Stopping a few meds

[t-rex]

Well, I've been doing much better the past few weeks. Suicidal thoughts are not gone, but they are way down, and I'm not researching methods or looking at buying the means anymore. Circumstantially nothing has really changed in my life. My best guess is that I'm doing better because of the ketamine course I recently got. (Six IV infusions.)

So my psychiatrist has agreed to let me get off of a few of my medications, which I'm pretty excited about. I've already been off them for about a week. Part of me wonders if I am improving because of getting off them? I know some meds cause suicidal thoughts. Maybe they were hurting me all along.

The medications I'm getting off of are Wellbutrin and Invega (antipsychotic). I'm particularly excited about getting off Invega, as I have been on antipsychotics for a year and a half, and every time I have previously tried to get off of them (tried many many times), it went very badly. This time seems fine, in fact I'm feeling better since I stopped. That's got to be progress. And it should help me lose some weight finally.

I am still considering ECT, as I am still fairly depressed and not motivated to do much, but at this point it might be overkill. I am not so desperate anymore. I will have to decide in the next week or two, as the wheels are already in motion (they are running it by insurance now). (I don't want this thread to turn into ECT discussion. To comment on that, see the recent thread 'Considering ECT'.)

Wish me luck that this recovery continues!

 

[UpandDownPrincess]

I've posted this other places, but please search for and use this very valuable resource as you reduce your meds: The Icarus Project Harm Reduction Guide to Coming Off Psychiatric Drugs

There is a revised edition. Try to find that one if you can.

It is in the public domain on purpose so that it can be downloaded, printed and used by anyone.

It is very, very well researched and extremely helpful. These folks likely know more than your docs do about coming off these drugs.

Best of luck!

 

[Depressed Cat]

I'm quite relieved to hear that you are feeling fairly better now.

My guess is that it is a combination of the ketamine therapy and dropping a couple of the meds.

I've said it before - I don't trust psychiatric drugs much. Not only do they have unpleasant or even bad side effects depending on the person, they can even worsen the condition they were prescribed for. Ironically, inducing or increasing suicidal ideation is an adverse effect associated with quite a few anti-depressants and anti-psychotics. Psychiatry and psychiatric pharmacology are hopelessly laggard and highly imprecise branches of medicine, although psychiatrists would have us believe otherwise.

I have strong views against ECT and will not repeat them here. It's up to you to decide and I hope you make the best decision that helps you recover.

I wish you the best of luck in your recovery process!

 

[Sherri]

I'm also stopping one med in two days. Going from 12mg to 4mg, my decision. It's gonna hurt, I'm so scared. I hope it goes well for you. In my case I can't tell my doctor, but if you see it's having withdrawals too much do go and talk to your doc. Good luck, hugs.

 

[t-rex]

Good luck to you @Sherri.

In my case my doctor does know about it, and is fully on board with me trying to minimize my medications. Everything is going well so far, it's now over a week since I've been off both of them and I have no problems! It must be the ketamine that enabled me to stop these meds. I hope it stays this way... I just hate being on medication. (Who doesn't?)

 

[Sherri]

Good luck to you @Sherri.

In my case my doctor does know about it, and is fully on board with me trying to minimize my medications. Everything is going well so far, it's now over a week since I've been off both of them and I have no problems! It must be the ketamine that enabled me to stop these meds. I hope it stays this way... I just hate being on medication. (Who doesn't?)

Thank you T, I will def need luck. If my doctor knows I have misbehaved with the opioid pills he will put me on a red flag. I don't want it. Hope you get better too.

 

[gottago222]

this is great news i am so happy to hear you are doing better sending you all the good luck

 

[noaccount]

It is absurd and tyrannical that some guy with a clip board supposes he can "allow" or "disallow" you from using or stopping-using medications in the first place, and I am so so sorry you are dealing with that kind of abuse. Yes please do whatever makes you feel best.

@UpandDownPrincess - While you're sharing much-needed harm-reduction / psych-survivor info, I need to ask, from a psych-survivor perspective - Do you understand how saying that some of us "have thoughts that aren't really US, just symptoms" is a dehumanizing line that has greatly harmed many of us who have been framed that way?

 

[Angi]

Good luck to both of you!

he will put me on a red flag

What would that entail? Sounds counterproductive, though, as it forces you to do this alone... After all, you are an adult and have to decide yourself which meds you take.
I have not dared to even mention my troubles to a doctor yet, and you just gave me another reason to keep it that way.

 

[UseItOrLoseIt]

As someone who did that after almost 20 years of being on SSRI-s and about 15 on queatiapine, I have one advice. Be smart about it. Be patient. Take it very slow. Reduce your dosage and keep reducing it, but give yourself a few weeks between adjustments. It took me about 4 months to get off them completely and besides some painfully vivid dreams after the first cut I had no withdrawal symptoms.