General Chat

Sandra, I'm on the same medication as you are, and I was warned when I first went on it that it could raise my bp - which it has, although not significantly. Has the doctor suggested another anti-depressant you could take which wouldn't have the same effect on your bp? Wishing you good luck. Ruby (((X)))

I have been on a/d for just over a year & the psychiatrist has recently warned me i may be on them for life. Please contact your doctor & see if they can't change your BP tablets instead to work with your a/d. Tracey -x-

hiya swiss and thanks, i take enapril for my bp. last year i had to be wired up for 24 hrs. with a bp machine. which went of every 30 mins. ahhhhhhhhhhhhh . they decided it was still high. so they upped my tablets. will let you know tomoz my bp. cos hubby is taking it after . This bp moniter was about £ 60, as my hubby works for our docs. they said bring it in and we will see if its spot on with ours. and it was, so i know its a good one. when i was put on bp meds my reading at the bottom was 77. which is very good, then i went on anti ds, and its never under 100. so i am between the devil and the deep blue sea, so i decided the anti ds had to go, easy said than done. but i will try and be strong. and it puts your spirits up when people like you ( a stranger. and all these on this thread) give comfort. wellllllllllllll you are all diamonds x

dont expect so much of yourself, make sure you visit your gp

hiya june and thanks, ah thats so sweet of you. will do as you say and i will see you in the flesh. on the 12 bye chuck x

Sandra, Please be careful, do see your doc if you dont feel a bit better tomorrow. I have to have you well by the 12th November,lol The meet wont be the same without you! Seriously, do have a chat with your doc, my daughter had to reduce hers gradually. Take care, Love June xx

Lots of hugs and good wishes coming your way from me, Sandra. Take care love. Take it slowly and let your poor body get used to the dwindling a/d intake. It's amazing how it copes. x

hiya everyone and thanks, must agree with you i think i am being to hasty to come off.but the ones i had left have gone in the bin. my hubby said he will take my bp tonight( we have an upper arm moniter) and if its gone down, i could just suffer with the white coat syndrome. cos my hubby thinks its early days for the ant ds.. to reduce my bp, Thanks again you lovely people, elaine and linda from bolton, thanks for pm xx

Sandra, I can only re-iterate what a couple of other people have said. You should be weaned off anti-depressants gradually. Hasn't your doctor given you any indication of how to cut down. I would advise you to get in touch with him, tell him how bad you are feeling and ask him what you can do to help yourself. I do wish you luck. I have been down that road and it is not pleasant at all. Jean x.

Sandra can,t give you any advice but sending you lot of hugs(.................................) hope you soon feel a bit better..

had an aunt who had been on these for years and was like a zombie,we thought she would never get any better,until she was taken into hospital for something unrelated and they cut her tablets drastically but after a couple of weeks she was a new person able to communicate properly again.so hang on in there and ask doc for help if you need it .take up something to occupy yourself this is the beginning of a new phase in your life be determined to show everyone how strong you really are. best of luck

Hi Sandra, go back to the docs as it may well be the Bp tablets that are making you sick, they may need changing. I had this problem when i was given these pills sometime ago, i had to have them changed several times until they found one that suited me. good luck. Shirley Ann.

sounds as though you are trying to do too much too quickly. Slow down the slowing down, if that makes any sense at all!

sandra i was on anti depressants for years aswell hun and like bryan says,they are very difficult to come off. my dr weened me off of mine gradually. i was on 75mg to start with and he gradually put me down to 50mg and then 25 mg. but this was done over a period of 6 months! sorry i couldnt be more help but i do hope you start feeling better soon love susie

the only way is what you have done and cut down slowly there is no other way that I know of.

hiya and thanks, bryan my friend, i have been on efexor 37.5 for 3 and a half years.started to come of them 3 weeks ago, by knocking of 2 a day . to 1 and then half and then a quater. since tuesday i have took nothing. bryan when i tell you my bp at the bottom reading is 104 . you will know why i need to come of them. robbie williams takes the same as me, all credit to the robster. he looks and sounds brill, bryan and all ,nite nite my friends god bless you all. and speak soon x

Sandra you don't say how lomg you have been taking ADs, but if it was for a long time you can't expect to come off them overnight. Stay close to your Doctor. I wish you all the best. Jim

hi sandra, i wish you had emailed me. a/ds are very difficult to come off,and should be done gradually over a period of about eight weeks. i dont know the strength of your tablets,or what they are,but supposing they are 10mg...ask the pharmacy to give you your prescription in 2mg tabs. the first week,cut down to 9mg,second week 8mg,third week 7mg...carry on like this,until your on 1mg,and stay with that,until you feel that you can come off all together. keep your doctor informed of what you are doing,keep a diary of how you are feeling each day,never rush into it,the withdrawal symptoms can be very bad,it has to be done gradually. best wishes...bryan.

Hi Sandra, I've been there & got the t/shirt. How long have you been coming off? Maybe you're trying to move too fast, it took me nearly 18mths to get off mine, about the same time as I had been on them. As someone else suggested you could try a herbal/ homeopathic alternative but if you are on medication from your Dr you must check for contra-indications. Rescue Remedy is good but a visit to a registered alternative therapist with your Drs approval would the best course of action. Vivienne

Big Hug, Sandra.....BC XX