going off meds

[freedom]

has anyone had an ok time going off meds gradually?

i would eventually (not during the winter) seriously consider going off them gradually (i take celexa) and i'm wondering if is possible not to go through hell....
my plan would be to replace it with inositol and really good nutritional support and i think i would wait until things are a bit more settled in my life because there is a lot unknown right now that is being worked out.
i have also heard from two peole - one a friend and one a therapist who said that sometimes if you go off meds the part of your brain that has been reactivated by the meds can remain activated so you can actually get better to an extent......at least this can be true for some people - i think depending on the type and severity of your depression.

if anyone has any advice or ideas let me know (please no horror stories i don't want to be more scared)

thanks
freedom

[obnoxa]

I myself will happily die all doped up!! ;D But for those of you who chose to see the world without the drug induced haze I know refer to as reality I say go for it! I have two friends who went off meds, one had some headaches at first and seemed (to me anyway) a little moody for about a week. My other friend did it under the guidance of her shrink, did fantastic and six years later still hasn't looked back.

[freedom]

thanks for the info. obnoxa.

n some ways i don't mind being "all doped up" - it's been pretty great for me too ;D. however i miss my libdio... and i have been working to really boost my health and immune system for almost a year (and it is working) and i guess i just don't want any more chemicals in my body than neccessary. but i am so pro meds if it increases one's quality of life.

when i first went on the meds my boyfriend and i kept saying how much we loved celexa - i think at a certain point it evened me out so i'm not as insanely cheerful as i first was (those were the days) and it is easy to forget how truly moody and sad i was pre meds.

i could see a bit of worry in my boyfriends face when i mentioned trying to go off at some point - i think it's made our relationship much better - all my relationships actually. i think sometimes meds help you see reality rather than taking you away from it. depression can really mess up a person's perspective.

i just wonder if i can hold onto what i have gained with the meds, without them? that would be ideal.

thanks
freedom

[obnoxa]

If you can hold on to what you've attained so far, hmm, that's a pretty tough question. And I can sort of relate to wanting off, it'd be nice to not be in a panic when I get to the office because I forgot my pills, the dependence totally sucks. I do know though that sometimes when you go off meds if you rebound into your previous state your body builds up something like an immunity so if you try to start the meds again they don't take, leaving you back at square one. Definitly do your homework on this one, so you can evaluate your decision from every angle. Whatever you chose, I wish you the best of luck with it!