If anyone has suffered from depression and is an addict, I don’t know if you’ve questioned yourself needing medication or not but I have. I needed therapy and not a pill. Guess which one I chose that doctors never pushed harder than the other? Anyways I want to attempt getting off of it in rehab. I know it probably won’t be right away but i could be wrong. Anyways anyone experience this?
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Maybe it’s not the right medication, or maybe you really don’t need it. They are going to be super careful about throwing your chemical balance off when you’re in rehab.
When you meet someone for a psych consult, they’ll probably have more insight into the next best thing based on your symptoms. Odds are, they aren’t going to want you to stop meds right away, but may be able to try something lighter, or even something to simply stabilize your mood while you’re starting off. You’ll be in my thoughts!
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I feel the exact same way and I’m planning to address this right away when I check in Tuesday.. I’m on Lexapro 20mg.. I started at 5mg 7yrs ago bc I was so uncontrollably depressed when I “shouldn’t have been.” I couldn’t stop crying and feeling like everyone could tell how I was feeling inside. I planned to just take it for a little while to get me through it since my doc and therapists have always said my depression/anxiety is “situational.” I’m good when there aren’t major traumas going on in my life but when they hit I fall apart. Anyways, sorry for the book lol.. Just thought the back story might be insightful. I’m going to address this in treatment but I don’t think getting off it will be the best idea bc there is a weaning period and I don’t want to mess with my brain chemistry at the same time.. Depending on the psychiatrists thoughts I’m going to ask to switch meds bc I’ve also gained so much weight since being on Lexapro. The goal is to get off of it though and balance my brain chemistry by dealing with my unresolved issues and living a healthy life- Alcohol free, eating healthy, exercising, and continuing therapy for the rest of my life!! (Sorry again for the book 
..hope it was helpful)
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Thank you sm for your advice and letting me know! I am going Friday morning. 
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Yes! That’s awesome! I wish you all the best, Sarah. Sending hugs!
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Never stop depression meds without consulting a doctor.
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I’ve been on antidepressants since I was 20! I’m 42 now. I feel torn about them. They sincerely helped with my depression but not my addictions obviously. I wish I didn’t take them but I never want to feel that dark again…. Thanks for posting sister
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Yes thank you
I know it’s important for me to be on them right now. One thing at a time… i think i was just so caught up with getting every. single. thing, out my body. Now i know i will eventually try and ween myself off but I def want to try and see at some point whether or not i really really need them. Being sober in itself is amazing and I never want it to stop. 
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I let my doctor (that knows I’m a sober addict) prescribe my meds now. I’m not currently on anything but I’m also not to good to get back on anti depressants.
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It is my understanding that lexapro treats ANXIETY not depression. My doctor wanted to put me on a combo with lexapro and Wellbutrin (which treats depression not anxiety) because at the height of my drinking i had both. I’ve been sober for two weeks and my anxiety levels have
gone way down. Alcohol really screws things up in your brain.
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These type of issues should be discussed with your mental health specialist. Don't make desicion on your own. Always consult with them.
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Yeah i know. thx
I feel the same way. We’re you on them in early sobriety and slowly weened off them?
I heard that!
Actually on them before sobriety. I still have anxiety and use mutual support and talk about my fears. 3 years clean and my life is so much better (than while using narcotics and alcohol)
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Gotcha. Eventually I have the same plans…I want to experience life without anything helping me chemically. baby steps…
I started taking lexapro when I went to rehab in summer of 2019 and have been taking it ever since. I only stopped drinking for like 4 months then and have been sober now since January about four months. Idk I figure it couldn’t hurt but would like to get off them at some point. It’s only one medication so I don’t mind it for now
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I 
agree with you. Eventually it’s something I really want to get off of. I am on Cymbalta and added Seroquel for sleep. Which knocks my a** out and good for someone like me… I lay in bed for hours sometimes just tossing and turning. Not anymore…
Please only take medical advice from a doctor. One of my biggest beefs with AA is people giving medical advice, it might be well intentioned but not correct.
I had the opposite problem. When I got sober the depression got so much worse because I’d been managing it with alcohol and drugs for 30 year.
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