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How long on an antidepressant?

charmcitygirlcharmcitygirl member
in Postpartum Depression

I've been on Lexapro since October when I was diagnosed with PPD.  I feel really good and I think I would like to continue it.  I have a med check appt with my psychiatrist next week.

We're not TTC and I think that I'm in a good place right now, so why tinker with it, right?

How long did others stay on meds?

PS - I know I got started a bit later in Jacob's life.  He was 7 months old before I sought out help and started feeling better.

Allison
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Re: How long on an antidepressant?

  • Smudges*MomSmudges*Mom member

    Hey there!

    I asked my psychiatrist how long he thought I should stay on my antidepressant (not that I am looking to get off of it now--I was just curious).  He told me that when he first got out of med school, they really pushed docs to get patients off of meds as soon as was prudent.  My psychiatrist said that more recent studies have shown that the longer a patient is on meds, the better off they will be long term.  He said that the brains scans show this.  He has done a 180* turn in his thinking.  He said that this is the same advice he gives him families.  He told me that he'd like to see me on my antidepressant for 4 or 5 years.

    Don't know if that's news you wanted to hear, but that's what my doc told me just a week ago.  Since we don't plan on any more kids, that's not a problem for me and there is no way that I want to go back to feeling how I did after Grant was born. 

    I will be curious to see what your doc says.  (Are you seeing your OB for meds or a psychiatrist?)

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  • Temp534591562502098Temp534591562502098
    Not sure! I'm honestly hoping to stay on it until I stop EBFing and get my cycles back. I'm thinking that combined with her being older and STTN more often will help me get off of it easier? But I just started and am on a lower dose.
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  • jenny1980jenny1980 member

    I think it really depends on your particular issue.

    I have PPOCD and my psych will work with me to taper off once the cognitive behavioral therapy has become effective for me. It would probably be different if I had generalized anxiety or depression.

     

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  • wheelsonthebuswheelsonthebus member
    My Dr. told me they like to see you symptom free for a year. I just spoke with my dr about going off my small dose of prozac when I was ready to wean DS. In my experience, they really don't push you to go off the anti-dep.

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