Cactusfriend: Acupuncturist told me to discontinue my meds cold turkey

[cactusfriend]

Hi all,

 

I saw an acupuncturist for the first time yesterday, and she prescribed me some chinese herbs and told me to stop taking all my other medication including vitamins. I was surprised she told me to do this so quickly - I guess I was expecting she would treat me for a while before considering going off the meds. It also seems potentially unwise since usually you taper off of these things (I am only on 15mg of remeron so it wouldn't be much a taper, but she didn't actually ask me my dosage). She told me that I won't need the remeron anymore because I will have the chinese medicine and that it is not required to taper for my medication. 

 

I've been curious to try alternative treatment for a while, so part of me wants to give it a real shot and do everything she recommends, but I'm also nervous this is unwise. I'm not suicidal, so maybe there isn't that much to lose (being depressed is really painful, but I have always been functionally depressed so I'm not so much worried about external consequences). 

 

Has anyone else had experience with acupuncture/TCM and discontinuing meds?

 

 

[ChessieCat]

Hi CF and welcome to SA,

 

So that we are better able to assist you it will be helpful if you would Please put your Withdrawal History in Signature.  Please include details for the last 12-18 months of  all drugs, dates, doses and discontinuations & reinstatements.  If you can't remember dates, please write it as "early March" or "mid-August".  Please provide a summary of any drugs prior to that which can just be listed with start and stop years. Please include all prescription, non-prescription drugs and supplements you are currently taking.

 

SA recommends tapering any psychiatric drug by no more then 10% of the previous dose followed by a hold for at least 4 weeks.  This allows to brain to adapt to not getting as much of the drug.  Please check out these topics and then ask any questions you have here in your topic:

 

Before you begin tapering what you need to know

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

Tips for tapering off Remeron (mirtazapine)

 

Brain Remodelling

Video:  Healing From Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery

 

The only supplements that SA recommends are Magnesium and Omega-3 Fish Oil.  When starting any new thing it is suggested to try a small dose, one at a time.  If you take a complex of anything, for example vitamins, if you have reaction you will not know what has caused that reaction.  This would also go for chinese herbs.  Also please see SA's discussion about Acupuncture especially Posts #6 & #8.

 

To search the site I use google and type in survivingantidepressants.org + topic.

 

You can ask questions here in your Intro/Update topic and journal your progress.

[cactusfriend]

thanks for all the info, chessiecat. i will look into the links you've suggested and may follow-up with more questions. xo

[Hibari]

Hi Catusfriend,

 

Please do not jump off your medication as your acupuncturist advises.  I have been going to acupuncture for two years and for a time period worked with a separate acupuncturist who prescribed herbs.  This second persons understanding of medication wd was very limited and he tried to imply that taking of herbs would be the ultimate healing of my nervous system.  Not true.  I stopped working with him and now only work with the acupuncturist who helps me balance my nervous system.  That has been very supportive to my healing as I go through wd.

 

In my opinion, anyone who advises the kind of treatment advice you were just given is not trained to deal with wd.   Holistic practitioners can fall into the same category as medical doctors when they offer solutions without understanding what antidepressant withdrawal is all about. 

 

ChessieCat's sharing of the links is important.  When we educate ourselves, we become our best advocates.

 

Hibari

[Altostrata]

Welcome, cactusfriend.

 

How long have you been taking Remeron? What have you been taking it for?

 

If you've been taking it for more than a month, you're at risk for withdrawal syndrome if you go off too quickly. Common aspects of withdrawal syndrome are insomnia and surges of anxiety.

 

I've never heard of Chinese herbs compensating for withdrawal syndrome. Going off while taking herbs is not something I would do.