Out of the Depression Closet
Decided several weeks ago to get off antidepressants, hereinafter referred to as The Meds. Sidebar: not wanting my legal education and student loans to be in vain, I must occasionally speak legalese. Forgive me. I know not what I do.
But I digress.
Oh yes, The Meds. Don’t like what I’ve discovered about the known side effects, long term risks and the great unknown. Have come to distrust the pharmaceutical companies, hereinafter referred to as PharmSuits, and how they produce, direct and star in that increasingly popular feature, Psychiatric Meds - Why You Need Them.
Caveat: Lest I get noodle whipped for my callousness, deranged thought process or plain stupidity, let me say this about that. Never say never. There are, I’m certain, situations that warrant The Meds.
Having said this about that, the PharmSuits have, for the past several years, taken to the airwaves, barraging us with thirty second diagnoses and treatment plans. As if The Meds are the Second Coming. As if the complexity and wonder of the human mind and a human life can be so trivialized. Horse hockey.
For the past four weeks, I’ve tracked my withdrawal symptoms. Whoops, I mean “discontinuation symptoms.” Shame on me. Wyeth told me it’s not withdrawal.
The big girl label for Effexor XR is forty-six pages long.
46
Forty-six
Four tens and six singles
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46
Can we talk?
April 12th, 2006 at 1:13 pm
Good for you, sugar! I made a similar decision about 5 years ago. I had been on a few different things (at the recommendation of my doctor) as I came out to my family and friends but they made me feel so disconnected. I finally woke up one day and said, “what if we just choose to be happy?”
So, it’s a struggle for all of us no doubt but life is much, much better. I’m proud that you also are choosing to be happy.
April 12th, 2006 at 10:07 pm
Thanks, Ry. Me, too!
April 25th, 2006 at 2:10 pm
I’ve never taken meds for depression although i was told time and again i should. It’s a personal choice. But it’s nice to know i’m not the only blogger out of sorts or even, on occassion, feeling perhaps a tad broken. Dysfunctionally functional, as it were. And how nice of you to drop a bit of friendly positivity as you did. Most appreciated.
April 25th, 2006 at 5:10 pm
I’m sure there are many of us out there. Sending positive thoughts and energy your way, Anne.
May 19th, 2006 at 8:57 pm
OFF YOUR MEDS??? - GIRL - ARE YOU OFF YOUR ROCKER??? Meds are my friends - I like living better through chemistry. Even once in a while I get a glimpse of what it is off meds and I get deja vu when I recognize that’s how I used to feel all the time. I have a new favorite med: Byetta. It helps your insulin work better. This is the first time in my life other than when I was pregnant that I could care less about food. I don’t think about what is calling my name from the vending machine and I am not a carbohydrate seeking missle when I get home from work.
But based on your writing of late it doesn’t look like it has had the same effect on you. You go girl!!
Love you bunches!
May 20th, 2006 at 11:34 pm
My motto since having kids - whatever works. Can I have an Amen? Love you too, Amy B!