When To Wean

[VikVikViktorious]

So I am feeling better now- started with 12.5 mg of setraline and settled on 75.
Been on 75 for 2-3 weeks now and my first reaction is "I'm better, but it's a fake better."
My P says probably 6-12 months before he'd recommend we start tapering off. Questions:

Is it harder to wean the longer you are on it?
Will anxiety come racing back when I'm off?
Has anybody had success only being on it for 3 months?

Thanks!

 

[Deleted member 28403]

Well, for me as soon as the dose goes down even a bit, the anxiety and depression come back instantly, like, within a day or two

Also, seems like a sorta low starting dose, how long did it take you to go from start to current dosage?

 

[Justmehere]

I was on setraline for just 2 months. I weaned off slowly for a month and that helped me avoid rebound anxiety and depression. Everyone's body chemistry can be so different though.

For me, taking it for two months helped me have a chance to breathe and get my feet under me, and simply helped me endure and stop spiraling.

Sometimes better is just better.

Rebound anxiety occurring (anxiety that is from the body reacting to lower levels of the drug) vs the original anxiety retiring are two different things.

After stopping it took a little time before I was baseline again, and yes, the originals anxiety came back, but u was in a much better place with more therapy under my belt to handle it. I'm still glad I took it and it was effective for me for the short run.

You could try taking it for 3 months and then ask your doc for help weaning and see how you do, and if is too much, work with your doc about how to handle that. If the weaning in slow, that will help rebound anxiety. If you work on gaining more tools to manage and reduce anxiety and dive into therapy during this time, that will help with the original anxiety.

Use the time that things are better to work for them to be even better. Try not to become anxious about the anxiety - I used to get caught in that loop all the time. Still sometimes do.

 

[VikVikViktorious]

It was a gradual 8 week process. I had very strong reactions even to just the 12.5 in the beginning. Suicidal thoughts and extreme disorientation.

Good to know about the differences in anxieties. I think I am over the initial blast so any anxiety from here out would have a different cause.

 

[EveHarrington]

I'm curious as to why you want to come off meds so fast?

No, meds are not a cure and won't "fix" chemical imbalances. However, I think that if meds are needed, it's important to stay on them while learning coping skills. I don't think that 3 months is nearly enough time to become proficient in such skills.

I fear that you may be setting yourself up for the med roller coaster. It's not uncommon. That is, going on meds and quickly jumping ship when you feel better because you don't think you need the meds anymore, only to crash and realize you do actually need them. Rinse and repeat, sometimes quite a few times.

I think it's important to remember a few things. You're likely feeling better because of the meds, but sadly this isn't a lasting effect much of the time. That is when the meds are gone, symptoms will return unless you have solid coping skills. And, 3 months isn't enough time to learn enough coping skills when dealing with PTSD IMHO.

I think your doc is right. Stick width the meds----it will give you time to focus on gaining skills right now.