[Anonymous]

Okay so I came off anti depressants lately (sensibly) and I've noticed the following things happen

I get more anxious about the things I used to get anxious about.
I cry a lot more
I feel more for my boyfriend (this is a good thing )
I find it a little harder to sleep
Things upset me more...

The thing is these are at the level they were before I got depressed... not worse. My circumstances are so much better now than they were when I started the medication. I'm prepared for the chemical changes in my brain etc, and I can usually resolve my own anxieties and suchlike. It also, in a strange way, feels good to be out of the anti-depressant bubble and feel things properly again. All I want to know is; what side effects did other people experience when coming off anti-depressants, and did they get worse or better?

[Sabertooth]

Whenever I've stopped taking mine, I experience quite a few of those same effects: a lot of nausea, insomnia, tearfulness, anxiety and being more sensitive to outside factors. A couple of antidepressants I tried also kind of blocked my feelings for my girlfriend which also disappeared once I stoppped them.I think they are all very normal effects to experience. Can I just ask how long have you been off them? You're right that obviously there will be chemical changes when you stop taking them and it will take time for your body to adjust to these. It's recommended that you continue to take antidepressants for 6 months after feeling better if it's your first episode of depression to try and stop it coming back. So perhaps if you do feel like these symptoms are too similar to your depressive episode that might be the reason. Then again, it might just be an adjustment period so give it time I'd say.

[Anonymous]

Thank you! I've been off them completely for a few weeks, was tapering them before that... It's not my first episode of depression but I started feeling better in January meaning I've been on them for... almost six months. It's enough I think Thanks for the advice, giving it time is all I can do... it's not at all similar to the depressive episode because I don't feel hopeless or worthless, just a little anxious.

[Daniel_R]

Hang in there the sideffects will dissapear after 3 weeks. Also which Anti-depressent you stopping?