[Tamster]

I was addicted to benzos , oxys, vicodin, fentanyl and got clean last april. Now my docs have me on new meds like Seroquel, abilify, nuvigil, viibryd, buspar, and depakote. I am never anxious now but i am drugged and hung over everyday pretty much all day. What do I do stop them on my own like I did before, I hate rehab thats why I didnt use it last time. Sami

Hey Tamster ...

I told one of my psychiatrists that the only difference between him and a street dealer is that he had the blessing of the FDA. He about ruptured a testicle over that comment.

Nevertheless, it was several years before I was ever able to free myself from being "legally" addicted to the crap they're peddling.

Withdrawal was a mess too ... Of course they (the psychiatric community) like to call it discontinuation symptoms ... But when you're hurling and spewing and cramping like a mofo with your head splitting apart at the seams for 2 - 3 months ... Then, yeah, it's about as bad as anything "illegal" out there in my opinion.

Sorry you're having to struggle with all that too.

,
Pfrog

[Tamster]

thank you pfrog
I am on so much seroquel that my days are as bad as they were on valium and xanax, i used heavily then. Now a doc has put me on a stimulant to stay awake instead of lowering the antipsychotics. What are they thinking , I dont think I am that bad anymore but maybe i am missing something.

I'd see another psychiatrist, Tamster. There must be something different that will
help you and not leave such terrible side effects.

[Tamster]

I have a great reporte with this psychiatrist and he had me on lower doses before I dont really remember what happened but u bet I will find out this tuesday.

[Leed]

Try to wean off your meds, if you can. You'll need ALOT of them to do it. If you have a good rapport with this doc, he can help you wean off. Hopefully, he'll give you a weaning schedule too.

With weaning, you have very little withdrawal symptoms -- believe me, I've done it. It's the best way to do it, with the least amount of discomfort. I'm not saying you won't have ANY symptoms, but they won't be severe like you probably had before!

God bless, my friend, and take care!! keep us posted, will you? I'm with you 100%. Hugs, Lee

[anneo59]

Originally Posted by genetic

I'd see another psychiatrist, Tamster. There must be something different that will
help you and not leave such terrible side effects.

yes, had to change docs too, for similar reasons. First try, not so good, second a charm. Had to go round and round with insurance to justify, but totally worth it! Good luck!

[Perna]

The legal stuff at least is "measured" and has testing (albeit often not enough/very good) behind it and you know the "amounts" and what's in it, etc. whereas the street stuff is just bad news and has its own side effects. You can't get something for nothing. If you don't want to be anxious and can't work fast enough in therapy to help, then there will be side effects but you won't be "high" just have the bad side effects. The problem too with most street drugs is one gets high and can't function as well (although if you are nodding off with the pdoc's that's not much better).

[Tamster]

thank you leed . I see my doc on tuesday and i am bringing it up then. My gut feeling is that i did it before by tapering those drugs that I can do this again with the taper method. Thank again your michigan neighbor

[Tamster]

wow ty everyone u may be right and I need to change pdocs not because we dont get along but because it is just time to explore the differences.

[sadnblue66]

Originally Posted by Tamster

I was addicted to benzos , oxys, vicodin, fentanyl and got clean last april. Now my docs have me on new meds like Seroquel, abilify, nuvigil, viibryd, buspar, and depakote. I am never anxious now but i am drugged and hung over everyday pretty much all day. What do I do stop them on my own like I did before, I hate rehab thats why I didnt use it last time. Sami

my family dr has me hooked on xanax over 2 years now and i cant tapper off like he says. i go up to 6mg some days and down to 2mg some days. do u have any suggestions on how to get off it?

I wasn't addicted to it, but wanted to stop it because it didn't give me the
feeling of having had a full-night's sleep.

Try using an antihistamine (Xyzal-by prescription only, though) is a good
one. Then, alternate by using an aspirin the second night, etc. That
helped me. Occasionally, it's still necessary to take an antihistamine or
an aspirin, but they are not addictive. (That is, if you're not allergic to
aspirin.)

[anneo59]

Originally Posted by sadnblue66

my family dr has me hooked on xanax over 2 years now and i cant tapper off like he says. i go up to 6mg some days and down to 2mg some days. do u have any suggestions on how to get off it?

not familiar with this issue per se, sorry, but I know there is reliable info out there on how to do such. . . .I'd just be careful that it's medically sound! Good luck and the best!

[anneo59]

Originally Posted by genetic

I wasn't addicted to it, but wanted to stop it because it didn't give me the
feeling of having had a full-night's sleep.

Try using an antihistamine (Xyzal-by prescription only, though) is a good
one. Then, alternate by using an aspirin the second night, etc. That
helped me. Occasionally, it's still necessary to take an antihistamine or
an aspirin, but they are not addictive. (That is, if you're not allergic to
aspirin.)

I've used benadryl before, now and then, or rather I should say, split the pill, since I didn't want to feel hung over next morning. Good luck!

[Cherry73]

I would take into consideration how long you have been with that pdoc and how much progress you have made. You may really like the doc but it may not be the right doc for you. Also I agree with Leed that titrating down off your medications is probably the best way to go. I have done it both ways and believe me slowly coming off slowly is way less dramatic so to speak. Most physicians would never recommend that you just stop something that your body has become dependent on for a long period of time.
It seems to me that they are just replacing one dependency with another. Such as no more benzos so they gave you buspar. I imagine they did that because of the benzo being controlled substances and the buspar is not so not as high of a risk for dependency. I get the nuvigil is supposed to counter act the seroquel. What I am not so clear about is the use of a SSRI, mood stablizer, and antipsychotic, along with depakote. I apologize if I am being too nosey. I am just curious as to why all of those. I totally understand why you would feel drugged and hung over all the time. One those particular medications anyone would feel that way.

[Tamster]

the way the tapper off in rehab is to use pheobarbital for a week or two to make sure you dont have seziures. Thats what I did for about a week before I left rehab cause I'm stubborn as a mule.