Zoloft and zyprexa withdrawal .....i need the truth!

[Guest guest]

Hi im new to this site and im in dire need of some clarifycation.

Firstly i have been living with episodes of depression [sometimes

phycotic] for over 20 years.I am thankfully at the moment over this

last episode but still however on 200mg zoloft and 5mg zyprexa [the

antiphycotic is for mood stabilising etc.]I have been diagnosed with

recurrant depression syndrome,no schitzophrenia, so my phyciatrist has

agreed to take me off the olanzapine.I am currantly reducing the dose

and copeing ok [its only a low dose now so no real problems]

The question is can i realistically come off the sertraline

also? and be drug free?My doctor says " I should stay on antidepressants

indefinatly or i will become depressed again "

My last illness required 2 months hospital treatment and 9

months away from work,without going into great detail a lot of people

sufferd as a consequence of my actions so i cannot risk another repeat

episode. Is it just best to stay on medication?....diabetics need

thier treatment,many other people are dependant upon drugs and must

accept it.

Thanks for taking time to read this,oh and i have been on

medication this time round for 3 years, thanks again Jeff

[Guest guest]

>

> HI Jeff,

>

>

>

> Have you had a consult with ?

>

>

>

> You, like others can get off the drugs and stay off them.

>

>

>

> Release your guilt, it is not healthy to hold onto guilt, process

it and

> then let it go otherwise it will eat you up

> To .........Thanks for your wise words,and yes you are

right but my nagging mind tells me i should feel guilty for not

feeling guilty.....like i should own it ..as my punishment,im afraid

to smile in case anyone sees me, ive burnt my arms but it just

reminds me of the fire i caused..Oh im sorry I think im getting some

emotions back im 10days into zyprexa withdrawal maybe its that.

thanks again i wish you a speedy recovery ....Jeff

>

>

> Love

>

>

>

> _____

>

> From: Withdrawal_and_Recovery

> [mailto:Withdrawal_and_Recovery ] On Behalf Of

jeffrey1763

> Sent: 23 January 2007 23:49

> To: Withdrawal_and_Recovery

> Subject: Zoloft and zyprexa

withdrawal .....i need

> the truth!

>

>

>

> Hi again,i wrote recently asking advise as im so confused

concerning

> my docs diagnosis, in which he believes, that because my

depressions

> are reacurring i should take medication indefinatly.

> I feel that when i am in the depths of despair and even

> too low to indulge my selfish thoughts of suicide, i would take

> anything for just a moments peace.However when i am through the

worst,

> i feel [like all of us,i suppose]that i want to be drug free.

> A work friend said " We all have our cross to bear,but

> whats important is the way we carry it......and im dragging mine "

> Not quite sure what he meant,spose he meant I should be more

> positive and just get on with it! and if im honest he's somtimes

got a

> point [although medication is definatly a lifeline for many of us

im

> sure]

> Anyhow im dripping on somewhat....The question is after 20

> odd yrs of depression [off and on]can i realistically be drug free

> with alternative treatment [i have tried st johns wort,cod liver

oil

> exercise etc. it did help with mild depression but i still sank

into a

> deep depression and had to go back on medication again]

> I think im just too scared to come off the meds cos this

> last episode was hell, after my 25yr marriage broke down i had a

bad

> reaction to the zoloft initially,i had been drinking heavily too,i

set

> fire to our home,in which our pet dogs died,i wrote off 4 cars and

> failed in an attempt to take my life,i spent 3 months in hospital

and

> 6 months in prison on remand.

> The hardest thing to come to terms with is the guilt for

> the pain ive caused my ex-wife my 2 children my

> parents,brothers,sisters and all the emergency services,hospitals

etc

> the list seems endless...so you see i cannot play russian roulette

> with meds ....i just need some clarity please [the things i did

was

> out of character,hence the anxiety.

> I will continue to read the emails as it helps to know

> that im not so isolated and people seem to be helped in so many

ways

> Keep up the good work,im sorry for going on so much

> Jeff.

>

[Guest guest]

>

> Hi Jeff,

>

> Yes you can be drug free and lead a life that isn't coloured by

> depression or medication. Many have come here who have been on

meds

> for years, often more than one, and they have achieved some deep

> healing. Have you read the files that were sent to you when you

> joined the list? They outline what to do regarding diet and

> supplements. Put these things in place first, and then when you

feel

> ready you can start to taper the Zoloft.

>

> There are issues in your life that will need addressing, you seem

> clear on that, but taking these drugs isn't the help that many

people

> think it is. The drugs can make people feel worse, they can alter

> personalities, change the way people cope with things, numb them

so

> that they are out of contact with their own feelings. By coming

off

> the drug in a safe way, you will actually be better able to deal

with

> problems and pain. Many doctors seem to think that the answer to

> life's problems is to numb people with drugs, which disempowers

them

> and sets them up for long-term illness from the meds.

>

> You're very welcome here and we'll support you every step of the

way

> Jeff. For a start, have a read of the files you were sent, and

look

> in the files here too. Let us know if you have questions after

that.

>

> Best wishes,

> .

>

To linda, thanks for your words of reassurance, doctors dont have

time to explain things in detail [im sure its not thier fault] so i

thought i would be on these medications indefinatly. I owe so much

to so many people I couldn't live with letting them down again.Its

so important to make the right decisions for everyone.

Im sure these drugs are not good long term, the zyprexa has made

me overwieght and tired all the time. i was once athletic and raced

cycles. With the zoloft i am lifeless, unemotional functioning like

a robot with no desire for sex or relationships and no

ambition...the oppersit to how i was inbetween depressions.

Il take your advice and read the files, thanks again you

have given me the spark of life itself...........hope X Jeff

[Guest guest]

>

> Hi Jeff,

> I don't have any answers for you, but I am in the process of doing

the

> exact same thing. I'm on 150mg of Zoloft and I was on 5 mg of

Zyprexa.

> My doctor really wanted me off of the Zyprexa so he told me to just

> quit it. In about a week I spiraled down. So now he has put me on

> BuSpar to help stablize me. It is just nice to know there is someone

> else out there dealing with the same situation! I wish you luck!

>

>

>

Hi ,

yes your right it is heartwarming to know that there is

someone else coping with simler medications.Unlike you i have been

tapering the zyprexa slowly from 5mg to 3.75mg [half a 7.50mg tablet]

you must have gone down considerably cos even on my reduction ive

experienced some mood swings,light paranoia and dare i say it a return

of some of my emotions so there is a human in here after all!!

Thanks for wishing me luck,and you too.........let me know

how you get on with your withdrawal [if your planning one and you have

the time to email] Then i know whats in store for me!!!oh yes il keep

you posted too

Jeff