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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Wilkie on June 20, 2002, at 15:07:36
I'm planning on going off all of my meds for several reasons. First, I am so sick of all of the side effects -- I'm seeing several other doctors and having tests done in response to things that are probably just side effects from my meds. If I stop my meds I will be able to see which of the side effects goes away, so I will be more informed when/if I go on meds again. Second, I am on too many meds. I am on Wellbutrin, Lithium, Neurontin, Tegretol, Risperdol, Adderral, and Geodon, I think that's everything. And I am on a high dose of several of these. It is very difficult to streamline my meds when my doc has so many/much with which to work. It would be much easier to start from scratch to find the right combination and dosages and be able to keep me on as few meds as necessary, which is what I want. Finally, for over two years now I have been trying to find the right meds -- for over two years now I have been more unhappy and miserable than I was before I first started taking meds, and this to me is an unacceptable way to live. If I start over I have a better chance of finding the correct combination and balance of everything so that I have a better chance of finding some peace of mind. I am going to be doing this under the guidance of my doc and my therapist, by the way, for anyone who is wondering. So after reading my rationale for doing this, what are people's thoughts on the matter. Has anyone had experience going off there meds before? If so, what happened, what was it like, what can I expect? Has anyone read any research on the matter and can anyone recommend good websites or journals or anything? This is a huge thing for me to take on, I realize that. I feel strongly about it, yet I am also scared about what could happen to me, so I am looking for input from others. Please take a second to share your knowledge, ideas, and experiences with me. Thanks.
Posted by rainbowlight on June 20, 2002, at 18:21:32
In reply to I'm going off all of my meds!!!, posted by Wilkie on June 20, 2002, at 15:07:36
I think whether to do this or not hinges on what your diagnosis is. If you think you may go into a manic state or a deep depression than you may have to very closely monitor going off the meds. I too think you are over medicated. I've never read of anyone taking this many psych meds at the same time. I have gone off my meds before, sometimes for years at a time, but I am one of those people that can survive without meds (although the quality of my life suffers without them). In my personal opinion I think starting over would be a good idea. I too am taking quite a few meds and can't make heads or tails out of which once might be causing a specific side effect. I think the key is to taper them very slowly. Just my opinion. I wish you luck and let us know how it goes.
Posted by katekite on June 20, 2002, at 19:16:43
In reply to I'm going off all of my meds!!!, posted by Wilkie on June 20, 2002, at 15:07:36
Well I wish I could say don't go off, because no doubt you are on meds for a good reason. My own scenario was on neurontin and klonopin they seemed to stop working and I had lots of odd physical side effects. I slowly weaned off (except at the very end of tapering where I just got fed up) and didn't feel a whole lot better until about 24 hrs after the last dose, then rapidly had all my physical symptoms go away and my mood improved (I think from not having to deal with the side effects anymore), and I felt like myself again. I have since restarted one of them at a very much lower dose.
I would recommend telling your doc and discussing with them a rational approach to slowly weaning off. If you choose to go off its your choice and the best thing they can do is make good recommendations on tapering to avoid problems. You will do yourself no service by going cold turkey off of anything -- you will pay for it. So do it slow over at least a few weeks, if not longer. Be prepared for rebound moods etc to be worse than ever but if you can get med free for two months you will be in a great position to re-evaluate what meds you may need to be on, or start something completely different.
Some people who go off meds choose to do so in the hospital, just in case, if they've had really tough times in the past.
Good luck and take it slow.
kate
Posted by Hildi on June 20, 2002, at 19:36:42
In reply to Re: I'm going off all of my meds!!!, posted by katekite on June 20, 2002, at 19:16:43
Not to change the subject but are you on neurontin now? I am trying to find an anti-anxiety med to hopefully replace the SSRI's I've been on for years and thought you might offer a response to how well you thought of this drug.
But back to original post- that is a lot of meds to be on. I have been on various SSRI's and one anti-anxiety med-buspar- over the years, sometimes with them overlapping, and I know that the combo of taking meds together can create a synergy, and not always a good one. I just recently experienced a very negative effect of starting some 'natural products' while weaning off of zoloft and I would not recommend this to anyone. There was too much serotonin in my body, or something, and I thought I was going to end up in the hospital. I would recommend going off you meds very, very slowly- one at a time- do not reduce together. The withdrawal effects of one med is bad enough, you don't want to compund it.
Posted by rainbowlight on June 21, 2002, at 19:37:02
In reply to Re: I'm going off all of my meds!!!, posted by Hildi on June 20, 2002, at 19:36:42
I think Hildi made a good point, it might be easier on you to reduce one medication at a time. Trying to reduce them all at once could really be hard on you.
Posted by katekite on June 21, 2002, at 20:41:50
In reply to Re: I'm going off all of my meds!!!, posted by Hildi on June 20, 2002, at 19:36:42
I'm on klonopin, that's the one that has rebound insomnia if you stop it too quickly. I really liked neurontin a lot for anxiety, I highly recommend it. I can't tolerate neurontin anymore, just my own weird reaction to it -- it was fine for the first 5 weeks.
One of the best things about neurontin is that it can be started at an effective dose and you know in a few days usually if it will work for you. It was an overnight thing for me, felt like a miracle. There's a drug called pregabalin due to come out soon (next year?) that is supposed to be a stronger better neurontin. So that one could be on the list as well for later on if others don't work out.
kate
Posted by edward602 on June 22, 2002, at 10:46:57
In reply to I'm going off all of my meds!!!, posted by Wilkie on June 20, 2002, at 15:07:36
I felt the same as you; that my meds were making me sicker than the depression made me. I also thought after ten years on ssri's I was well enough to forgo drugs. I went off my meds -- 40 mg. celexa, 50 mg. wellbutrin, 15 mg. adderall -- in August and in September I was psychotically depressed. I had psychomotor retardation and could not read or watch TV.
Hey, we are all different. But my drugs gave me such a devil-may-care attitude that I tought I could weather life without them. I hated the side effects and emotional blunting but I was working and travelling and having sex and eating well -- now I do not work, don't have any interest in sex, don't leave the city....
Take this not as advice but as a "case study." I have friends who have quit their meds and been fine but they are usually people with acute depression, from life stressors, than chronic depression, as is my case.
Do it slow, very slow.
Posted by Emme on June 24, 2002, at 7:28:23
In reply to I'm going off all of my meds!!!, posted by Wilkie on June 20, 2002, at 15:07:36
Hi there,
I did the exact same thing for the exact same reasons. We kept playing with the meds, though I wasn't on very many, and I couldn't figure out what was illness and what was side effect. I wanted to wipe the slate clean, figure out what we were dealing with, and start over. My doctor was worried, but agreed, and I tapered off everything carefully. My therapist also knew, so everyone was watching.
It was,er...educational. It was okay to start and it was nice to have my body back without side effects. But I paid for it in a real setback. After a few weeks of being completely off all medicine, I was miserably depressed. On the useful side, we found out which symptoms were caused by medicine, what happened when I was off, and we started to think about new options.
IMO, it's not a totally bad idea, but be careful and be prepared for the possibility of loss of mood control. Best of luck.
Emme
Posted by judy1 on June 25, 2002, at 23:30:25
In reply to I'm going off all of my meds!!!, posted by Wilkie on June 20, 2002, at 15:07:36
I was in your position 2+ years ago. It took over a dozen shrinks before I found one willing to help me taper- one at a time. It was not easy and at times I was very ill. I have a lot of anger towards the shrink that put me on so many- it was so unnecessary- he just didn't know how to treat a very treatment resistant patient with bipolar 1 disorder so he kept on loading the drugs. If you cannot find a psychiatrist to help you, ask your family practioner or sometimes psychologists have names of sympathetic drs. i wish you all the best-judy
Posted by BarbaraCat on June 26, 2002, at 19:36:26
In reply to I'm going off all of my meds!!!, posted by Wilkie on June 20, 2002, at 15:07:36
Wilkie,
Me too, although I doubt I'll be able to eliminate them completely. Tried before a number of times. I just saw 'A Beautiful Mind' last night and it was very inspirational. We can do this! If John Nash could, by God, so can we.A few suggestions based on experience. Do NOT go off them all at once, but one by one very very slowly. The benzos should be the last to go since they'll help with the inevitable major stress you will be going through. Omega 3 fish oil helps alot. It's neuro protective and an antidepressant and we're all plain lacking in these oils. Keep your diet clean and simple, drink lots of pure water and get exercise. Take care of constipation - very important. Common sense stuff, but critical during this time when your body will be handling intense stress. I'm going to write in my journal daily just so I have a record of how I'm really feeling day by day. Many of us on this board seem to be coming to this 'enough stinkin' meds' sentiment. - BarbaraCat
Posted by tabitha on June 27, 2002, at 1:05:49
In reply to I'm going off all of my meds!!!, posted by Wilkie on June 20, 2002, at 15:07:36
Hi,
I've gone off meds several times, and every time it was the same result. I felt great for a couple months then gradually I sank into severe depression. The last experiment, I just cut out my SSRI, stayed on Neurontin, and added B vitamins and SAMe, but it was the same result. The one benefit I guess is I that it re-convinced me I needed the meds.
I've don't know your dx, but I've heard that with depression, the more episodes you have, the more likely you'll become non-responsive to the meds. This thought has pretty much scared me into staying on something.
You're wise to have your therapist and doctor monitor you thru this. I wonder though, if it wouldn't be safer to just taper down to some minimal regimen instead of going to zero.
Good luck!
-tabitha
Posted by bruce_w6 on December 22, 2003, at 20:25:18
In reply to I liked neurontin a lot » Hildi, posted by katekite on June 21, 2002, at 20:41:50
Has pregabalin come out yet?
> I'm on klonopin, that's the one that has rebound insomnia if you stop it too quickly. I really liked neurontin a lot for anxiety, I highly recommend it. I can't tolerate neurontin anymore, just my own weird reaction to it -- it was fine for the first 5 weeks.
>
> One of the best things about neurontin is that it can be started at an effective dose and you know in a few days usually if it will work for you. It was an overnight thing for me, felt like a miracle. There's a drug called pregabalin due to come out soon (next year?) that is supposed to be a stronger better neurontin. So that one could be on the list as well for later on if others don't work out.
>
> kate
Posted by BarbaraCat on December 23, 2003, at 21:58:12
In reply to I'm going off all of my meds!!!, posted by Wilkie on June 20, 2002, at 15:07:36
Wilkie,
Haven't heard anything back from you in a while on this subject. How has it been going with the med reducing? If you're still getting these posts, please drop a line. We'd all like to know how things are going with you.I too have been going through this sick of the whole med thing for a while now. I acknowledge that they work for some but not for most. I am also so friggin sick of supporting pharmaceutical companies and their stupid TV commercials.
I've pared down quite a bit which has not been easy but very necessary. I will continue to get down to the stems and seeds of what is truly needed and no more, and will ride out each storm as it comes. Please respond if you're there. I have some insights to share but don't want to go on and on unless you're out there listening. - Barbara
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