Are there people who have to take antidepressants forever?

Question:

I am taking antidepressants and thanks to them I have been asymptomatic for two years. My doctor is very happy with my progress and says it's time for me to taper them off. I have tried tapering them twice, but but every time I do, my depression returns. I'm doing everything I can think of to keep my mood up, I have good friends, I make sure to get sunshine and exercise, I eat a balanced diet. I just moved in to college and I like it here. Everything in my life ought to be making me happy. Are there people who have a chemical imbalance in their brains genetically, or is there something wrong with me that I can't go off the medication?

Answers:
The causes for depression varies from person to person. Getting off of medication can be very hard for some people.

One of my family members took an antidepressant for a chronic depression. When the doctor tapered him off of the drug, it triggered a rebound depression which nearly killed him.

His new doctor told him that the rule of thumb is that the patient, not the doctor, decides when he or she wants to get off the drug. Some, especially those with true chemical imbalances, do better when they are always medicated. Others, who have situational depression, do fine when the medication is removed.

Since you are obviously doing other things (eating right and exercising) to regulate your moods, you might want to think about whether or not YOU want the medication to be permanent or situational.

Good luck.

Yes. I am on one for five years now. Sometimes the dose is adjusted up or down. I am also on a mood stabilizer because i am bipolar. I have had the greatest five years of my life on these two medications.

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Are there people who have to take antidepressants forever?

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