getting off meds

[thereisnothing]

i've been on 15mg lexapro for a while now, and everyone keeps insisting that i should lower my dosage because i'm doing "better." but i don't understand why that if i'm doing better i can't stay on the higher dosage. my doctor recently moved me down to 10mg and i know it shouldn't make a difference but i just feel like i was better on 15mg but everyone insists that the goal of therapy and everything is to get back off antidepressants. but what's the point of going on them if the point is to get off them like i don't understand why i can't just take it for life if it makes me feel better.

maybe it's placebo affect though that i'm doing worse on 10mg, because i was afraid that changing my dosage would make me feel worse so because i thought so much about it it's happening.

has anyone else thought about staying on medication for life? or had that conversation with your doctor / therapist?

 

[Lady Wolfshead]

That's interesting because I think many doctors never actually suggest lowering a dose or getting you off meds. Most people I know on meds have been taking meds for 20+ years and I think the long-term effects of SSRI (like lexapro) meds are pretty mild. Do you see a psychiatrist? I had one for 12 years and she never suggested to lower the dose when I was doing well.

If you feel like you're doing worse on the 10 mg I would share that with your doctor asap.

 

[Lady Wolfshead]

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional.

 

[Livelife]

i've been on 15mg lexapro for a while now, and everyone keeps insisting that i should lower my dosage because i'm doing "better." but i don't understand why that if i'm doing better i can't stay on the higher dosage. my doctor recently moved me down to 10mg and i know it shouldn't make a difference but i just feel like i was better on 15mg but everyone insists that the goal of therapy and everything is to get back off antidepressants. but what's the point of going on them if the point is to get off them like i don't understand why i can't just take it for life if it makes me feel better.

maybe it's placebo affect though that i'm doing worse on 10mg, because i was afraid that changing my dosage would make me feel worse so because i thought so much about it it's happening.

has anyone else thought about staying on medication for life? or had that conversation with your doctor / therapist?

Your thoughts have some logic. About how long have you been on them; weeks, months, years? How long have you been taking the 10 mg. dosage? Is this physician the one that originally prescribed the med for you?

 

[thereisnothing]

That's interesting because I think many doctors never actually suggest lowering a dose or getting you off meds. Most people I know on meds have been taking meds for 20+ years and I think the long-term effects of SSRI (like lexapro) meds are pretty mild. Do you see a psychiatrist? I had one for 12 years and she never suggested to lower the dose when I was doing well.

If you feel like you're doing worse on the 10 mg I would share that with your doctor asap.

i recently stopped seeing my psychiatrist and my medical doctor gives me prescription now, but even before i stopped seeing her she had wanted to lower my dosage. same with my medical doctor

 

[thereisnothing]

Your thoughts have some logic. About how long have you been on them; weeks, months, years? How long have you been taking the 10 mg. dosage? Is this physician the one that originally prescribed the med for you?

i've been taking lexapro for 2-3 years now. 10mg for 2 weeks. i stopped seeing the original psychiatrist who prescribed it but she had also wanted to eventually lower my dosage too.

 

[may71]

but what's the point of going on them if the point is to get off them like i don't understand why i can't just take it for life if it makes me feel better.

It's probably best to ask your doctor this directly. If they want you to lower your dose, they should have an explanation for you.