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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by chefdog35 on March 29, 2003, at 21:10:06
IHAVE BEEN ON MEDS FOR 4 YRS FOR GAD AND DEPRESSION ORIGINALLY CELEXA AND ZYPREXA HAD TO QUIT ZYPREXA DO TO WEIGHT GAIN BUT WENT TO SEROQUEL (HAD A BAD GO AT SWITCHING MEDS)SO WAS PUT ON EFFEXOR XR ALSO SO NOW I TAKE 200MG SEROQUEL 40 MG CELEXA 150 MG EFFEXOR I FEEL VERY WELL BUT JUST WANT TO BE NORMAL WITH OUT MEDS.OR AT LEAST NOT ALL OF THEM.SO LAST NIGHT I ONLY TOOK 20 MG CELEXA AND I THINK I HAD A PANIC ATTACK I KNOW I HAD BAD DREAMS BUT WAS SWEATING AND NERVOUS BUT FELL BACK TO SLEEP.WHEN I WOKE I DID NOT FEEL STABLE I FELT OUT OF SORTS.SO I AM BACK UP TO 40 MG.HOW DO I QUIT WITHOUT RELIVING THE HORROR I FELT NOT SO LONG AGO?????? I KNOW TO WEAN DOWN SLOWLY BUT EVEN THEN WILL IT WORK AND WHEN I AM OFF MEDS WILL I BE ABLE TO STAY OFF MEDS? I ALREADY WENT THROUGH WITHDRAW FROM ZYPREXA AND IT SUCKED.MY PSYCH SAID I WOULDNT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS SWITHING FROM ZYPREXA TO SEROQUEL (BOY WAS SHE WRONG)NOW I TAKE MEDS FOR EACH ONE OF MY BRAIN CHEMICALS (SERATONIN,DOPAMINE ,NORANEPHEDRINE)HOW DOES ONE LIVE WITH THE FEAR OF ALWAYS WONDERING IF I AM GOING NEED MEDS THE REST OF MY LIFE (I AM 35)ORDO I STAND THE CHANCE OF HAVING A RELAPSE. PLEASE ANY ADVISE WOULD GREATLY BE APPRECIATED. THANKS
Posted by Rainbowlight on March 29, 2003, at 23:13:09
In reply to TRYING TO QUIT BUT HOW, posted by chefdog35 on March 29, 2003, at 21:10:06
I think it depends alot on your diagnosis and what happened in the past (the relapse you mentioned). If you do plan on cutting down on the medication I suggest you do one at a time, tapering very slowly and under a doctors supervision. I know you probably don't want to hear that (noone does) but it is best that you do it slowly. Take it from me, I quit Celexa cold turkey a few years ago and I ended up in the hospital. Cutting from 40 mgs. to just 20 mgs. is too big of a jump. If you taper slow enough you shouldn't have too bad of side effects. I wish you luck and let us know how you do.
Posted by BrittPark on March 31, 2003, at 18:51:07
In reply to TRYING TO QUIT BUT HOW, posted by chefdog35 on March 29, 2003, at 21:10:06
There's another question you should be asking which is "why should I quit medications?" Do you dislike side-effects? Is the medication too expensive? Do you feel like its "cheating" to be taking medications? There are usually ways around these kinds of difficulties. The completely not sad news is that many people with depression need to stay on meds indefinitely. Have you had only one depressive episode, and have you been in full remission for 6 or more months? If so then you might consider discontinuing your meds, one at a time, and slowly. If not, stay with what is working for you. I've been on my medication for 20 years and I don't expect to ever be off it, unless a breakthrough in psychiatry finds a real cure for depression. I have some side-effects, but I've learned to live with them and bitter experience has shown me that going medication free even when I'm feeling completely normal is a bad idea. It leaves me too vulnerable.
Stay Well,
Britt
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