How Long Should You Take Antidepressants For?

The Doctors welcome psychiatrist Dr. Domenick Sportelli to answer a viewer question about antidepressants, including how long they should be taken and the safest way to go off the medication.

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[mickhal]

Let’s be honest
Doctors have not been trained for depression and anxiety

[tristanrich]

No withdrawal? Wtf are you talking about?! Some people suffer with protracted withdrawal symptoms for years.

[lydiahubbell]

I had a psychiatrist tell me I needed to be on anti depressants for the rest of my life, but I didn't. I got out an abusive situation and got a lot of therapy.

[tigeress]

You just can't stop taking any medication right away you could end up int the hospital! I'm an antidepressants and I love them and I've been on them since 5 years ago

[socialmediaaccount]

Patient: Dr. Im am addicted to opioids. Dr: No you aren't we call that opioid discontinuation syndrome. This guy is flat out lying. You absolutely build a tolerance to anti-depressants and what he is calling ssri discontinuation syndrome is withdrawal. Do they actually expect anyone to buy into this crap? This is insulting and disturbing.

[klattalexis]

My girlfriend has been on Paxil since it first came out & now her memory is shot. This has got to be the Paxil!

[dharmawannab]

Um there are withdrawal symptoms!!!🙋 Lexapro was the worst for me

[wouchh]

I remember I just abruptly stopped taking my antidepressants and I felt like I was going to die for the next couple of weeks. It was like withdrawal

[cg]

Effexor which targets both serotonin and norepinephrine (an SNRI) was horrific for me to stop. Took about 9 months to go from 225mg down to zero

[Gwenni]

I have been taking AD for 6 years. I have several depressive episodes a year. I do get suicidal and I self harm. I have changed AD about 4 times. Now I'm on sertraline and mirtazapine.

[IK-fggw]

I stopped ssri...and damn didn't went to uni for 2 weeks!

[DIAMONDGIRL]

I must stay on my medication. I rather live without the depression. I have had MDE since I was a kid.

[aaronhow]

No one gets off them in just 4 weeks. I am still on a high dose and this is at least 12 plus years later. 4 weeks? Give me a damn break.

[MrsRobinson]

I went through a serious depression about 10 years ago. Dr prescribed antidepressants. I decided I didn’t want to be in the medication and made lifestyle changes. Never been depressed since. I shutter to think I could have spent the last 10 years I’m a medication I didn’t need.

[wilamina]

I’m noticing that I have withdrawals after not taking Zoloft for about two months

[OreElect]

Recommend a 2-5% taper every 2-4 weeks. This is EXTREMELY important. Many times, withdrawal is delayed so you may be doing large cuts and feel great, actually better than ever but just be blindsided with severe, debilitating withdrawal weeks or months later and at that point it's often too late to reinstate so it's a waiting game. Please be aware most doctors follow old tapering guidelines and the majority in this group going through withdrawal did follow their doctors tapering advice.

[glamoc]

No one is mentioning post ssri sexual dysfunction

[theotherway]

The book "30 Days to Reduce Depression" by Harper Daniels is recommended. Gives good daily mindfulness exercises. Worth a try.

[MrHerks]

I told my Dr to prescribe me Sertraline, only use the office to send my new scripts. I know more then my Dr's about mental health and nutrition. I decided what mg to start at and when to up my dose, settled on 100mg now and feel the best I've felt in 35 years. I'll also decide when, if, it's time to taper off but right now I have no desire to be off them. Be proactive in your treatment, don't sit back and accept everything, learn.

[das]

Don't take them at all! Heal your gut dysbiosis. There are some M.D.'s out there who actually read the latest research and know about the gut-anxiety/depression issue.