Hey everybody,

So I quit my meds about fifteen days ago. Today as I was driving all of a sudden my vision got limited in my left eye. All my peripheral vision started morphing into shapes changing into one another. I could see straight down the center like tunnel vision but nothing else. It was scary to say the least. I know the meds i'm coming off of can cause hallucinations but I'm prone to that anyway. But, I'm not even sure it was a hallucination, just some altered effect with my vision. Any feedback would be great.
Thanks,
Tara

[PTSDlovemycats]

That sounds scary. Did it go away? How long did it take? Has it happened again? Comng off of meds is very difficult. I went through that a year ago and it was pure hell. What meds are you coming off of?

It was scary. I was on my way to my therapy session. Once i got to therapy it had changed to tunnel vision with nothing in the peripheral. then I started dissociating. All around a very difficult day. I did dissociate whilst on meds too though so that's not new.

I'm coming off of Abilify 20 mg, Wellbutrin Xl 300 MG and Celexa 40 MG All cold turkey and I just looked it was 18 days ago that I came off them all.

Love and Hugs,
Tara

[pgrundy]

Why are you stopping your meds?

Hi Pgrundy,

I'm stopping my meds because i'm tired of the side effects. I have tardive dyskenesia (uncontrollable shaking) in my hands and that can become permanent if i let it go on too long. Also I'm always lethargic, my speech isn't always coherant when i'm on my meds and i have lost who I am, my personality.

Now that I've been off my meds I feel so much better, apart from today. I have gotten my personality back. I'm opinionated and have theories on everything again. I love it. I'm even starting to get pleasure out of certain things again.

love and hugs,
Tara

[Can't Stop Crying]

do you think it might be better to go off your meds more slowly? I know you've been off for 18 days now, but the cold turkey thing has been total hell for me and I do better if I taper off. I've never heard of the vision thing as a side effect of coming off meds, what does your doc say?

Hi Can't Stop Crying,

Thanks for the response. I think it would have been wise to go off the meds slower but I've looked into half lifes and stuff and they should all be out of my system by now. I don't currently have a doc but am seeing a new one on Friday. i have kept a list of symptoms and moods and will show those to her.
As far as hallucinating due to coming off the meds it's due to the dopamine level in your brain. Abilify decreases that to prevent hallucinations and when you come off of something like abilify your brain may start producing more dopamine thereby causing a hallucination or something similar. Still dont' know what to call the whole weird vision thing.

Love and Hugs,
Tara

[Can't Stop Crying]

Good job for tracking your symptoms and moods. I understand the whole side-effect thing. Sometimes it's like choosing the lesser of two evils for me - deal with the side-effects or the out of control emotions. Good Luck, hopefully your new doc can help with some of this.

Hey All,

So I'm feeling pretty good, no more hallucination type thingys.

I do see my pdoc tomorrow, a new one and I am nervous. I'll update tomorrow after I've done with the doctor.

I'm worried she's gonna want me back on the meds or not want to see me if i don't go back on them.

We'll see. I gotta listen to her, be honest yet stick to my guns,

Tara

[online user]

Sounds like a good plan, Tara! I'll come back tomorow to see how you are doing. Glad you are feeling OK now. The vision thing sounds scary. But so does the T.D.!

Just wanted to update you all to let you know I posted in the psychotherapy forum under the title UPSET.

Basically she tried to get me on meds, one that has worked in the past for OCD but I'm not currently OCD so don't feel i need it. I decided after much consideration to drop this pdoc unless or until I need her for meds. I'm going to continue to read Peter Breggin's work and go from there.

Much love,
Tara