LaurenceAloof: Turning Point

[LaurenceAloof]

I am dismayed when I look back at the past ten years. I was diagnosed with depression and generalized anxiety disorder and headed off to college with Lexapro. Ten years of therapy, several diagnoses, seventeen medications, and one intensive outpatient program later, I still feel flat inside. My therapist has been encouraging me to reconsider my medication usage - we both share the feeling that I am overmedicated and disregulated. The medications I am currently on - Wellbutrin, Lithium, Trintellix, Caplyta, Topimarate, dosages in signature - have not nudged me in one direction or another - and I strongly desire a change. There are several reasons that drove me to Surviving ADs:

• Accidentally overdosing on Lithium during the summer
• Side effects: fine tremor in hands, difficulty getting erections, very low sex drive, constant battle against dehydration, discomfort with heat
• It's not sustainable for me to pay over $800/month on meds until my deductible is met
• My psychiatrist is leaving his practice and I need to find someone else for medication management
• I feel like there must be more to life than the slog the past ten years have been

I don't particularly mind taking 10 pills a day, getting labs done every couple of months, or having to take Tadalafil every time I want to have sex, but it has to be worth it. Taking stock of my life right now, I don't think it's worth it. I've given it a good college try, and now I'd like to get off the ride. I'd like to plan tapering off my medications (10% at a time, of course!) while staying in talk therapy, and finding a new healthcare provider. As it goes, I'm not sure how to approach a few pieces of this:

• I don't really have a great relationship with a doctor at the moment - would it seem adequate to find a new doctor as a prescriber? Once again, my psychiatrist is leaving the practice, so I do need a prescriber as I taper off.
• How does the taper conversation go with a prescriber?
• How does a person taper off five medications? Is there an order of operations to follow?
• I'm at a point in my life where I can't even remember beyond foggy details how I felt before I was taking antidepressants. Would should I expect for returning to the unmedicated LaurenceAloof?

[LotusRising]

Hi @LaurenceAloof

 

Welcome to SA,

 

We are a peer-run volunteer site dedicated to a harm reduction tapering approach in an effort to minimize withdrawal symptoms. We suggest tapering by no more than 10% of your most recent dose each month. See  Why taper by 10%.

 

Thank you for creating a signature.

 

Below is some basic information on withdrawal syndrome:

 

What is Withdrawal Syndrome?

 

Video on Recovery from Psych Drugs

 

When we take medication, the CNS responds by making changes over the months and years we take the drug(s). When the medication is discontinued, the CNS must then undo all the changes that were made. As the changes are undone, symptoms may occur. You can expect that they will follow 

The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization  and since the CNS likes stability, we suggest to Keep it simple, slow and stable.

 

19 hours ago, LaurenceAloof said:

How does a person taper off five medications? Is there an order of operations to follow?

 

Do you feel like there is any particular drug that is giving you more trouble than another? 

 

The below two topics may also help you decide:

 

 

 

19 hours ago, LaurenceAloof said:

I don't really have a great relationship with a doctor at the moment - would it seem adequate to find a new doctor as a prescriber? Once again, my psychiatrist is leaving the practice, so I do need a prescriber as I taper off.

 

Yes, you will need a prescriber. Is there not someone that your current psychiatrist can refer you to? Did your current psychiatrist put you on all of these drugs?

 

19 hours ago, LaurenceAloof said:

How does the taper conversation go with a prescriber?

 

 

I've given you a lot of information here. Please take some time to digest it all. 

 

You can post any updates or questions related to your specific situation right here in your thread. It's helpful to keep everything related to your tapering journey in one spot and it helps to keep the site tidy. 

 

Again, welcome to SA