. The newer generation AD's (SNRI's) have far more and in some cases far more severe side effects, and stopping them can be very hard, not because they are "addicting" (I think its really important to keep the differences between addiction and dependence in mind) Wellbutrin is one of the older AD's and is well know for its incredibly benign list of side effects. Most people experience very few, and if they do have side effects, they are not troubling. Wellbutrin acts on Norepinephrine and Dopamine - and its combination with a SSRI which acts solely on Serotonin - is a wonderful combination for some patients whose depression has not been adequately addressed by Prozac alone. Just my two cents worth.
I am on my second week of combining Prozac and Wellbutrin. I am taking 40 mg of Prozac and 300mg of Wellbutrin. I am already reaping the benifits. The Prozac helped lessen the severity of my depression but I still lacked motivation. I wanted to come out from under my rock but did not have the energy to do it. The Wellbutrin is giving my energy back and I have also noticed a decrease in aches and pains. I wish I had been medicated 15 years sooner. Who knows where I would be now. I think all of us know how much depression can hold a person back.
Re: Which antidepressant is the more easy to get off
Thank you for the feedback..I've been on 20mgs of prozac close to 10 yrs. I told my Dr. I didn't think it was working as well. So he added the Wellbutrin 150mgs with it.I've only been on it 9 days and when I take it at bedtime like the Dr. suggested...within an hr. feels like my heart is gonna pound out of my chest...So then I tried it in the A.M...walked around dizzyheaded and yawning all day...oh well...I tried it......
Jewelz
Re: Which antidepressant is the more easy to get off 
