[Talanic]

So recently I've been going through a lot. I started taking the highest dose of Latuda and my pdoc wanted me off Saphris because of the high dose. So I stopped it cold turkey like my pdoc said. After a few days I started to feel REALLY BAD. I started having really bad nausea. After a few more days I started dry heaving every few minutes multiple times in a row. It was hard to breath, I was sweating like crazy, I was very dizzy and it was hard to walk, I was shaking really badly and it felt like my insides where being ripped out of my body. It started making me think that maybe these meds really shouldn't be in my body. I also went to a new pdoc and he was talking about how we have no idea on some of the long term effects on some of these meds, and was talking about some bad stuff he's been told about some of these meds long term. I've done some reading and I know that some of these meds can cause stuff like Diabetes and other things. So I'm honestly kind of scared of my meds. Since I've been detoxing I haven't had a chance to fully take my meds since I keep throwing them up... I've been fine for the most part, and my new girlfriend has helped a lot. I did hear voices once, and have a moment of some depression but other then that I could handle it. I'm just really scared of everything I guess. I'm sick of side effects, sick of just chocking down meds every day, and sick of worrying and having to ask about interactions on everything I'm thinking or might need to take. But on the other hand I'm scared of myself without meds. But if I can find a way to handle everything and take care of myself it might not be so bad. I also don't want to find myself in the hospital again. But again I wonder if I can learn to handle everything better then maybe I have a chance. So anyway, wondering what you all think.

Thanks

[pawn78]

I have to agree that some meds (drugs is actually what they are) have bad long-term side effects and aren't healthy at all really. I refuse to take some medications because of the damage they can do on the body. I like Lamictal because so far I have zero side-effects beyond increased thirst and dehydration. I just drink extra water. Even this relatively mild drug though could cause problems long-term.
My doctor says it is a risk/reward thing. It is better to be medicated with some side-effects to health rather than to be deeply depressed, psychotic or even dead from suicide.

[newworldoutthere]

Meds have changed my life, I realized the only way that I was going to be stable and live a relatively normal life was to take them regularly. When I can take meds again, I will resume them... it is not worth the risk of harm I could do to myself.

I do think about the damage my Lithium can do to my kidneys and it is scary... but I also think of what it was like to wake up in the ICU after a suicide attempt... that scares me more.

[Soul Quake]

Sometimes you have to be patient and persevere because everyone reacts differently to prescription drugs.

I'd take the medications any day no matter what physical problems may emerge. Being hospitalized is worse.

[CHIM3RA2006]

I agree. Meds over hospitalization any day. But I can totally relate to checking all the time for interactions.

[Nightside of Eden]

The thing with meds is we have to find the right ones. Sometimes we have to live with certain side-effects, but obviously what you were dealing with was way beyond what anyone can be expected to deal with and I don't blame you for stopping all your meds when you were that sick. I hope you were in contact with your doctor about which change in the meds likely caused you to get so sick. It's unusual to get really sick from discontinuing an anti-psychotic (usually the main effect is that mental symptoms return) so it was very possibly the increase in Latuda that caused some of your problems.

In any case, you've discontinued the meds now, but I would urge you to consider starting on them again slowly with your doctor's help, or trying some new ones if you start to feel bad again. People with bipolar going off all their meds rarely ends well.

[~Christina]

I hope this new Pdoc you have is willing to work with you to find the right treatment for your symptoms .. Everyones Bipolar is unique so there is a no one size fits all.

I think everyone should be concerned about what medications they are putting into there body. I mean we only get one body after all.

There are lots of life style changes you can make that will help you cope and maybe even reduce the amount of medications you are on , if you decide to take medications.

Im really sorry you went through so much horrid pain coming off psych meds.. That should have never happened..In situations like that (stopping a med cold turkey ) it should be done inpatient where they have medications to help you come off them safely and certainly not become as sick as you were.

[Talanic]

You guys are most likely right. As much as I hate it... I'm still scared of them but you're all most likely right. I haven't had meds in my system that much recently because of everything. I thought I was doing fine. After 30mins posting that I got into a heavy manic stage. I felt really good, high, was laughing at everything for long periods of time, you know stuff like that. Lasted a few hours. Then it immediately ended and now I'm in a state of super panic, worry, scared, depressed, and it's hard to breath. It's honestly a little much for me to handle. I really hate this T_T I don't really know what to do.

Originally Posted by Nightside of Eden

The thing with meds is we have to find the right ones. Sometimes we have to live with certain side-effects, but obviously what you were dealing with was way beyond what anyone can be expected to deal with and I don't blame you for stopping all your meds when you were that sick. I hope you were in contact with your doctor about which change in the meds likely caused you to get so sick. It's unusual to get really sick from discontinuing an anti-psychotic (usually the main effect is that mental symptoms return) so it was very possibly the increase in Latuda that caused some of your problems.

In any case, you've discontinued the meds now, but I would urge you to consider starting on them again slowly with your doctor's help, or trying some new ones if you start to feel bad again. People with bipolar going off all their meds rarely ends well.

I don't think it's the latuda. I've taken this dose before, and all I got was an extreme feeling of uncomfort. We're trying again by taking 40 mg after dinner and 80 mg before bed. I wasn't even on it long enough. But I guess you never know.

[~Christina]

You may very well be in a "mixed episode" if your up and down so quickly. Mixed episodes are pure hell.

Can you contact your Pdoc in the morning ?

[Nightside of Eden]

Originally Posted by Talanic

I don't think it's the latuda. I've taken this dose before, and all I got was an extreme feeling of uncomfort. We're trying again by taking 40 mg after dinner and 80 mg before bed. I wasn't even on it long enough. But I guess you never know.

Getting really sick would be an unusual reaction to stopping Saphris, but of course anything can happen and sometimes people have unusual reactions. That's the problem with making multiple changes in meds at once--you can't be sure which change is giving you problems.

I'm sorry you're feeling so bad mentally now. I'm glad to hear you're working with your doctor again, but of course it will take time for the meds to reach their full effects. If you're still caught up in a mixed episode tomorrow, it might be worth asking your pdoc for a few days of something like Klonopin to help you make it through until your main meds are straightened out.

[Talanic]

Originally Posted by ~Christina

You may very well be in a "mixed episode" if your up and down so quickly. Mixed episodes are pure hell.

Can you contact your Pdoc in the morning ?

I see her tomorrow in the morning so I'll talk to her then. You're right though, mixed episodes are pure hell. I guess I just gotta last till then...

Originally Posted by Nightside of Eden

Getting really sick would be an unusual reaction to stopping Saphris, but of course anything can happen and sometimes people have unusual reactions. That's the problem with making multiple changes in meds at once--you can't be sure which change is giving you problems.

I'm sorry you're feeling so bad mentally now. I'm glad to hear you're working with your doctor again, but of course it will take time for the meds to reach their full effects. If you're still caught up in a mixed episode tomorrow, it might be worth asking your pdoc for a few days of something like Klonopin to help you make it through until your main meds are straightened out.

I did a google search for Saphris withdraw and found some people that had the same reaction as me. But it's a good point, that you can't be sure which change is giving you problems. You're totally right on. Again I see her tomorrow so I'll take your advice about asking for something like Klonopin if I still feel bad tomorrow. From how I feel now I think it will be. It just keeps getting worse...