[su4mentalhealth]

Hi everyone, I've been so sick for so long, I didn't have the energy to concentrate on any on-line support group. I'm still not too well, but I thought I'd give this a shot again, as I really need help.

So I went into hypomania stage (just over a week), think I'm still in it and have stopped all my meds, except Abilify 30mg, this med had allowed me 3.5yrs of stability, way back. I crashed after that.

I struggle with cycling. Was hospitalized from Oct-Jan (4mths) to wean me off meds (was on 11 at the time) and try new ones, I'm treatment resistant. So when released from the hospital was only on 5.

I can't tell you why I stopped my meds, but that I had an epiphany, while vacationing in Arizona.

I've stopped and played around with my meds in the past. I can't remember how far I went with them, but I believe this is the longest. I'm pretty knowledgeable about the illness and meds, but not quite so about withdrawals. Can someone please tell me how long withdrawals can last? Some of the effects I'm having are: Brain Fog, Sweats, Diaherria, Bloating/Water Retention, Headaches etc.

I just seen my pdoc, he wanted me to start my Lithium again, but for some reason or another I can't seem to bring myself to take it. I feel numb/flat or just plain weird.

I'd appreciate any experience you have had with this.

Thanks,

su4mentalhealth...

[SorryShaped]

It's common for bipolar people to stop their meds like you did. It's also a terrible idea every time. Get with the program. Your doc knows what's up and is trying to help you.

[su4mentalhealth]

Wow! that was quite the message Thanks for your support/reply...

well welcome back.

I don't remember you but hey

WB

(((((hugs))))

[SorryShaped]

Originally Posted by su4mentalhealth

Wow! that was quite the message Thanks for your support/reply...

It's in earnest and not to be mean. I hope you didn't take it as mean, but sometimes "short and to the point" will get the message across. I've been told the same in the past, and needed it.

[cool09]

I had a terrible withdrawal from paxil, almost killed me. First time I was on it had no problem.

su4mentalheath, I'm so happy you came back here. You know that we know each other well, and I think the world of you. PsychCentral has been a great place for me since I, too, came back a while ago.

You know that I am afraid of your experiment if it's without your pdoc's full knowledge. It is so sad that you have suffered so much over the years, and that you had such a long hospitalization recently. I really really don't want you to end up there again. I want you to find stability, and for your cycling to stop.

Though your four month hospitalization was long and hard, I will say that it seems that going from 11 to 5 medications was a very positive thing about it. That was a HUGE reduction! Reducing further on your own (without a doctor's knowledge) would sound very risky. I understand where SorryShaped is coming from. Please do see their statement as being with only the best for you in mind. I think a majority of us have experience quitting meds on our own and suffering consequences.

I must say that whenever I quit meds cold turkey on my own I usually ended up in the psych hospital soon after. When I was taken off medications by a doctor, either I had relatively few withdrawal effects, or they were managed carefully. I think the only times I really suffered withdrawals, was from quitting alcohol cold turkey (which I did in the hospital under pdoc and nurse observation, and with a benzo for some relief), and when I was slowly weaned off of Geodon after 8 years on a high dose. Yes, even withdrawals happened from being very slowly weaned off Geodon. My withdrawals were sweating, anxiety, gastrointestinal distress (upset stomach, heartburn/indigestion, low appetite), and headaches. In addition, my moods became unstable during that process. In response, my pdoc increased my Seroquel XR doses along the way, and temporarily halted weaning, as necessary. Though going up on Seroquel XR was a bit of a bummer, in the end I was happy to be on only one antipsychotic in the end, versus two. I also take a very large dose of Tegretol XR, and a small dose of Lamictal, plus a little benzo. Right now I'm feeling great, but stable.

I think I had few or no withdrawals when quickly taken off other medications in the past, because similar medications replaced them immediately. All done according to pdoc directions.

I was taken off Lithium for surely the last time a few years ago. The reason was because of mild kidney damage. Even with kidney damage my pdoc said he wanted to wean me off slowly to prevent mood instability. I think he reduced my Lithium by 300 mg every two months. I was originally on 900 mg, so the weaning off period took three months. I did not experience withdrawals, given the caution. Actually, I rather only experienced an improvement in my quality of life as side effects faded. At that time I was still taking a fairly large cocktail.

The meds can't work if you don't take them.

Originally Posted by su4mentalhealth

Hi everyone, I've been so sick for so long, I didn't have the energy to concentrate on any on-line support group. I'm still not too well, but I thought I'd give this a shot again, as I really need help.

So I went into hypomania stage (just over a week), think I'm still in it and have stopped all my meds, except Abilify 30mg, this med had allowed me 3.5yrs of stability, way back. I crashed after that.

I struggle with cycling. Was hospitalized from Oct-Jan (4mths) to wean me off meds (was on 11 at the time) and try new ones, I'm treatment resistant. So when released from the hospital was only on 5.

I can't tell you why I stopped my meds, but that I had an epiphany, while vacationing in Arizona.

I've stopped and played around with my meds in the past. I can't remember how far I went with them, but I believe this is the longest. I'm pretty knowledgeable about the illness and meds, but not quite so about withdrawals. Can someone please tell me how long withdrawals can last? Some of the effects I'm having are: Brain Fog, Sweats, Diaherria, Bloating/Water Retention, Headaches etc.

I just seen my pdoc, he wanted me to start my Lithium again, but for some reason or another I can't seem to bring myself to take it. I feel numb/flat or just plain weird.

I'd appreciate any experience you have had with this.

Thanks,

su4mentalhealth...

How about trying a different stabilizer? Lithium seems a hassle with blood work and such....nvr tried it here.....

[SorryShaped]

Originally Posted by AlwaysChanging2

How about trying a different stabilizer? Lithium seems a hassle with blood work and such....nvr tried it here.....

Are there any more stabilizers that don't have recommended bloodwork?

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by SorryShaped

Are there any more stabilizers that don't have recommended bloodwork?

I think that occasional bloodwork is a good idea, especially when on any psych meds. But as far as I know, there are several mood stabilizers that don't require frequent blood work. Lamictal, Tegratol, Abilify...those come to mind.

[SorryShaped]

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

I think that occasional bloodwork is a good idea, especially when on any psych meds. But as far as I know, there are several mood stabilizers that don't require frequent blood work. Lamictal, Tegratol, Abilify...those come to mind.

Abilify needs a1c checked. It's actually an atypical antipsychotic and used for bipolar depression, not stabilization.
Tegretol levels need to be in the "therapeutic range" which can only be discerned by bloodwork.
Lamictal levels should also be regularly checked for therapeutic level.

Wow, I just looked up these drugs...I just learned that I’m at a higher risk of Steven-Johnson syndrome because of my Asian heritage. I’m an Asian/white mix, but most people think I’m white. Yikes.

The psychiatrists started me on Lamactil three times, Depakote twice, and my current psychiatrist offered Tegretol or Trileptal, but I refused, sick of epilepsy drugs giving me headaches.

I’m glad I took the lithium. I felt better within weeks. I’ll do the blood work and hope my kidneys hold, at least until I can retire when I won’t have to go through triggering work stress.

Originally Posted by su4mentalhealth

Hi everyone, I've been so sick for so long, I didn't have the energy to concentrate on any on-line support group. I'm still not too well, but I thought I'd give this a shot again, as I really need help.

So I went into hypomania stage (just over a week), think I'm still in it and have stopped all my meds, except Abilify 30mg, this med had allowed me 3.5yrs of stability, way back. I crashed after that.

I struggle with cycling. Was hospitalized from Oct-Jan (4mths) to wean me off meds (was on 11 at the time) and try new ones, I'm treatment resistant. So when released from the hospital was only on 5.

I can't tell you why I stopped my meds, but that I had an epiphany, while vacationing in Arizona.

I've stopped and played around with my meds in the past. I can't remember how far I went with them, but I believe this is the longest. I'm pretty knowledgeable about the illness and meds, but not quite so about withdrawals. Can someone please tell me how long withdrawals can last? Some of the effects I'm having are: Brain Fog, Sweats, Diaherria, Bloating/Water Retention, Headaches etc.

I just seen my pdoc, he wanted me to start my Lithium again, but for some reason or another I can't seem to bring myself to take it. I feel numb/flat or just plain weird.

I'd appreciate any experience you have had with this.

Thanks,

su4mentalhealth...

What meds are you withdrawing from?

If it is an antidepressant, it seems like that could be worth trying to stop. I’ve heard that can make a bipolar person cycle.

My mom went through withdrawal from Ativan. That took two weeks of insomnia, anxiety, and agitation, but that was aided with klonopin.

Do try the lithium. It is a miracle drug for me. Thank God for lithium. It isn’t really even a drug, it’s a mineral. It killed most of my anxiety. I love it for that. The depression lifted.

Yes, you have to watch the kidney function. Yes, get the blood draws. Have them check blood sugar and cholesterol once in a while on the same poke.

Abilify plus lithium sounds like a good combo to me.

Edit: do work with the pdoc to make changes.