[unleadedblue]

Hi all,

I have been on meds since I was 15 years old, nearly 10 years. I truly believe I was just a typical moody teen who wanted attention. Well, over the years, doctors have put me on every pill imaginiable. I just went along with it, figured it may make me feel happier or give me more energy. I have put on nearly 80 pounds and can honestly say, the only time im sad and down, is when I think about my weight. I am now ready to say I want off of the pills. Over the past year, Ive developed an anxiety disorder, which I discovered after research, is a side effect of the meds. So I basically created an additional illness from meds given to me to help me. I feel like a drug addict these days. I cant function until I take my Provigil and 300mg of Effexor. Well, I want off! I can;t even remember the last time I was able to think clearly in my own head, always the drugs doing something. I want to get off my meds and attempt to live a natural life using actual therapy and exercise as opposed to drugs. My doctor doesn;t think I will ever be off meds since Ive been on them so long. So whats my first step? Find a new doctor? Ive been through several over the years, not one of them ever talking to me, just seeing me for 10 minutes and giving me a new pill. Does anyone know a way to start this process on their own? I know I cant go cold turkey, as I missed my effexor for 2 days and ended up really irritable and angry. I dont know what to do , but what i do know, is that i want my life back.

Any advice?

Thanks!

[slowly crawling from hell]

I used to be on Effexor, I stopped taking it cold turkey because I thought I didn't need it anymore. The first couple of weeks were fine, but then MAjOR DEPRESSION like I've never had kicked me right in the ass. We're kind of in the same boat...I went to the doctor to get help for anxiety, but he gave me anti depressants. So now I've gained another disorder..depression. I was never ever depressed before I started anti depressants...now it's horrible. You need to find a doctor that will gradually taper you off of it..DO NOT DO IT ON YOUR OWN... Sometimes when people start taking meds and after a while start feeling really good about themselves they stop the meds, this is the whole point of taking them..so you can feel better about life...they are the ones helping...so please be careful...the depression might hit you like a brick! You need to see a GOOD doctor.

~M