Shown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by JMB376 on April 28, 2010, at 10:25:21
Diagnosed as bipolar1, 4 years ago at age of 56. Spent 10 days in the psych unit. Taking daily:
a. Seroquel 200mg
b. Lamictal 400mg
c. Lithium
d. Effexor
I've had no episodes and little difficulty since the hospital stay. And, am tolerating well the meds. Due to concerns of long term effects, and health insurance/financial issues I'm considering cutting back on the meds. My doc, of course, wants to take the safe course which is not to change anything. Any guidance on the wisdom (or lack there of) of cutting back...and more important any advice on reducing the meds.
Posted by Phillipa on April 28, 2010, at 13:00:45
In reply to Withdrawing/Stopping Medications, posted by JMB376 on April 28, 2010, at 10:25:21
I agree with you doc don't mess with a combo that's working for you. Phillipa
Posted by bleauberry on April 28, 2010, at 18:22:24
In reply to Withdrawing/Stopping Medications, posted by JMB376 on April 28, 2010, at 10:25:21
I agree with your doc. If he has seen what all of us here have seen a bunch of times, it is that when someone is doing well and then they change something, forget it, you will never get back to where you were. We don't know why, perhaps some complicated mechanism of gene adaptations or something, but once a drug has been lowered or removed, and then re-introduced, it feels like a different drug and does not work like it did before.
Many problems. A can or worms. Not always, but a lot. Enough that you should at least be warned there is a high risk of causing some problems that you cannot undo.
The time to begin playing around with doses or med changes is when the current meds are not keeping you in good shape any longer. Hopefully that day will never come. Until then, don't change a thing. Take the exact same meds, the exact same doses, at the exact same time every day, and change nothing.
Forget the longterm risks of the meds. The longterm risks of what happens if things get destabilized are far worse.
Just because a med has a particular risk does not in any way mean that is going to happen to you. It is a risk, something that sometimes happens, but by no means a guarantee. Even when risks do happen, such as abnormal movements from antipsychotics after longterm use of high doses, even those complications are safer and more acceptable than the mental decline without them. And again, it happens sometimes in some people, and may never happen. Diabetes risk can be controlled and avoided with wise strategic food choices at the grocery store. Ya know, put health in eating at a higher level than the pleasure of eating. Food choices are critical to ward off many risks.
Financially you just gotta figure out a way to make it work. Nothing in life is more important than mental stability. Everything physical and spiritual is dependent upon it. Family, friends, activities, jobs, hobbies, bills, eating, sleeping, planning, shopping, driving...everything you do...no price is too much to pay.
Posted by Bob12 on April 29, 2010, at 7:35:50
In reply to Re: Withdrawing/Stopping Medications, posted by bleauberry on April 28, 2010, at 18:22:24
Blueberry,
You are a genius. I wish I read what you just wrote back in 2002, and never changed my medication dosage. My dr at the time said to lower my Zyprxa dosage from 20 mg to 5 mg but he is a complete idiot.
Bob12> I agree with your doc. If he has seen what all of us here have seen a bunch of times, it is that when someone is doing well and then they change something, forget it, you will never get back to where you were. We don't know why, perhaps some complicated mechanism of gene adaptations or something, but once a drug has been lowered or removed, and then re-introduced, it feels like a different drug and does not work like it did before.
>
> Many problems. A can or worms. Not always, but a lot. Enough that you should at least be warned there is a high risk of causing some problems that you cannot undo.
>
> The time to begin playing around with doses or med changes is when the current meds are not keeping you in good shape any longer. Hopefully that day will never come. Until then, don't change a thing. Take the exact same meds, the exact same doses, at the exact same time every day, and change nothing.
>
> Forget the longterm risks of the meds. The longterm risks of what happens if things get destabilized are far worse.
>
> Just because a med has a particular risk does not in any way mean that is going to happen to you. It is a risk, something that sometimes happens, but by no means a guarantee. Even when risks do happen, such as abnormal movements from antipsychotics after longterm use of high doses, even those complications are safer and more acceptable than the mental decline without them. And again, it happens sometimes in some people, and may never happen. Diabetes risk can be controlled and avoided with wise strategic food choices at the grocery store. Ya know, put health in eating at a higher level than the pleasure of eating. Food choices are critical to ward off many risks.
>
> Financially you just gotta figure out a way to make it work. Nothing in life is more important than mental stability. Everything physical and spiritual is dependent upon it. Family, friends, activities, jobs, hobbies, bills, eating, sleeping, planning, shopping, driving...everything you do...no price is too much to pay.
Posted by evenintherain on April 29, 2010, at 12:54:21
In reply to Withdrawing/Stopping Medications, posted by JMB376 on April 28, 2010, at 10:25:21
i agree w/other posters and your doc.
please realize how lucky you are to be doing well on your meds and don't mess w/them until they stop working or the side effects become intolerable.perhaps we are biased?
i don't know, but we do have your best interest at heart/in mind.
Posted by JMB376 on April 29, 2010, at 14:27:39
In reply to Re: Withdrawing/Stopping Medications, posted by evenintherain on April 29, 2010, at 12:54:21
My thanks to all who have commented. I was ready to quit my meds (hoping I might not need them any longer). That thought is now no more. Thanks for keeping me out of trouble!
Posted by floatingbridge on April 29, 2010, at 18:51:30
In reply to Re: Withdrawing/Stopping Medications, posted by JMB376 on April 29, 2010, at 14:27:39
oh, good--I was about to chime in with the rest. I think feeling good enough to quit is a great sign that they are doing their job.
peace.
Posted by Deneb on April 29, 2010, at 20:32:11
In reply to Withdrawing/Stopping Medications, posted by JMB376 on April 28, 2010, at 10:25:21
Hello JMB376!
Welcome to Psycho-Babble! I agree with all the others. Why mess with a good thing? It's great those meds work for you and you don't have many side effects. I say just take them like vitamins and just live your life. :-)
Deneb
Posted by linkadge on April 30, 2010, at 13:59:31
In reply to Re: Withdrawing/Stopping Medications, posted by bleauberry on April 28, 2010, at 18:22:24
>We don't know why, perhaps some complicated >mechanism of gene adaptations or something, but >once a drug has been lowered or removed, and >then re-introduced, it feels like a different >drug and does not work like it did before.
This is certainly not a given. I have been having consistent results with as needed use of methylphenidate for over a year and a half now. I just use it when needed and it works. No, I can't say the same for SSRI's (personally), but I do know people who get the same effect when they restart it for a new episode.
Linkadge
Posted by linkadge on April 30, 2010, at 14:03:46
In reply to Re: Withdrawing/Stopping Medications » JMB376, posted by Deneb on April 29, 2010, at 20:32:11
The reason people stop medications are complex. If a medication was working perfectly with no side effects, I think most people would continue to take it.
I didn't stop meds because they were working perfectly. I stopped meds because I didn't like the side effects and I wanted to reevaluate my underlying condition.
Sometimes stoping my medications was a very good thing, sometimes not. I would never tell somebody to keep taking their meds indefinately just because they are doing "ok".
If a person was doing "ok" on zyprexa, maybe its helping, maybe it isn't. I know people who stopped zyprexa when they didn't need it. In their case it was a *very good* thing as they have lost weight and lowered their diabetes risk. You can't just make blanket statements.
Linkadge
Posted by JMB376 on May 3, 2010, at 14:10:56
In reply to Re: Withdrawing/Stopping Medications, posted by linkadge on April 30, 2010, at 14:03:46
Again, my thanks to all for your comments. Bleauberry: Your eloquent response is now posted on my refrigerator door. Thanks again!
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD, bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.