How do you know when you're ready to stop taking meds?

[Mojo61]

Hi guys. Bit of an odd question, but how will I know when I'm ready to start weaning off my meds? I've been on citalopram for a year in April and feel a lot better than I did but I'm frightened to try weaning off for fear of returning to my original symptoms. I'm guessing that's a red flag to say I'm not ready to stop eh?

I'd like to eventually come off them, even if it's just to see if the zombiefied feeling goes away, but I don't want to risk a relapse and I see quite a few posts where people have stopped, relapsed, started the meds again, and they haven't worked! That fills me with dread as no way could I go back to that awful place I was in during 2015/16.

[pollynewsome]

Hi Mojo. To be honest im not sure. I too have wondered that and like you I am much better than I was, however definitely not right. I have been at 30mg for about 3 months and 20mg for 8 months. I've just decided that I'm still not right so what's the point in continuing so I am day 5 at 20mg. I am having moments where I feel pretty good and moments where I feel pretty bad but just going to come off the med and see how I feel. I'm trying not to dwell on it too much and keeping pretty active. I think the mind can make you feel worse than you actually do. My doc said it my call really. I will be interested if I stop feeling so hungry. I've put 3 stone on since starting the med. I've had a few mornings where nearly forgot my med and yet in the early days it was all I could think of.. good luck whatever you decide x

[Mojo61]

Thanks Polly. I never went above 20mg, perhaps I should have done but I was only just coping on 20 what with the nausea, insomnia, crazy dreams etc. I didn't want more of those side effects so I stuck at 20.

I have good and bad times; like you sometimes I forget about the anxiety and think I'm back to normal, but then it comes back to remind me that the fight isn't over yet.

I think also that my expectations are a little too high. I assumed I'd start the meds and within a few weeks all my worries would be over and I'd return to how I was before, after all that's what I'd been reading on the forums. The reality was somewhat different and now I'm thinking I have reached the stage of as good as it's going to get and I just need to work a bit harder.