SanitysOverrated Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 (edited) So I have been on depression meds for most of my life. Ive been on several because they work for a while and then I build up a tolerance and then the dont work. Ive been on Zoloft, Wellbutrin, Prozac, Lexapro,amitriptyline, and Vibryid (which made me super aggressive) and a few others. I currently take Zoloft and Trazodone to help me sleep. So I am rarely sick so dont go in for check ups very often so they said I had to come in to get meds renewed. They couldn't see me for 2 weeks so I have been off my meds for 2 weeks (fabulous idea, NOT) Anyway I go in to see the DR that prescribed me these meds and he says.. You know, Zoloft was never made to be on long term and we should start tapering you off. I was like, WHAT? I have never heard that and if its true, then why put me on that knowing I have been on antidepressants for ever? Then he says How long are you planning on needing Trazodone (which I have been on for like 2 years)? He says this is also a short term drug. Someone please explain to me if this is true because this is the first I've ever heard of it, and if so, why wouldn't he have mentioned that before? Is this guy a Quack?? Edited April 14, 2015 by SanitysOverrated Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt07 Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 I have never heard that either Zoloft or trazadone are short-term meds. It is true that the studies are done short-term, but that's because they want to get their meds approved as soon as possible. Many people take these meds long-term. How often have you seen this doctor? Is he a psychiatrist? It sounds like he might not be that familiar with your case. Some doctors don't like to prescribe meds or don't like to have patients on meds long term. Other doctors give out meds like candy. Personally, I'd be looking for another psychiatrist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SanitysOverrated Posted April 14, 2015 Author Share Posted April 14, 2015 Yeah, he's just a general practitioner, and he really upset me. It's hard enough to be able to accept that I cant be normal without meds and find peace in that, without having this person saying something like, {why aren't you normal yet, pill popper? Do you really need meds? Jerk! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt07 Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 I encourage you to get a psychiatrist because general practitioners just don't have the experience or the knowledge about psych meds to treat people with chronic mental illnesses. I'm moving this to antidepressants. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SanitysOverrated Posted April 14, 2015 Author Share Posted April 14, 2015 Thats a good idea. Thanks for moving the post. I am new and didn't realize this was a better place for this topic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
water Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 Yeah, he's just a general practitioner, and he really upset me. It's hard enough to be able to accept that I cant be normal without meds and find peace in that, without having this person saying something like, {why aren't you normal yet, pill popper? Do you really need meds? Jerk! Jerk is right. I wanna say it again. What a JERRK!! Definitely agree with jt07. I have a great medical practitioner and a jerky psychiatrist. But the pdoc really really knows her meds and I don't go there for therapy. So I swallow my misgivings because it is all about the pills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SanitysOverrated Posted April 14, 2015 Author Share Posted April 14, 2015 Right? I just feel like I'm doing my best and trying to be a functioning member of society and if I need meds to that and to not let my pain consume me, then so what? If I was having side effects or if my health was deteriorating, then fine let's figure something out, but so far the only side effect is weight gain, which lets be real, I help along with my friends fried food and Hagen Daas! But hey, at least Im not freaking out on people! Always freaking out in my head, but not on others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissaw72 Posted April 15, 2015 Share Posted April 15, 2015 Then he says How long are you planning on needing Trazodone (which I have been on for like 2 years)? He says this is also a short term drug. I haven't heard of trazadone being a short-term med. I was on it for years before it stopped working. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bueler Posted April 15, 2015 Share Posted April 15, 2015 I don't think Zoloft is meant to be a short-term med. It certainly can be... I've known people have something tragic happen to them, they take it for a couple months, then stop taking it and they're find, and it really helped them. But I also know a lot of other people who take these kinds of antidepressants forever, usually changing them out when they stop working. It's a whole other story about how long should you be taking xanax and sleeping pills, and that's a lot more controversial. But I've never run into any doctors who are opposed to long-term Zoloft therapy... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Always Unstable Posted April 15, 2015 Share Posted April 15, 2015 My Mum's been on Zoloft for 10 or 15 years and she plans on taking it forever. Her same doctor still prescribes it to her. If you're in a situation where you have to see a GP and not a psychiatrist I guess it's better than nothing (been there, done that when I didn't have insurance for a while). But, imho, GP's are worthless at prescribing psychiatric meds. I like to think of it like this, I wouldn't go to a shrink for a broken leg, so why go to a GP for an MI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kateislate Posted April 15, 2015 Share Posted April 15, 2015 Oh God, if you can, get a psychiatrist. And get another GP. I would expect even a GP would know that Zoloft is not a "short-term" med. The American Psychiatric Association guidelines recommend indefinite maintenance antidepressant treatment in many situations, so it's just wrong to say it's not meant to be long term. It completely depends on your history, symptoms, etc. If you've had only one or two depressive episodes, are completely in remission and have been so for many months, and so forth, then it makes sense to try and get off them in many cases. Even then, not always. But that doesn't sound like your situation? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SanitysOverrated Posted April 15, 2015 Author Share Posted April 15, 2015 Thanks everyone! I kinda felt this way about it too. Oh God, if you can, get a psychiatrist. And get another GP. I would expect even a GP would know that Zoloft is not a "short-term" med. The American Psychiatric Association guidelines recommend indefinite maintenance antidepressant treatment in many situations, so it's just wrong to say it's not meant to be long term. It completely depends on your history, symptoms, etc. If you've had only one or two depressive episodes, are completely in remission and have been so for many months, and so forth, then it makes sense to try and get off them in many cases. Even then, not always. But that doesn't sound like your situation? That is not my situation. I have been on and off med since I was 19. My mom, sister and brother all supper from depressive disorders. I never wanted to be on meds and I fought it a lot when I was younger. Would stop taking them and try St John's wort, or SAM E or something but I would sink into depression and want to cry about everything and I would go back on. Now I just accept that this is me and that the meds allow me to have some semblance of a normal life (even though I still struggle a lot sometimes). The Trazodone was prescribed because of my high anxiety and restless mind at night. I was exhausted. It just sucks to have a doctor treat you like you are pill seeking or something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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