Off/On SSRI success rate with anxiety diagnosis

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Wheresmychute

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Wheresmychute
Now that the grace period after medication changes have been reduced from 6 to 3 months, I was wondering about this. I have a GAD and take zoloft for it. I have been for years at this point, maybe 4 to 5. For a long time I've been good mentally, occasional instances of panic or anxiety but its had a clear cause, so not random. Basically I went to therapy, got diagnosed by my PCP for GAD, took the meds, tried to get off them but due to lack of medical support went back on. Now I want to try again since I'm doing well.

My question is, I was told the process to get a medical after the three month wait period after stopping my meds will be just as arduous and expensive as if I stayed on them. Is this true?

Thanks!
 
Depends. Did you ever have an earlier period requiring psychiatry support (of any kind)? Decision path 1 is only available if you have had ONLY ONE EPISODE EVER and if what you have is less than 5 year's duration....and they want that from the doc....not "in your opinion as applicant"
 
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bbchien said:
Depends. Did you ever have an earlier period requring psychiatry support? Decision path 1 is only avaiable if you have had ONLY ONE EPISODE EVER and if what you have is les s tan 5 yearr's duration....and they want that from the doc.
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Only time I saw a psychiatrist was to interview for my medical, so unrelated to any actual event. Is the five years duration on the meds?
 
Half Fast said:
Uh, you’re taking a med for a condition and doing well. Sounds to me like the medication is working. “Doing well” is an indication of effective treatment, not necessarily an indication of unneeded treatment.
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These meds are not meant to be a permanent thing, at least as far as I am told. Your brain adjusts to them and returns to the baseline in many cases. The meds never got rid of my anxiety, frankly I don't know if they helped it at all or if my life circumstances helped. Either way, I dont want to be on them for the rest of my life.
 
In your case, my surmise is that it will be just as arduous off meds. Maybe even more so. Maybe not possible. That bit you posted last year about disclosure is sort of a hint. You have a HIMS AME you said (in 2025), you should be asking there, not here....
 
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bbchien said:
In your case, my surmise is that it will be just as arduous off meds. Maybe even more so. Maybe not possible. That bit you posted last year about disclosure is sort of a hint. You have a HIMS AME you said (in 2025), you should be asking there, not here....
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Sadly not all HIMS AME’s are made equal. The one I’ve been dealing with has caused months worth of delays by not keeping track of what I send, and not updating me when they need something.

“Good Morning, can you send X to us?”
“Sure, here it is.”

3 weeks later,

“Hey I haven’t heard anything from you all.”
“We are still waiting on X.”
“I sent X, see?”
“Thank you, we will start working on this.”

A month later,
“Good Morning, any progress?”
“We are still waiting on Y.” (First time Y is mentioned)

You can see what I mean.

I was just curious since I am maybe a year away from the 5 year mark. And would like to be off the meds.
 
Then the thing to do is, get the local psychiatrist's opinion, and if he can support "off meds" (only if) then get off them. STOP THE CLOCK. (but only if you haven't had a "recurrent" diagnosis or even on additional period of needing psy. support)...

May or may not be a good idea......sigh.
 
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