[BPQuestions]

I started having some crazy side effects from my meds and the Dr just wants to reduce them down. I know I shouldn't but i feel like just stopping everything cause im so sick all the time.

I think the emotional attachment to them is the hardest fight.

[Blueberrybook]

Cold turkey isn’t a good idea, especially for certain meds. You can have all sorts of side effects. I would follow your pdoc’s advice on this issue. If you don’t like the way certain meds make you feel, tell your pdoc and he or she might give you a different med to try. Some meds gave me horrible side effects, especially extreme drowsiness to the point where all I wanted to do was sleep all day, every day. I flat out told my pdoc I wanted off it (usually it involved a taper) because if she didn’t help me get off it, she could be sure I would stop taking it altogether. Now, granted, I had one of the best pdocs in the area; I only realized a few weeks ago that ALL her online reviews were 5 star, and that just isn’t very common at all. Anyway, whenever there was a med I disliked and wanted off of, she helped me taper off in a method that would not be harmful to me. It is always best to work with your pdoc when tapering/stopping meds, in my opinion.

[raspberrytorte]

I would taper. You'll probably feel worse if you just go cold turkey.

It's really not a good idea to just drop your meds. It can cause you to feel very sick or crash. I would say hang in there and taper off.

[wildflowerchild25]

Geodon in particular SUCKS to get off of. The withdrawal is terrible if you just drop it. I wouldn’t.

[Under*Over]

Yeah your body can have all sorts of bad reactions to just going off cold turkey.

No matter how frustrated you are- its probably best to taper or its likely things will just get a lot worse really fast.

Good luck with it

[piano97]

Hello there. I understand completely.

Tell us the side effects that you've had and the level of concern on each.

I highly recommend NOT stopping 'cold turkey'.

Do whatever taper the doctor recommended. If you absolutely must reduce more than MD said, do it slowly. Call on Monday and give an update, and ask for a further drop if you have to.

Understand that some amount of discontinuation syndrome will occur almost inevitably. Plan accordingly.

In the meantime, practice the best self-care possible. Get plenty of sleep. Take a shower and wear clean clothes. Eat a couple meals sitting down at table. Get outside some if you can. Call or text with a couple friends or family members about enjoyable things. Watch a good show. Water indoor plants. Do some focusing meditation, including sound.

Let us know how things are going and be safe.

[hopeless2015]

I know this is so frustrating, but follow the doctors orders. Be safe. Hugs

Stopping lithium abruptly causes relapse—worse than you were before you started it.

DO follow doctor’s orders.

Honestly, it depends what med you're taking, how long you've been taking it, and your dose. I was on a high dose of Seroquel for a while and cold turkeyed it (I was in the hospital and the doctor was a dumbass) and that was the worst experience I ever had. I didn't sleep for a week, I couldn't eat for a week. My nurse tried having me take a sip, a single ****ing sip, of orange juice. Nope. Vomited as soon as I swallowed. Also was extremely hot for a minute, then extremely cold for a minute, repeat until being transferred and getting some damn Seroquel in my system.
But then again, Ive been on a low dose of Geodon for a month and stopped it cold turkey myself due to side effects and nothing bad happened.
Overall though, I'd stick with what everyone else is saying and stick to the taper.

[Unrigged64072835]

Definitely taper down.

[Guiness187055]

Stopping meds all at once never ends well.