If your antidepressants caused extreme sleepiness and you stopped taking them, you're not alone. This page offers guidance on managing withdrawal and finding proper psychiatric care while living outside Pakistan.
That sounds like a genuinely rough experience — being put on a medication that knocks you out for 16 to 20 hours is not a small thing, and stopping it because of that makes complete sense. But taking the pills only sometimes is a different problem: it can make your sleep worse and your mood more unstable, and it carries real risks like withdrawal or a sudden return of depression. You are not doing anything wrong — you are trying to survive — but the way forward is to get proper, consistent care, even from abroad.
The most direct route is telehealth with a Pakistani psychiatrist who can continue your care remotely. Many reputable psychiatrists in Pakistan now offer online consultations — especially for Pakistanis living abroad. You can find them through:
Taking pills "only sometimes" is the most dangerous part. It can trigger withdrawal, rebound insomnia, and even suicidal thoughts. Do one thing: call or message your original doctor today and tell them exactly what happened — the extreme sleepiness, that you stopped, and that you are now taking them irregularly. They may switch you to a different antidepressant that does not cause that level of sedation, or they may advise a safe taper. Do not restart a regular dose on your own without talking to them first.
If you cannot reach them, a telemedicine psychiatrist in Pakistan can help you stabilise within a single session. The cost is usually low — often between 1,000 and 3,000 rupees per session.
That level of sedation (16–20 hours) is not normal for most antidepressants. It could be a sign that the dose was too high, or that the specific medicine is not right for your body. It could also point to something else — like an underlying thyroid issue, vitamin D or B12 deficiency, or sleep apnoea — that made the drug hit you harder. A blood test (vitamin D, B12, iron, thyroid panel) is worth doing, especially since deficiencies are very common in Pakistan and can mimic or worsen depression. Ask your doctor to order those tests before your next medication change.
You are not stuck. The problem is the medication, not you. A proper doctor can fix this. Zara is here to talk if you need to work through the next step out loud.
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