Will I be on Cipralex forever?

[Iwillbwell]

So I've been on and off Cipralex for a couple years now and I'm starting to wonder if i'll ever be normal without medication. When I taper myself off the meds, I'm perfectly fine for 2-3 months then wham! my anxiety/panic comes back. I really don't want to be dependent on meds forever but I don't know how to function normally without it. Is this a life sentence?

 

[Daniel E.]

What other treatments are you using? Have you tried exposure therapy?

Most people don't need to be on medications for a lifetime, and life is naturally habituating.

 

[Iwillbwell]

No exposure therapy but I do see a therapist when I need to.

 

[David Baxter PhD]

What does "when I need to mean" and what type of therapy are you doing?

 

[forgetmenot]

if the medication keeps you stable and happy why would you consider that a life sentence hun Some people do stay on medication for life because they need it not just people with anxiety but people with medical conditions too diabetics ect so what is the difference. I hope you continue to stay well hun and if it means taken a pill the so be it

 

[H011yHawkJ311yBean]

Hi there Iwillbewill.... When you say you are "tapering yourself off" of it, is this approved by your physician/therapist or do you just think that you're feeling fine and you decide to stop on your own? From my understanding a therapist or physician would prefer a patient on meds for at least a year before making changes... And if the specialist in that area thinks it's okay to start tapering off earlier than a year (or go longer than a year, or try different medication, or different therapy styles), then that is what they tell their patient...

Certainly it would be okay for you to tell your therapist/doctor that you feel great and want to start tapering off, but if (s)he disagrees, you could ask why... Maybe there is a perfectly scientific/biological reason they prefer you stay on them.