Weaning off Depression Medication: A Major Concern After NYC Mom Commits Suicide With Daughter

Weaning off depression medication should be down gradually, never abrupt. Despite this, withdrawal symptoms may last several weeks. The patient should follow their doctor's prescription on slowly removing depression medication from the system. Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome can happen if a person stops taking the antidepressant medication abruptly.

She Felt the Antidepressants Were Addictive

Oksana Patchin shared with a close friend how she had begun seeing a psychiatrist sometime in June, NY Post reported. She had been experiencing anxiety and panic attacks following her divorce in November. She was prescribed Klonopin and Trazodone.

The 39-year-old mom revealed to her friend that she felt she was getting addicted to the medications. "She was never addicted to anything before she started on those medications. Shortly after taking them, she became depressed and suicidal," the friend shared her observations. She was slowly weaning off medication with the help of a doctor.

Can Antidepressants be Addictive?

Antidepressants are said to be non-addictive. However, such kinds of medication may be abused, and users can become physically dependent on the medicines, the Addiction Center revealed. Bradley Gaynes, a psychiatrist at the University of North Carolina, said that many medications prescribed for pain, anxiety, and sleep could be habit-forming. Further, the body would acclimate to the drugs before the side effects go away.

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Mom Weaning Off Depression Medication Jumped off a Building with Daughter

Patchin's mom, Anna, revealed that her daughter had begun breaking the pills into pieces. Anna shared that her daughter wanted to stop taking the drugs. Patchin wanted to fight clinical depression without the help of chemicals. Anna's revelation made it unclear if Patchin was following the doctor's orders on safely reducing dosages. Suicidal ideation is one of the risks of patients being treated with antidepressants face. This can happen at several phases at initial treatment and increasing or decreasing dosage.

Surveillance cameras showed Patchin at the rooftop of 540 W. 53^rd St in Hell's Kitchen around 1:40 pm. She was seen climbing over the safety gate. She then picked up her 5-year-old daughter Olivia. The mom-and-daughter jumped off the 12-story building. They were rushed to St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital but were pronounced dead.

NYC Mom Suicide: She Could Be Deep in Debt

Towards the end of 2019, Patchin filed for bankruptcy protection. She cited nearly $100,000 debt, mostly in credit card debts. She had $32,000 in assets, $25,000 of which is a 401k retirement account. She was already separated from her ex-husband when she filed the case. The bankruptcy protection case was discharged in April.

Patchin was a bank officer for French bank CIC in Manhattan. Patchin, a bank officer, was making nearly $10,000 a month. She listed her mom and daughter as dependents. Further, she cited her 5-year-old daughter as having "special needs."

Patchin's friends reminded her to be strong for her daughter. She was going to the gym and taking her daughter to dance classes at a local Catholic school. Friends describe her as a loving mom. The apartment also featured the child's artwork, glitters, and all. Her suicide came as a shock to all who knew her.

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