Linda123: Tapering the multiple drug cocktail

[Linda123]

My first psychosis i got with drug experiments. Then i came into a hospital, where the doctor gave me antipsychotics. 

I took them 10 years. Now i take antipsychotics since 11 years. Since 2017 i try tapering the drug cocktail. the result is that i came into an hospital against my will. I am forced to take this drugs. I take lithium 675mg, temesta Benzo 5mg, Depakine 225mg and risperdal is an antipsychotics 2,75mg.

Do you have any advice which drug i should first taper and avoid to come into an hospital against my will. 

I suffer under sleepnessness, and when i don`t sleep one  night, i come into hospital because e became an psychosis.

The side effect is i have gained weight, became diabetes and suffer under sleeplessness, have restless legs syndrom, akathisia.

Can you please help me which drug i should first taper out and which second and wich third and so on, in which time or period. 

[Kiasofia]

Welcome @Linda123

I am sorry you were put on these awful drugs, but relieved you have found us. Unfortunately medical professionals have a poor understanding of how these drugs affect people. I found this post helpful to understand how these drugs actually work, why a slow taper is important and why healing takes time:

How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain

 

Coming off these drugs can cause many different withdrawal symptoms, often leading to doctors thinking the original condition is returning or that another mental illness has emerged.

What is withdrawal syndrome?

Dr. Joseph Glenmullen's withdrawal symptom checklist

 

About tapering:

Taking multiple psych drugs? Which drug to taper first?

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

NEVER SKIP DOSES TO TAPER

 

To help us better advise you, can you please create a signature with all of the drugs that you are taking and have been taking in the last couple of years following these instructions:

How to List Drug History in Signature

 

This is your Introductory topic, where you can ask questions and connect with other members.  We're glad you found your way here.

Edited November 26, 2021 by Kiasofia

[Linda123]

@AltostrataHallo, i hope you can read and see my introduction. Can you give me an advice which Medication i can taper first. I take a drug cocktail. May be you can tell me which i can taper first, than second, third and so on. Please can you tell me in which time i should taper the medications. 

Thank you and hope you answer me.

[Kiasofia]

Hi @Linda123

Thank you for creating a drug signature. Have you read this?:

Taking multiple psych drugs? Which drug to taper first?

 

It is generally advised to taper the benzodiazapine last.

 

Tips for tapering off lithium

Tips for tapering off risperidone (Risperdal)

Tips for tapering off sodium valproate and valproic acid (divalproex sodium, Depakote, Depakene)

 

How have you been tapering since February 2021? Have you been lowering the dose of the different drugs at the same time? Have you felt any different since reducing the doses?

 

Taper more than one drug at a time?
Try this only if you know your withdrawal symptom pattern and know how to control your taper with various tapering techniques.

[Altostrata]

@Linda123 what drugs are you taking now, at what dosages and what times o'clock? Please use the pharmacy name for the drug rather than the package name, so we can understand what they are. What are Quilonorm and Temesta?

 

Do you feel clear adverse effects after a dose of any of your drugs?

[Linda123]

 @Altostrata

 

I take the medicine in the morning between 8.30-9.00: 0,25mg Risperidon(Risperdal), 0,5mg Risperidon, 0,625mg benzodiazepine, 75mg Depakene. About noon i take 0,625mg benzodiazepine (lorazepam=Temesta)

In the evening about 5.00 o clock i take 675mg lithium (Quilonorm), Lorazepam=benzodiazepine 3,75mg, 1,5mg Risperidone, 150mg depakene

the adverse effects are akathisia, diabetes, tumor in the liver, high prolactin.

Clear adverse effects after a dose of any drugs? i can´t answer this question.

 

Edited December 28, 2021 by Kiasofia
fixed tag

[Linda123]

@KiasofiaSince February 2021 i am reducing the medication. I feel better and have lost some weight. i am not so sedated can think better. But i am more emotionally and excited. I become more angry about things and quarrel with my boyfriend. My boyfriends opinion is, that i should stop tapering the antpsychotic Risperidon, he means, if i don´t stop tapering for a while i can get a psychosis. i don´t taper the dose of the different drugs at the same time. 

Taking multiple psych drugs? Which drug to taper first? Yes, I read that, but i forget a lot. that is something i  am suffering, to be forgetful.

[Kiasofia]

Can you update your signature so it says Lithium 675mg, Risperdal 2,25mg, Sodium valproate 225mg, Lorazepam 5mg

here

 

Do you feel that any of the drugs are causing more side effects than others? How do you feel before and after taking each drug?

 

The chance of triggering symptoms of psychosis is a danger, so the taper needs to be very slow.

Edited January 6, 2022 by Kiasofia

[Altostrata]

In your first post, you refer to drug experiments. Do you mean recreational drugs?

 

On 12/28/2021 at 9:14 AM, Linda123 said:

 @Altostrata

 

I take the medicine in the morning between 8.30-9.00: 0,25mg Risperidon(Risperdal), 0,5mg Risperidon, 0,625mg benzodiazepine, 75mg Depakene. About noon i take 0,625mg benzodiazepine (lorazepam=Temesta)

In the evening about 5.00 o clock i take 675mg lithium (Quilonorm), Lorazepam=benzodiazepine 3,75mg, 1,5mg Risperidone, 150mg depakene

the adverse effects are akathisia, diabetes, tumor in the liver, high prolactin.

Clear adverse effects after a dose of any drugs? i can´t answer this question.

 

 

You take 0,25mg Risperidon(Risperdal), 0,5mg Risperidon, 0,625mg benzodiazepine, 75mg Depakene at the same time in the morning? And  675mg lithium (Quilonorm), Lorazepam=benzodiazepine 3,75mg, 1,5mg Risperidone, 150mg depakene at the same time in the evening? Why do you take them on this schedule?

 

Please put ALL your drugs in this Interactions Checker and post the report or a link to it in this topic.

 

Is the symptom you call akathisia worse at any particular times of day? What does it feel like?

 

Do you have a liver tumor? When was this diagnosed? 

[Linda123]

@AltostrataYes, i meant recreational drugs. 

 

I take the medication because my doctor prescribed it in different times.

 

Drug Interaction Report - Drugs.com that ist the link you wanted. i hope it functions.

 

The Akathisa is not worse in particular times. But i feel better since reduction from 6mg to 2,25mg. At tuesday i will reduce again 0,25mg. It feels like you can`t keep calm. Restless legs syndrome. You can`sit and can´t stand. you are moving from one point to the other. Sometimes i wanted to kill myself because i can´t bear this situation.

 

The liver tumor was diagnosed 8 months ago. It doesn´t grow since that time.

[Altostrata]

11 hours ago, Linda123 said:

The liver tumor was diagnosed 8 months ago. It doesn´t grow since that time.

 

Has this been identified as a benign tumor? Usually doctors want to reduce the drug burden on the liver when abnormalities occur. Risperidone, Depakene, and lithium are all known to cause liver damage. Are your doctors not concerned about this?

 

11 hours ago, Linda123 said:

But i feel better since reduction from 6mg to 2,25mg.

 

This is a reduction of risperidone? How did you do this reduction, and how did you feel after each decrease of risperidone?

 

On 12/28/2021 at 9:14 AM, Linda123 said:

8.30-9.00: 0,25mg Risperidon(Risperdal), 0,5mg Risperidon, 0,625mg benzodiazepine, 75mg Depakene

 

Are you taking both 0.25mg Risperidal and 0.5mg risperidone in the morning?

[Linda123]

@Altostrata 

 

Yes, they think it´s a benign tumor. My doctors are not really concerned about this. 

I forgot to tell you that i have hypothyroidism and hashimoto thyreoiditis. I think i get this after medication. 

The reduction from risperidon from 6mg to 2,25mg is the reason why i feel better. The akathisia is not so intensive and i feel better. i am not so sedated. I have more awareness. 

Yes, i take 0,25mg and 0,5mg Risperidone in the morning. I take both togehter.

In the evening i take 1,5mg Risperidone. 

The whole day i take 2,25mg Risperidon.

[Altostrata]

You are taking a lot of drugs that duplicate "therapeutic" effect. Going off risperidone seems a good idea.

 

Taking TOO MUCH psychiatric drugs can cause sleeplessness, restless legs syndrome, akathisia.

 

As you've reduced risperidone, how has your sleep pattern changed?

[Linda123]

@KiasofiaI can´t feel the side effects really when i take the medication. 

The side effects are Akathisa, hashimoto thyreoiditis, hypothyroidism, tumor in the liver, diabetes. I am getting ill from the medication. I dont´t feel anything before and after taking a drug. 

[kostakonkordia]

@Linda123

Hello Linda,

You're here too? 

Tapering group Vienna yeeeyyyy

 

[Linda123]

@Altostrata Yes you are right. I am suffering sleeplessness. But it is better since i have reduced risperidone. I can sleep 6 hours in the night, but if i wake up to go to the toilet or somebody wakes me up, i can´t sleep anymore. it´s awful. Really. But it get better. In the last time i can sleep again though i wake up. 

[Altostrata]

That indicates you are taking too many drugs that are "brakes". If I were you, I'd continue to taper off Risperdal or risperidone, but gradually. See Tips for tapering off risperidone (Risperdal)

 

We recommend a 10% taper per month, but I am far more concerned about your liver tumor than your doctors appear to be. You may be able to go faster than 10% per month, but I would make an initial 10% decrease and assess results for a month before deciding on next steps. Please keep daily notes of symptom changes during this process.

 

After you go off risperidone, if I were you, I'd start tapering sodium valproate.

[Linda123]

On 1/6/2022 at 12:49 AM, Altostrata said:

That indicates you are taking too many drugs that are "brakes". If I were you, I'd continue to taper off Risperdal or risperidone, but gradually. See Tips for tapering off risperidone (Risperdal)

 

 

We recommend a 10% taper per month, but I am far more concerned about your liver tumor than your doctors appear to be. You may be able to go faster than 10% per month, but I would make an initial 10% decrease and assess results for a month before deciding on next steps. Please keep daily notes of symptom changes during this process.

 

After you go off risperidone, if I were you, I'd start tapering sodium valproate.

@Altostrata Thank 

[Linda123]

Just now, Linda123 said:

@Altostrata Thank 

Thank you. And what should i do after that. Lorazepan Or Lithium? I became Hashimoto and Hypothyriodism.

[Altostrata]

We need to see how you do off Risperidal and risperidone before making another plan. Sodium valproate is another drug with elevated liver risk.

 

That your doctors are not concerned about the liver symptoms and elevated prolactin appears negligent to me. 

[Linda123]

@Altostrata Shouldn´t i taper out the sodium valproate first, because of my liver. It will need a lot of time to taper risperidone. the sodium valproate will take me about 12 weeks.

[Altostrata]

How about the akathisia, sleep problems, diabetes, and weight gain?

 

Risperidone may also cause liver damage, see https://academic.oup.com/ajhp/article-abstract/77/19/1578/5875398?redirectedFrom=PDF