Quote:
Originally Posted by ultramar
Hi Bluemountains,
I recently lowered my Seroquel dose for similar reasons that you have stopped Zoloft, so I completely get it. But I don't understand why you've stopped it altogether instead of tapering down? If your goal is not to be so zombied out then lowering the dose little by little should accomplish that but without the potentially horrible side effects of stopping cold turkey. Your Pdoc suggested halving the dose --couldn't you do that and then if all goes well stop it altogether the following week? Have you discussed that possibility with your Pdoc? That way it's not just a choice between only halving and stopping all at once, there's a potential option in between.
What if you're going through brutal withdrawal from the med during your mini-vacation? I know you want to get rid of it as soon as possible, but it's possible too that halving the dose will make you feel better while you're on your way to stopping it altogether.
So my question is, why quit cold turkey instead of halving it (which might start to help) and then stopping all together a week later, or however long later that your Pdoc recommends? I don't want to judge you, I worry that you'll suffer terrible withdrawal, and I just don't get it. I really wish you the best of luck. If it works out -and probably not everyone reacts badly to stopping all at once- then hopefully you'll be in a better place very soon and I really wish that for you. I know how awful the struggle with meds can be.
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Good questions, ultramar. Actually I did take the half dosages last week for several days, so even though I am rushing the process, I really wanted to avoid experimenting with this during work.
As for the vacation and time off, if I feel myself going in the wrong direction I will go back to the half dosages.
I have read withdrawal reactions going both ways-some horrible, and some without any reactions. I have been off and on several ssri's, and I don't remember a terrible reaction except when I was taking nothing. I don't think this was withdrawal, I think it was a bipolar episode with no chemicals to help. I am hoping that the lamictal can sustain me, but if not, I will work towards adding in the ssri's. I just think I am ready to switch again-maybe back to prozac, if necessary.
I know I will be medicated the rest of my life, I just want to reduce the pills if possible.
Thanks for your input!
Bluemountains