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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by adrieneruble on March 17, 2009, at 19:05:46
I am trying to stop taking Effexor XR and Abilify. I have found I no longer can tolerate the side effects. I explained that to my doctor and she simply said she would not recommend it as I am Borderline, ADD and Bipolar 2. Since I am just tired feeling like a lab rat, I have decided not to replace them with anything else. (I've been playing the medication game and guess that side effect for 13 years. I've been on them all)
I am going to take supplements and try that approach instead.So for a while I just stopped taking them. Then I would take one of each. Now I take one every other day. Effexor XR 300mg to 150mg and Abilify 30mg to 10mg. I am a mess. Pains in my muscles, irritability, emotional wreck, insomnia and loss of appetite are my major issues. I read that your only supposed to reduce your meds every 14 days...yeah ooops.
Now while all this is going on I'm still taking my other meds: Adderall 30mg x2, Topamax 25mg 2x2, Naproxen 500mg, Ambien 10mg x2 (as needed now), Xanax x4 (as needed now), Promethazine (as needed), Sumatritan (as needed)and Lipitor and Tricor- which I just quit taking.
After reading how some of this stuff interacts with each other, I'm scared to take any of it.
Why hasn't any of my doctors warned me?
I want off it all! I know I can't or shouldn't do it all at once so I'm targeting the two with the specific side effects that I need to end.I'm tired but I can't sleep. I'm scared- how long will this last? I feel like every time I take my pills I'm playing Russian Roulette. This pill mixed with that pill causes this and so on...
Now the lack of pills and I'm really in bad shape. Doctors should be more responsible or more informative or something. Seriously no one told me, nobody monitored these things-I am going to follow a Effexor XR taper schedule and try to do this a little better. I have the 37.5's to do it with.
Abilify?
Advice?
Thank you for your time.
Posted by metric on March 18, 2009, at 18:57:07
In reply to Abilify, EffexorXR, Xanax, Adderall, Topamax etc., posted by adrieneruble on March 17, 2009, at 19:05:46
> I am trying to stop taking Effexor XR and Abilify. I have found I no longer can tolerate the side effects. I explained that to my doctor and she simply said she would not recommend it as I am Borderline, ADD and Bipolar 2. Since I am just tired feeling like a lab rat, I have decided not to replace them with anything else. (I've been playing the medication game and guess that side effect for 13 years. I've been on them all)
> I am going to take supplements and try that approach instead.
>
> So for a while I just stopped taking them. Then I would take one of each. Now I take one every other day. Effexor XR 300mg to 150mg and Abilify 30mg to 10mg. I am a mess. Pains in my muscles, irritability, emotional wreck, insomnia and loss of appetite are my major issues. I read that your only supposed to reduce your meds every 14 days...yeah ooops.
>
> Now while all this is going on I'm still taking my other meds: Adderall 30mg x2, Topamax 25mg 2x2, Naproxen 500mg, Ambien 10mg x2 (as needed now), Xanax x4 (as needed now), Promethazine (as needed), Sumatritan (as needed)and Lipitor and Tricor- which I just quit taking.
>
> After reading how some of this stuff interacts with each other, I'm scared to take any of it.
> Why hasn't any of my doctors warned me?
> I want off it all! I know I can't or shouldn't do it all at once so I'm targeting the two with the specific side effects that I need to end.
>
> I'm tired but I can't sleep. I'm scared- how long will this last? I feel like every time I take my pills I'm playing Russian Roulette. This pill mixed with that pill causes this and so on...
> Now the lack of pills and I'm really in bad shape. Doctors should be more responsible or more informative or something. Seriously no one told me, nobody monitored these things-
>
> I am going to follow a Effexor XR taper schedule and try to do this a little better. I have the 37.5's to do it with.
> Abilify?
> Advice?
> Thank you for your time.
>
>
First, toss the Abilify. There's no need to taper it. It's probably just making you feel awful.
One thing to keep in mind as you reduce your Effexor-XR and Abilify is that the amphetamine (Adderall) might become more stimulating, which could contribute to the symptoms you mentioned.After you're down to 37.5 mg of Effexor-XR, you can open up the capsule and remove some of the beads (save them for later); proceed at your rate of comfort. Taking some extra Xanax and/or diphenhydramine (Benadryl) can help with withdrawal symptoms.
Posted by desolationrower on March 19, 2009, at 0:15:39
In reply to Re: Abilify, EffexorXR, Xanax, Adderall, Topamax e » adrieneruble, posted by metric on March 18, 2009, at 18:57:07
with the effexor, just go slowly. i spent several weeks reducing the dose and then got impatient and kept trying to go cold turkey before i was ready, and it was very distressing.
Hope you can figure out what you need to take that works for you wihtout the side effects. If you need any help deciding on something to take that is ok to take with something else just ask.
-d/r
Posted by adrieneruble on March 25, 2009, at 20:53:34
In reply to Re: Abilify, EffexorXR, Xanax, Adderall, Topamax e » adrieneruble, posted by metric on March 18, 2009, at 18:57:07
I gladly ditched the Abilify, thank you for the much needed advice. I started taking supplements to help the withdrawal and side effect(s).
I wish there was a way to speed this process up and detox myself of all these chemicals- but I understand I need to allow my brain time to start doing things on it's own.
I am not going to take the Topamax anymore and just use the Xanax and Adderall as needed.
I'll take my time getting off Effexor XR and add a few supplements to the mix.
I should be feeling better soon right?
This is the end of the thread.
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