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Do not start with SSRI!

1352 Views 8 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  Bree123
No matter how bad you feel, don't start with an SSRI. It's only a temporarily solution.

I'm 100% sure that my DP was caused by a few years of SSRI usage. SSRI can cause DP due to many things but the most critical one is that your REM-sleep will be messed up:

http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/sleep-disorders/effects-antidepressants-sleep

While data have been reported most extensively for fluoxetine and paroxetine, class effects of SSRI therapy appear to include increased sleep onset latency and/or an increased number of awakenings and arousals, leading to an overall decrease in sleep efficiency.12,13 Virtually all of the SSRIs examined have been noted to suppress REM sleep.1 Clinically, reports of a change in the frequency, intensity, and content of dreaming can be associated with SSRIs, as well as the occurrence of these symptoms on discontinuation.
REM-sleep is EXTREMELY important for your brain. If your brain doesn't get enough rest, it's quite obvious that you're going to get a lot of mental issues eventually.

I'm on prozac atm and i'm gonna quit next week and start with supplements instead.

I honestly can't believe that SSRI is actually given to people. Just unbelievable :angry: :angry:
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Well, as i said: It's a temporarily solution. You pretty much make a deal with the devil.
Of course it's different for everyone. For me it took a long time of trying different natural remedies as a way to help anxiety/depression and nothing helped, but I really did not want to take meds. It got to the point where I could not leave the house to even walk around the block without having a panic attack. So I tried a small dose of Zoloft and it has been great. It's helped me manage my problems better, so I can go to school/therapy/live my life. I know it's just temporary, and I know that (even on a low dose) withdrawals might really suck. But had I not tried the Zoloft I wouldn't be where I am today.

The medication has helped me get out and learn/practice ways to manage my anxiety and depression (which in turn helps the dpdr),and I know that when the time is right for me to stop the meds, I will still have the tools and knowledge to continue improving my mental health. I wouldn't have been able to do any of this had it not been for the SSRI.

Again, everyone is different and everyone reacts to things differently. Our brains and bodies aren't all the same so something like an SSRI might be shit for some people, but really help others. I hope you find something else to help you and that you feel better soon!
I felt extremely good on Lexapro for 2 years.

But suddenly i started to feel extremely weird and one morning a few days later i officially had DP.

SSRI's are just like any other drug. It's awesome in the short run but devastating in the long run.
yeah, who knows. my DP was brought on my prozac. and i know my sleep is fucked (i have no trouble falling asleep, but i'm a very light sleeper). the couple of days that i emerged from my DP (by accident), i got really deep sleep the night before. this is part of why i'm going to start EMDR therapy, since it simulates REM sleep. i've read about it making people really tired and improving their sleep.
Well you could have sleep apnea. Have you checked that yet?

Sleep apnea can no doubt cause DP.
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