Subscribe Feed (RSS)Coming Off Antidepressants - What To Expect
February 15th, 2009 by admin | Filed under Uncategorized.Coming off antidepressants may be easier said than done. If you have been taking medication for depression and are now in the process of reducing dosages or stopping, you may be struggling with reactions you did not anticipate.
What may happen when reducing or eliminating antidepressant medication from your system? Specifically, what discontinuation reactions may occur? Will these subside in time and how long will it take?
Antidepressant withdrawal can be a challenging process. You may have conquered your depression but now have to contend with what feels like another round of symptoms. First of all, it is helpful to realize that different reactions may be experienced with different medications.
Common reactions may include feeling nauseated or dizzy. You may experience sleep difficulties, which are experienced as nightmares, insomnia, or vivid and unusual dreams. Sweating or abdominal pain or diarrhea may be accompanied by fatigue. Thankfully, these reactions are usually mild and passing, when coming off antidepressants.
In more severe cases, withdrawal can affect a person in significant physical and psychological ways. Some reports include reactions such as tingling or electric shock sensations, hallucinations, agitation, anxiety, and being incapacitated. Compounding the problem, antidepressant withdrawal symptoms may be mistaken for a return of original depressive symptoms.
Thankfully, your doctor is there as a partner in the recovery process. He may tell you that experts recommend weaning yourself from medication, reducing dosages in small increments to lessen withdrawal reactions. In this way, your brain will adjust to changes in its chemical balance and adapt to coming off antidepressants.
This process may take weeks or months and you will need to be patient; however, just being informed may make things easier. It is important to apprise your doctor of any reactions you are experiencing.
It may be helpful, at this stage, to get an evaluation of your nutritional status. Minerals and vitamins can help when reducing dosages or going off of antidepressant medication. Deficiencies of certain amino acids and minerals can affect vitality and feelings of well being.
In fact, potent herbal preparations are not only used to counter the effects of antidepressant withdrawal but they also act to alleviate symptoms of depression. People are recognizing the enormous potential of natural supplements to relieve depression and the benefits of not having to deal with troubling side effects encountered with use of traditional medications.
Natural supplements are specifically formulated to treat underlying causes of depression. Malfunctioning neurotransmitters and brain impairment toy with well being. Nutritional deficiencies may compound these problems. Herbal preparations work to restore balance and enhance brain functioning, without adverse effects, such as those that can be experienced when beat-your-depression.com/depression_in_women.html coming off antidepressants, and that can cause distress.
Remedies may include valerian, which is used for mood disorders including depression; ginkgo biloba, another substance that helps with cognitive functioning and depression; chamomile, helpful in anxiety reduction; and calcium and magnesium, for easing emotional and physical stress. These ingredients are combined with essential vitamins and minerals, specialty supplements, enzymes, amino acids, and herbal extracts to calm the nervous system and restore brain functioning. Supplements offer relief not only in alleviating depression symptoms but also in offering a trouble-free experience when discontinuing them. Nutritional supplements are a viable option if you are worried about reactions associated with antidepressant withdrawal.
It is always important to consult with your doctor before embarking on any treatment or when considering reducing or stopping medication. If your depression was severe, your doctor may have decided that prescription drugs were called for.
Certainly, with the options available, you and your doctor can decide on the best course for you—one that will help you in your journey of coming off antidepressants, with as few effects as possible.
Athlyn Green is an avid health enthusiast with an interest in natural remedies for treatment of health disorders. She has contributed to beat-your-depression.com Antidepressant Withdrawal, a section of beat-your-depression.com beat-your-depression.com dedicated to natural treatments and prescription drug alternatives for this disorder.
Tags: anxiety, mineral, sensations, sleepRelated posts
Tags: anxiety, mineral, sensations, sleep
