ashleydoll87

[ashleydoll87]

I began taking meds in the Spring of 2008 at the age of 20.  I was suicidal, probably because I was abusing pills and alcohol.  I was officially diagnosed with "mood disorder, not otherwise specified" and had to deal with social anxiety issues as well.  I continued regular and escalating substance abuse until August 2009, when I tried to kill myself and really seriously almost died.  When I woke up in the hospital, I had an epiphane--I knew I was being given a second chance by God and that I had more to accomplish before I left this life.

 

Fast-forward to Spring 2013...I finally have a job that pays all my bills, I'm stable, and I leave my crazy boyfriend.  I'm kind of starting over and I decide to get off my meds because I no longer think I need them, I read about the long-term health effects, and become interested in natural therapies, supplements, and healthy eating.

 

I first tried to stop taking Lamictal in July without help from my doctor.  (I lost my insurance over a year ago, so I went to county health where they bounced me between several doctors, none of whom have taken the time to get to know me.)  Knowing that all drugs have withdrawal effects, I cut up my pills and reduced from 300mg of Lamictal to 0mg over the period of a month.  HORRIBLE!!!  I thought I was going crazy, and it took a good friend's Google search for me to find out that I was having intense and debilitating withdrawal effects.  To further prove it was indeed withdrawal, just a few hours after taking my normal dose I was feeling WAY BETTER.  I knew I needed a better plan...

[Rhiannon]

Hi Ashley.

 

Unfortunately willpower and supplements don't help much with med withdrawal.  The meds cause our brains to remodel themselves and then they are dependent on the chemistry from the meds--like a plant that has grown in and around a trellis. You can't yank out the trellis; you have to snip it out bit by bit and allow the plant time to regrow in its natural form.

 

You were started on the meds young, before your brain was mature, so it's a good idea to be extra careful with tapering until you see how quickly your CNS can heal. Fortunately, younger brains seem to heal faster, so you have that in your favor.

 

You did taper, which was wise, but you tapered much much faster than usually works for people.  We generally recommend no more than 10% of your current dose every month or so.

 

We also generally recommend tapering only one med at a time. You can work on one for a while then switch and bring another one down for a while, if you'd like to do it that way. A few people do succeed at tapering multiple meds at the same time, but that requires going even more slowly.

 

If you taper slowly and take care of yourself, you can get off all your meds, but given what you're on and your history, you should probably wrap your mind around this being a long-term project.

 

Please read your way around the forum for a few days. There's lots of information, wisdom, and friendly support to be had here.

 

Welcome!

[Rhiannon]

Also, congratulations on the tapering you've done so far!

[Petunia]

Hi Ashley,

Welcome to our community, I'm glad you found us.

 

I agree with everything Rhi wrote and would like to add, congratulations on becoming financially stable, leaving a bad relationship and generally improving the quality of your life, those are huge achievements.

 

Now you have found this site, over time, you will be able to come off your meds safely with fewer withdrawal effects.

 

It seems that you have decided to taper off Lamictal first, here is our link to Tips for tapering off Lamictal:

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1122-tips-for-tapering-off-lamictal-lamotrigine/

 

If you have any questions or concerns, or just need some friendly support, don't hesitate to post.

 

Petu.

 

 

[mammaP]

Hi Ashley, just seen your post and wondering how you are doing? I admire you for turning things around

and freeing yourself of the things that were harmful for you and hope you are doing well. It's a long road

getting off meds, if only it was as easy as we'd all like it to be, wake up one day, throw them all away and

get on with life..............would be brilliant!  A lot of us have tried it and learned the hard way that it isn't

that easy but thankfully found this site and managed to get on a slow taper.  

Good to have you with us.