Changing up your cocktail

Do you mind that you're on medication? Do you have plans to go off meds entirely, or, if you're taking multiple meds, maybe taper yourself off a few of them?

I've already tapered myself off Latuda without my pdoc's knowledge. I couldn't stand it, and, well, he hasn't been in the office lately, so there's no way I could have told him. I also wasn't going to wait for his blessing ether, so I made the impulsive decision to stop the Latuda. (However, I do plan to tell him in my appointment tomorrow.)

My husband watches my meds really closely. I have been very sick. I don't do anything without pdoc's approval. Of course, I'd like to reduce or eliminate meds. But that is really not an option for me right now.

I really don't like being on so much, but if it works, it works.

If I don't take my antipsychotic, like yesterday, things may go wrong quickly, like yesterday. But not necessarily.

Do you experience any problems?

I should really use higher doses of my mood stabiliser. But I really don't want to. I might add another, like lithium.

But my supplements and higher doses of nicotine work great, but some only for a short while (which makes sense, given the further metabolism, elimination rate).

If I find the best dosages for the supplement combination, I will stop taking my mood stabiliser first and then my antipsychotic. I experiment with the latter, because it's effects are also rather immediate and short. I prefer quick elimination and Tmax, the time to maximum concentrations, and generics, so I'll always use quetiapine.

Only generics. If they aren't required anymore for normal functioning, supplements. I don't mind dizziness, it's even a nice way of doing risky behaviour and self-harm. It's enough: I didn't have the urge to self-harm.

I believe no meds is always an option. My problems are relatively severe, but I'm sure supplements, more independence and psychological trickery, if you like, will be enough eventually.

I don't see how more than two meds is ever necessary for prophylactic treatment. I don't think patent-protected meds are really necessary. I do think they are highly problematic. Just think of all the tortured and slaughtered mice. And for what?

It would be great if my psychiatrist and NP wouldn't notice any difference. Then I can accumulate meds just in case and bid them farewell.

I lived for 15 years self medicating and no official meds. I would go back to that in an instant. I hate taking meds and they don't like me either. I keep my list as small as possible.

Right now I am on clozapine, amoxapine, lamictal, and topamax. I hope to one day drop the lamictal, maybe the amoxapine, and lower the dose of the clozapine. I wouldn't ever want to stop the clozapine or the topamax completely unless I develop some dangerous side effects since they've been so helpful.

I'm hoping to drop the Lamictal as well. I think it was added when I was in the hospital because I was ridiculously stressed which lead to the depression. But it was situational that time.

I've been really sick for the last year and we have been playing the meds game, trying to get the right combo down, I don't think I'm stable without any meds or mood stabilizer at minimum I'm hoping with last change just last week we have this I'm starting to feel better

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

Nope. In fact, I discovered that Latuda was making me severely pissed off! Like, I'm already irritable, but Latuda just worsens it!

I've been feeling fantastic ever since I stopped it. No more excess sleep, as well as lessened irritability.

Stupid drug

Oh well. Apparently irritability is one of the possible side effects of Latuda. So, it's not too bizarre.

I do experiment sometimes but it's always with a specific end date, like by this date two weeks from today I will either tell my pdoc about it or go back to my prescribed dose. Otherwise I'm playing with fire and could end up back in deeper trouble, functioning-wise.

I will probably always be on something. I'm okay with that.

ETA: I'm on a mood stabilizer, an antipsychotic, and an antidepressant. Antidepressant also helps with nerve pain so I don't want to go off that one. I'm okay with a cocktail for now but my depression is still pretty bad at the moment. Someday I'll go off the antipsychotic for sure.

Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk

I'm on two, and one prn I rarely take.

I'd rather just be on one, but just one isn't going to work out for me.

I'd rather be on none, but right now isn't the time.

I do stuff without pdoc approval all the time. If I decide a med isn't working out for me I'm going off of it.

It's funny how the attitude to med-compliance has changed over time. Or is it just me? It could be many other factors of course, different people responding, mania or depression, the weather, anything.

I'll be on meds for life. Not my preference but I'm alive and need them.

I don't mind so much that I'm on meds ... because I've learned first hand what the consequences are of me being off them ...

Having said that, my pdoc did tell me at some stage that he will wean me off them gradually when the time is right. Something to do with detoxing my liver.

I hate meds with a passion. Like capital hate. However I'm on them for life :'( . I would like to wean off but everyone assures me I'd quickly end up in the hospital.

My NP just decreased my Zyprexa to 5 mg and increased Geodon to 20 in the morning and 60 at night. This is the first step in what we both hope will be a reduction in my medications. I'm not under any illusions that I'll ever come off anti-psychotics, but if I could get it down to one and have the other for PRN use like my NP is planning, I'll feel I've been successful.

I know that meds are necessary for me and that cocktails will probably always be necessary. I hope that clozaril will eventually work well enough that I might lose a med or two but for now I'm fine with handfuls of meds. After the last 2 years I am so happy that something is helping that I really don't care if it does mean lots of meds and side effects. I hate the side effects but accept them as trade-off for feeling well enough to live. I've known for a long time that meds won't be simple for me and after nearly a year of things being really scary while nothing worked I am just grateful to have something that is effective.

I've never taken myself off anything and wouldn't do it. My pdoc would not be happy about it and a trade-off for being one of her few patients she sees beyond an administrative job is compliance, particularly when non-compliance could be really bad (with the last resort drug I'd be left with nothing).

I play with my meds a lot. Pdoc thinks I'm taking risperdal every day but I weened down to PRN and now, none at all. I stockpile leftover meds and if I can't sleep I'll pop an exta half ect. Stuff like that. I also self medicated for many years and in many ways still do. But at the same time, im very stable right now.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm fine taking meds. My life has improved vastly now that I'm on the right meds. I do play Pdoc though. Like if I start feeling down for more than a few days I'll start using the patch every day instead of every other day. But only because I know that's what she would say anyway. I've gone off meds and abused meds with terrible consequences so I don't do that anymore. Right now I'm only on two, an injection and a patch, so it's easy to comply.

I hate taking meds so much, it's such a hard thing sometimes. It just reminds me that I'll be taking these things for life even though they're saving my sanity big time. Without them, I get mixed mood and it's so, so messy.

In fact, in the last two weeks, I completely dropped off my meds and it was the worst thing I could have possibly done. Lesson learned, but now I have to start from scratch...