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NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Friday, February 10, 2012
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NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Friday, February 10, 2012
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Depression |
Trying to wean off anti-depressants11/30/2009 |
Hello, I have been on antidepressants (Wellbutrin and Celexa) for many years. I have since quit drinking all alcohol for more than 2 years. I do believe much of my depression was from my heavy drinking. How can I slowly wean off my meds. to see if my depression is finally at bay without meds.?
Your risk for a recurrence off medications should be lower without alcohol, so that's a helpful step. Whether you should stop your medications altogether depends on what other risk factors may contribute to a recurrence, such as:
a) other medical illnesses,
b) other psychiatric illnesses,
c) the number of previous episodes of major depression,
d) your family history of depression,
e) current stressors.
If you do decide to taper meds, do it gradually, one med at a time, with regular monitoring by your prescribing physician of depression symptoms during the taper and for 6 months after. Psychotherapy, specifically cognitive behavioral therapy for depression, can reduce the risk for recurrence. Other non-pharmacologic treatments, such as exercise and light therapy, may also reduce the risk.
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Lawson Wulsin, MD Professor of Psychiatry and Family Medicine Department of Psychiatry Department of Family Medicine College of Medicine University of Cincinnati |
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