Depression Medicine: Deciding To Quit

Depression medicine has helped millions of people live better lives.

And there may come a time when you feel ready to stop taking it because you no longer need it.

But you might want to stop for a different reason, even though you may need to keep taking it.

Whatever your reason for wanting to stop, you need to talk about it with your doctor to find out if that's the right decision for you.

Here's why... The best reason to stop taking depression medicine is if you feel better and you and your doctor believe that you'll keep feeling better after you stop.

And taking your medicine for at least 6 months after you start feeling better can help keep you from getting depressed again. Now, there are some other things that might make you want to stop taking depression medicine.

So let's look at those, along with some ways you might deal with them.

You feel that your medicine isn't working fast enough.

Well, depression medicine needs time to work.

You should start to feel a bit better in 1 to 3 weeks and a lot better in 6 to 8 weeks.

If not, let your doctor know. You have some side effects.

Yeah, they're pretty common... especially when you first start taking the medicine.

But most side effects can be managed, or you can work with your doctor to change the dose or type of medicine you take. You can't afford the medicine.

There are lots of medicines that really don't cost much, so your doctor may be able to prescribe one for you that costs a lot less.

Your doctor can also connect you with organizations that help people pay for their medicine.

Remember, suddenly stopping your depression medicine isn't a good idea.

So if you're thinking of stopping, be sure to talk with your doctor first about why you want to stop and how to do it safely.