Have come off meds and am feeling bad

[Goolie]

Hi Guys

Just wondered if anyone had come off their meds and then felt bad again.

I have been on Escitalopram (Cipralex) 10mgs daily for just under 2 years for my depression and ocd and started to wean off of them 2 months ago as I will be doing IVF next year. I cut my dosage down as recommended by the gp and psych but have finished now and have had none now for a week.

I am feeling pretty bad at the moment as my constant tension, lack of energy, chest pain/tightness and constant anxious feeling is back again and I have only been off them totally for a week now. I am thinking of going to see the gp as I cant go down like I did 2 years ago again.

My ROCD has been terrible the past 2 weeks and had really bad PMT, nearly told my boss to p~~~ off as I have so much work to do and he has been on my case every day about some project he wants me to do and it is driving me nuts.

I am so frustrated as I thought I would be ok and really need to stay off of them as I need to do my IVF next year. I also have to give up smoking but I am smoking more than ever at the moment. I have taken a few days holiday from work to try and chill out but it is doing nothing. Maybe I am just gonna be depressed and feel like this my whole life.

This OCD sucks at least with meds the physical symptoms are not so bad. Did you find you were like this, do you suffer from the tension, tiredness and stuff, this makes you feel depressed on its own and then with the OCD thrown in it is double whammy.

Anyone have any advice, ideas. Has any one tried the diet and exercise route and does it work without meds?

Thanks

[apollo100]

I think that you need to see your GP and psychiatrist, and get back on the medications for immediate relief. Yes, I have healed using a natural protocol, but the progress is very slow. It would be about a month before you feel the changes coming in you. It would be much better if you got back on medications, and then you start going the herbal route.

[Mel1115]

Also it's very important to work with CBT skills to help you cope with your symptoms. I am currently weaning off of meds (Effexor), and I hope to be able to manage myself with CBT. It's not easy, but along with a healthy diet/exercise (I'm trying to quit smoking too!), I woudl like to think things'll get better.
Plus some of what you may be feeling is your body bouncing back to pre-med levels, and that would cause some of the tension etc. plus a flairup in symptoms. I would hang in there and see if things level out after a bit.

What is IVF?

[Goolie]

yeah maybe i can go back on them until after christmas and in the meantime concentrate on my diet and exercise which i dont really do now i just eat normally and loads of rubbish.

Am going to see gp tonight to see what he suggests in best.

IVF is in vitro fertilisation - fertility treatment, sorry it may be called somethign else in USA.

[Zorro]

Hi Goolie. I strongly recommend you don't go back on medication. I think it's absolutely great that you are now off them. I've cut back on responding to posts about medication, cause whilst I feel like saying get off medication to every single medication post I read, I know I can't physcially do this. BUt when I read your post and have seen that you have actually come off them, then I thought now is the time to give you my opinion.

Being off medication for one week is nothing. You are bound to feel horrible. It takes a lot more than a week to change things around. By taking medication all this time, you have been telling yourself that you can't cope with distressing feelings. Now that you are off them, you are of course feeling all nervous/anxious because you aren't on your good old dependant medication. I was the same when I stopped taking medication. Medication was useless for me. I an others have got better when learning to manage thoughts/anxiety without medication. Recovering is all about learning to manage these horrible symptoms. You can't keep ducking for cover with medication/substances and distraction. I think peope highly underestimate just how much discomfort is involved in recovery.

As for diet and exercise. I think it will definately help. You don't have to go overboard though. I for example used to have a 10/10 diet from fear of becoming ill. But I now enjoy a nice balance of junk food. Sometimes I tret myself big time and eat a whole stack of junk. Exercise is great. I do it cause I love keepng fit. Others for some reason find it a chore. But if you can get into exercise and get in shape, it will help you feel better about yourself.

Adios.

[corrie270]

i definatly feel bad when im not on my medication (sertraline) ... ive come off it a few times but always decided im not ready to when obsessions, worries and anxiety attacts me again. id advice going back on and then talking to someone instead. you'll be ok

[Goolie]

Hi Guys

Well I went back to the gp last night and he has told me to stay on the 5mgs everyday for another few months and then start to cut down again which I am going to do and in the meantime I am gonna change my diet and start to exercise which I hope will make me feel a bit better when I come off of them again.

Thank you for your advice.

J.L - I understand what you are saying and i will come off of them but need to feel in a good place for my ivf in 8 months time. I am glad you are doing ok without them, It is the chronic tension, anxiety and tiredness that I cannot stand.

[Longtimesufferer]

I understand the stigma about medication. However, my story is that I have had OCD since around kindergarten, if not earlier. I started medication when I was around 13, and have implemented therapeutic approaches to my OCD. I am doing very well, I have a flare up every now and then, but my quality of life is excellent in the scheme of things. I exercise, eat healthy, I have a job and I am a full-time student. I would not being doing so well if it was not for medication AND coping skills I have learned. It is great if you do not need medication, or want medication. However, I think that medication can be extremely beneficial to anyone suffering from a mental illness.

[Longtimesufferer]

Also, as for 'all natural herbs' and that approach, BE CAREFUL. These too have side effects, and overdose can happen.

r u sure ur just not tense and anxious about the upcoming ivf treatment?