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tendency said:
Yeah, this is about SAD. For me, SSRIs are a great fit — barely any side effects and they help a lot. Usually they kick in fast too, often within 2-3 days. I've moved back to a region of the US where my SAD is clinically severe, so I've been thinking about starting lexapro again.lessthanhalf said:
why? Either the mood holds steady while on treatment and then worsens once you stop, in which case you're better off continuing it ? or it holds steady when treatment ends, in which case you don't need to cycle it or start over ? Or is this seasonal affective disorder that doesn't answer to bright light therapy?
I realize these meds often get criticized, but for a certain % of people they're extremely effective and can be life savers. My worry is what long term use might do.
Also, light therapy barely touches my symptoms.
birdwhacker said:
My advice: stay with prozac unless you have confirmed that Prozac is ineffective for you. Its half life is long, and tolerance is generally good. Cycling it should be feasible.tendency said:
Hi - I'm wondering whether anyone in this community has tried taking an SSRI, for instance lexapro, for 4-6 months each year and then stopping for the remainder?
A lot of medications work better when taken in a thoughtful pattern of this kind, rather than following the standard prescription approach. Take Lamictal: the dose is raised right away to levels that aren't safe, and then you're expected to simply... remain on it? Indefinitely? Despite the fact that it begins harming people after 4 or 5 years? Why increase to 400mg instead of staying at the initial 25 and 50mg doses.
The reason is that medicine as a whole tends to be doctrinaire. That serves well for surgical procedures. Or antibiotics. But it doesn't serve well for mental health.
Yep, I'm already on 5Kiu of vitamin D (along with K spectrum) - my D levels stay right where they should be.Devilseye said:
When it comes to SAD specifically, it's also worth getting your vitamin D levels tested and supplementing with as much as 5-10K IU daily during winter. It might not do anything for you, but trying carries no risk.
The psychiatrist I see (really excellent, keeps current with the newest research and so on) worries that taking an SSRI over the long haul could cause lasting problems with serotonin regulation.Devilseye said:
tendency said:
Yeah, this is about SAD. For me, SSRIs are a great fit — barely any side effects and they help a lot. Usually they kick in fast too, often within 2-3 days. I've moved back to a region of the US where my SAD is clinically severe, so I've been thinking about starting lexapro again.lessthanhalf said:
why? Either the mood holds steady while on treatment and then worsens once you stop, in which case you're better off continuing it ? or it holds steady when treatment ends, in which case you don't need to cycle it or start over ? Or is this seasonal affective disorder that doesn't answer to bright light therapy?
I realize these meds often get criticized, but for a certain % of people they're extremely effective and can be life savers. My worry is what long term use might do.
Also, light therapy barely touches my symptoms.
Which long-term problems do you have in mind? These medications are generally considered quite safe, and there is a large amount of long-term data behind them.
As for what you asked: sure, it can be done, but it isn't advised. Even so, you ought to taper gradually. Quitting abruptly may set off a depression. It also matters how large your dose is.