Venting Had enough of a Medication Led Life

[Winter_Flower]

Like the title says. I have really had enough of a medicated lead life. I'm still having pretty bad down days, I still have suicidal ideation and the stigma attached to mental health is too much, especially when dealing with my local dispensary.

I know it's completely the wrong thing to do but I will be stopping my medication cold turkey. It's going to be bad I know, especially having worked in the nhs. But it's all or nothing with me. I just want to be medication free and see how I act off medication.

I admit I could do with a little bit of recreational drugs to help me through it but I don't know where to start and not keen on using the dark web. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated xx

 

[DeathImminent]

stopping medication cold turkey is good ticket to ctb, not sure what you are expecting to happen when you are medication free, you probably wont feel any better than you are feeling now but w/e

 

[JimFord99]

Well, observe the local scene a bit. I do not know your location, but drug dealing is anywhere. Just look and observe.

 

[GinaIsReady]

PLEASE don't go off all your meds at once!!!!! I did it once and I went crazy but was super lucky not to have seizures. It made things worse!! I had to go right back on everything. Years later I got off all meds but it took about 6 months. Then took a really long time for my brain to heal and the whole time I had to protect myself from as much bullshit as possible to keep level. I'm now on 2 meds only and feel much much better. PM me if you'd like.

 

[eve2004]

I have these thoughts too. But I'm on bupropion which is well known to be high risk for seizures. Can you die from one?

 

[Tabbyql]

I've gone cold turkey before, I had these wierd electric shock type feelings through my body for weeks not good. When I told my Drs I had done that they were genuinely shocked and worried.

 

[Rocksandsand]

May I ask, what medications are you taking and which do you plan to stop?

 

[moon_r4]

I don't recommend this. The withdrawal symptoms can be very unpleasant. For similar reasons to you I've gone cold turkey off an antidepressant + antipsychotic mix before and it was horrible. I ended up coming off them slowly. Back on them at the moment though.

If you really want to get off them, you really should take your time and slowly lower your doses. I don't know your circumstance so don't know how cooperative you could get your doctor to be. If they're not cooperative try to buy a pill cutter (you can get a quite cheap one off amazon).

 

[Winter_Flower]

May I ask, what medications are you taking and which do you plan to stop?

Venlafaxine 225mg, Lamotrigine 100mg twice daily, propranolol 40mg three times a day, diazepam as and when needed. I know it's going to be very hard. I'll wean off the amount I've have and go from there. I went through hell coming off toperimate and ended up finishing a job because of it. I'm no longer working so I will do this. Even if it's one by one x

I don't recommend this. The withdrawal symptoms can be very unpleasant. For similar reasons to you I've gone cold turkey off an antidepressant + antipsychotic mix before and it was horrible. I ended up coming off them slowly. Back on them at the moment though.

If you really want to get off them, you really should take your time and slowly lower your doses. I don't know your circumstance so don't know how cooperative you could get your doctor to be. If they're not cooperative try to buy a pill cutter (you can get a quite cheap one off amazon).

That's what I'm going to do with the reminder of the meds I have. I worked in the nhs and know the dangers but I can no longer cope being on them and controlled by them x

 

[eve2004]

I wouldn't suggest doing it alone (have someone in proximity) and I'd suggest doing it at home, not while at work or out. You'll need a week minimum to see how you'll react...

 

[Rocksandsand]

Please please please be careful with the venlafaxine. It has a very short half life, so withdrawal will hit the very next day. If it's an option for you, try to get switched on to fluoxetine to then come off...

Venlafaxine is notoriously hard to come off. None of these will actually hurt you in a way that will permanently do any damage if you stop them cold turkey, but it will absolutely fuck with your serotonin levels. Stay safe x

 

[mathieu]

Bad idea. You'll probably get rebound symptoms making your mental health so much worse. Do it the proper way. Tell your doctor you want to go off and they can help you wean off slowly.

 

[134340]

Tabbyql above me mentioned brain zaps, and venlafaxine is notorious for those. You mentioned that you worked with NHS, so I'm sure you already know to be careful with that one especially. I wanted to just reiterate as brain zaps can be quite scary, even if you're expecting them to happen.

Good luck with all of this, I really hope you're able to come off of everything successfully.

 

[Powderedmonster]

Check out survivingantidepressants.org and read about all of the people who had persistent, agonizing withdrawal symptoms that lasted for years or indefinitely after cold turkeying their meds...I would think twice before you do that, is it really worth totally fucking up your nervous system and potentially suffering with torturous symptoms for years just to get off your meds more quickly? Believe me, I came off zoloft too fast and it was the worst mistake of my life apart from starting that shit in the first place. 3 years later still suffering with torturous symptoms including extreme anxiety, anhedonia, and PSSD. Don't make the mistake I did.

 

[HGL91]

I've been on psych meds since I was 11. I've tried getting off them 3 times. I've never been able to have my brain adjust off them...Lamictal was awful. Brain zaps, head aches, nausea, feeling like I was in a different dimension than everyone, suicidal thoughts, fatigue so bad I couldn't leave my bed...my boyfriend at the time gave me Lamictal from a prescription I didn't finish and in 20 minutes, I was back to normal.

 

[GinaIsReady]

I've been on psych meds since I was 11. I've tried getting off them 3 times. I've never been able to have my brain adjust off them...Lamictal was awful. Brain zaps, head aches, nausea, feeling like I was in a different dimension than everyone, suicidal thoughts, fatigue so bad I couldn't leave my bed...my boyfriend at the time gave me Lamictal from a prescription I didn't finish and in 20 minutes, I was back to normal.

I went off the meds under the supervision of the psychiatrist who put me on them. We did everything so slowly and carely. Every drug one at a time in steps. I must be lucky as hell because I had no problems getting off doing it in that manner. Being off meds completely was weird but it did show me what my brain was like when not medicated and I know this sounds really weird but I really loved my unmedicated brain. Coming out of a pharma coma and re-discovering things people take for granted …. it was an awakening of sorts.

 

[azucaramargo]

I've been on psych meds since I was 11. I've tried getting off them 3 times. I've never been able to have my brain adjust off them...Lamictal was awful. Brain zaps, head aches, nausea, feeling like I was in a different dimension than everyone, suicidal thoughts, fatigue so bad I couldn't leave my bed...my boyfriend at the time gave me Lamictal from a prescription I didn't finish and in 20 minutes, I was back to normal.

HGL91, if you don't mind, so you're still on Lamictal? I am on this one, and would like to CONSIDER weaning off because I think it makes me tired, unmotivated, and hungry. But, life off of it was no picnic either. I wondered if you'd ever succeeded in decreasing the dosage or getting off of it.

 

[HGL91]

HGL91, if you don't mind, so you're still on Lamictal? I am on this one, and would like to CONSIDER weaning off because I think it makes me tired, unmotivated, and hungry. But, life off of it was no picnic either. I wondered if you'd ever succeeded in decreasing the dosage or getting off of it.

I switched from Lamictal to Lexapro. I was never off antidepressants completely during that time.

 

[azucaramargo]

I switched from Lamictal to Lexapro. I was never off antidepressants completely during that time.

Thank you! How do you feel off Lamictal? So, you're on no mood-stabilizers now? Sorry if this would be better in a PM. I'd appreciate hearing about your experiences off Lamictal.

 

[HGL91]

Thank you! How do you feel off Lamictal? So, you're on no mood-stabilizers now? Sorry if this would be better in a PM. I'd appreciate hearing about your experiences off Lamictal.

No worries. I'm currently on 2 mood stabilizers and take CBD regularly. But I'm not on Lamictal. :)