[jattitude74]

Hi everyone, it's been a while since I have posted but I am looking for advice. I feel that I am on way too many meds.(1500mg lithobid, 300 mg lamictai, 100mg trzodone, 40mg celexa, 2mg ativan, 6mg klonopin and some xanax as needed but not often) To me that is too much, I talked to my doc abot taking me off everything and starting over he gaave me three options !, Stick it out to see if my increases will work, 2.) can detox at home, which could be dangerous and hell, or 3) admit myself into the hospital where they can detox and start new meds while keeping me under control. The problem is I am scared of option 2 and 3. I have never been admitted, luckily but have no clue what to expect or what will happen. I am looking for a bit of insight before I make any decision and I figured here would be the place to start. Thanks in advance,,,,Jen

[bizi]

First of all let me tell you that IMO you are taking way too much tranquilizers.
6mg of klonipin is a huge dose.
.5mg of klonipin is equal to 10mg of vallium.
This would be my first suggestion for you is to try to taper off the klonipin. This will take some time as you don't want side effects from tapering too quickly.
Replacing meds with more meds doesn't sound like the right answer either.
I have not read any of your prior posts and don't know your medical history and am not a doctor so it is best to go with the professionals for advice.
Discontinuing everything all at once is not a good idea.
Having said all of that...I agree with you that you are over medicated.
What ever you decide to do will take tremendous patience on your part and your family and friends...the folks supporting you.
Do you have a therapist to help you while you go thru this?

I wish you much luck and success...
I just tapered off ambien and sleeping off and on now.
The groggyness is getting better, I tapered off klonipin a year ago but was taking a lot less than what you are taking.
I did not experience side effects getting off of it.
There is a site that is very helpful for people trying to withdraw from benzos...it is called benzobuddies.
Great site.
I am bipolar 1 take 200mg of lamictal and 40mg of geodon both at night.

bizi

[bizi]

The lamictal can be used alone as a mood stabilzer and it also has anti depressant qualities to it. The lamictal can stand alone to replace the lithium.
The trazadone is used for sleep? If you just took one klonipin at night You don't need the trazadone...
The klonipin can be used alone to help you sleep at night. The effects last 8-12 hours.
For severe anxiety klonipin can be dosed 2 times a day.
THis is only my opinion...feel free to PM me.
bizi

[(JD)]

Hi. I would first stick to the new regimen and see if it works better for you.
It appears your doctor is trying to discourage you from going off all meds.
He is the one who has prescribed those medications, and he's trying to stabilize you with them, and now you counter his decisions and say you want off all of them... hmmm?

I think you have another option at least.
If the latest increase doesn't help, then begin by going back to the dose you were on before, first.
Then, discuss with the doctor which meds are causing your greatest side effects (the ones you really feel
you can't live with) and ask him to begin weaning you from that one.

good wishes!

[fraction]

In my personal opinion that would be too much medication for me so I would assume it might be for you.

I got off my medication because I was on about the same amount of medication as you. It felt like too much and I didn't want to live that way on that many medications.

I hope you make the best decision for yourself.

[faded]

I was taking 8 different meds back in February which I felt was too much and made me all weird. Now I'm down to two meds + a PRN and I feel so much better. I came off of all the other meds while in a hospital setting. I was in for 3 months while they made adjustments and observed me. It felt really long but was probably worth it in the long run. If you feel that it's the right thing for you, don't hesitate to be admitted it can help you.

[BalishBun]

I agree that might be a little much, everyones body is different, but if the higher doses are not a necessity, why have em so high.

I take some of the same meds as you (klonopin, Trazodone, Abilify, Topamax. Lamictal, Concerta, Provigil), but I had an overdose a year & a half ago after 5 mos. of hypomania & I'm still not sleeping well. Up since 1:15 this morning. I'm scared to go "back there" & get to the point of ODing again so I'm willing to take so many meds.

But if I were going to get off the meds or significantly decrease them I would do it in a hospital setting where I would be closely monitored. These are powerful drugs & not to be taken lightly as to what effect a sudden or incorrect method of decreasing them could do. Good luck.--Suzy

[MyBestKids2]

Only your doctor knows whats best for you. We aren't educated enough to make that decision.

However, IMHO, I would choose #3. You would be under a controlled environment as they adjust/change meds. Most hospitals aren't all so bad

[jattitude74]

Thank you for all of your advice, it really made me rethink things a bit more. I talked with my pdoc and we decided to stick it out and go from there, he is trying to stabilize me and says he has to keep making adjustments until we find a combo that works for me and I have been stable, then we can discuss lowering some of the meds. Thank you all again!!!

[bizi]

Here is to getting stable!
This summer you will have some time to relax and enjoy your time off from work.
Take care of yourself.
Do you have a therapist to help you sort thru things?
bizi

[eforest]

I was on too many medications at one point- my doctor and I tried to make changes outside the hospital but ultimately I ended up inpatient.

How about that approach? Try to make changes at home- and then if it gets to be too much, go to the hospital. I was in the hospital for 2 weeks. Sure, it was difficult, and it disrupted my life- but it was so worth it.

Going to the hospital felt like a failure and it was quite scary, but I'm fine now and my balance is much better. Good luck!