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I'm going to have to go back on antidepressants 🙁

Posted , 5 users are following.

Dannie1989
Dannie1989

A good few months ago now I finally came off of venlafaxine that I had been on for over 3 years, I thought I was ready and things were going well until about 2 months ago when all my anxiety, depression and panic attacks came back with a vengeance.

I have Thanatophobia so it's not easy to treat my mental illnesses the same way you would treat others.

I also came off of venlafaxine because me and my partner were planning a baby and my doctor told me there was no way I could get pregnant and continue with venlafaxine as the health risks to a foetus were too high.

He has given me another option, fluoxitine or sertraline (don't know if these are the same thing?), now he says it's still not great to take whilst pregnant but the risks are lowered but I rejected the offer due to my heart being set on beginning a family, drug and mental illness free.

I now know that this just isn't possible, for my own mental well being it isn't possible, I am now currently suffering with panic attacks every night and dread coming to bed or trying to sleep because thoughts pop into my mind and I know if I can't keep it under control then my panic attacks will cycle and this could last the whole night, last time this happened I ended up having to call a crisis line because I thought I wasn't going to break out of the cycle and was losing my mind, it was so scary.

Now I have to mantra in my head that I'm going to be fine, I don't need to worry, but it never fully works.

Even with 3x40mg propranolol I can still have a panic attack! I can take up to 4 in 24 hours but I don't really want to start pushing those limits.

Doctor prescribes me 2mg diazepam at times but it only really knocks me out if I take 2 or 3 of them, plus he only ever gives me 8 or 10 due to addictive properties.

So with the rambling over I just thought I'd ask if anyone could give me first hand experiences with sertraline/fluoxitine. I know venlafaxine is right up there with the strong antidepressants and I was on 180mg.

I think I just need reassurance it's going to actually help me before I commit to the side effects.

I'm a little sceptical and scared.

Thanks for listening.

D x

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • kathryn81522
    kathryn81522 Dannie1989

    Posted

    How did you get off the Effexor? I want off so bad I'm going through the change and it doesn't seem to be helping. Is sertraline Zoloft? That seems to work for alot of people.

    • Dannie1989
      Dannie1989 kathryn81522

      Posted

      Hi Kathryn.

      It takes months to come off of venlafaxine, it has to be done in stages, if you do it too fast it can be a shack to your brain and the side effects can be quite bad.

      I've only ever been on citalopram and venlafaxine so I couldn't tell you about the others, sorry.

      If you are thinking of coming off venlafaxine for good please follow the advice of your doctor, he will be able to monitor you whilst you go through the decreases in dosage.

      D x

  • su1977
    su1977 Dannie1989

    Posted

    I believe sertraline is Zoloft. From what I understand it is one of the safer medications to treat depression and anxiety when pregnant or trying to conceive. I believe it also has a good success rate. It didn't work for me but that was due to my bipolar condition that went untreated before taking it. I've recently researched natural ways to balance the brain. So far I've read magnesium, calcium, vitamin B, zinc, vitamin c, d, and fish oil are some that help. Magnesium and calcium especially for anxiety. I haven't tried it yet but you can certainly talk with your doctor to make sure it's a healthy option if you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. But don't be too concerned with the Zoloft. Trouble with anxieties is you have to try so many things before finding the right fit. You have to start somewhere.

  • ann55375
    ann55375 Dannie1989

    Posted

    Sertraline has some nasty start up effects. Dont try mirtazapine, it hell to get off. I agree that the natural way to go would be best but you need to find the right things to take. Wish you well with your hopes for a baby.
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