Moderator Emeritus mammaP Posted May 17, 2013 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted May 17, 2013 I find myself thinking about how I'm going to deal with things when I'm finally off meds. I have bi-polar and always have from a young age but can't remember just when it started. I was prescribed meds during downers but never took them regularly, in fact probably never more than the first couple of doses because I never liked side effects. The only one I got more than one prescription for was diazepam and took that when things were really stressful (when I was in an abusive relationship Didn't take them regularly, just when I expected a hiding. Maybe 1 or 2 a week for a year ) I would have a time where I was on top of everything, coping with all that life brings and helping out other people. Then WHAM, just like that, even in a split second, be exhausted and depressed, unable to cope and just want sleep. Would go to the doc, get all kinds of tests, all fine of course, then suddenly I'm fine again. That's in a nutshell. Things went on this way and I just got on with it. Not really seeing a pattern but always blamed some illness for the down times, until 22 years ago when I had a major breakdown and was admitted to hospital. That's when I got the diagnosis, after observation and talking to family about my history. Then the meds started coming and I was given one after another, stopped CT from all of them and started another. Time and again I was re admitted. Sometimes one stopped and another started within hours, then 2 years drug free and another breakdown in 2002, following stress during a downer, back to hospital and on effexor. . Got a bit carried away there, lol. What I am wondering about is coping with the stuff that led to all that. When I am on a down time, little things become major tragedies! Like one time I saw a house I loved and it was perfect, but didn't get it. I was devastated and took it as a personal rejection. Spiralled further down and actually became suicidal. Then the mood lifted and I wondered what I was so upset about! If I hadn't been down at the time I'd have coped with it and not given it a second thought. I really really don't want to take psych meds again....EVER. My success story is that I am almost drug free, but want it to stay a success story. Does anyone know of online groups that can help me to stay stable once I'm finally free? **I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge. Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem) 1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat 2002 effexor. Tapered March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads. Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013 Restarted taper Nov 2013 OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015 Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014 Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg July 2017 30mg. May 15 2018 25mg Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33 Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Emeritus mammaP Posted May 17, 2013 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted May 17, 2013 Reading that back I only just realised that the breakdown which led to me being admitted to hospital again after 2 years drugs free was probably withdrawal? I was in a mess and blamed it on the bi polar. Hmmmmmm. **I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge. Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem) 1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat 2002 effexor. Tapered March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads. Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013 Restarted taper Nov 2013 OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015 Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014 Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg July 2017 30mg. May 15 2018 25mg Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33 Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lexicon Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 You went through so much I am saddened to read your story .. But the sun will shine again ..we just have to keep on walking .. Thinking of you, and wishing you blessings ..Lexicon xx Hello, I am tapering Lorazepam, and my daily dose is 1.125 mgs. I followed a long hold for 5 months, ( Nov-March 2019) hoping to find some stability, but it did not work. So I resumed my taper and hold pattern. For the last 3 years, I have been using a daily microtaper, cutting .001mgs per day, with holds as needed. Symptoms are head pressure, labored breathing, palpitations, abrupt surges of dizziness, this being my worst symptom for now, internal tremors, my latest nemesis, unsteadiness, anxiety, plus many other symptoms that cycle in, and cycle out consistently. Not a day passes, without grief I take no other meds. January 2013 - 15 day quick taper off 10 mgs of Lexapro, and 25 mgs of Sertraline, at a detox clinic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Emeritus mammaP Posted May 18, 2013 Author Moderator Emeritus Share Posted May 18, 2013 Aww thank you Lexi but don't feel sad for me, I was just explaining things, I tend to overexplain, lol. I have had alot of trauma in my life but there is always someone else who's had worse. It's all in the past and there is not a thing I can do to change it so there it stays! I try to concentrate on now and getting off these ADs. I have 4 kids, 12 grandkids and a beautiful baby great grandaughter to spur me on to getting my life back and then I can plan for the future. It's awful not being to plan anything in advance when you don't know that you'll be well enough but we're all getting there. **I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge. Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem) 1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat 2002 effexor. Tapered March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads. Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013 Restarted taper Nov 2013 OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015 Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014 Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg July 2017 30mg. May 15 2018 25mg Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33 Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Altostrata Posted June 8, 2013 Administrator Share Posted June 8, 2013 These are excellent questions. In coping with withdrawal symptoms, we need to learn how to take care of ourselves. This translates to our emotional health and attitudes, too. Non-drug techniques can help here http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1112-non-drug-techniques-to-cope-with-emotional-symptoms/ mammaP, do any of these seem to suit you? This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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