[Azalysa]

I am pretty much convinced that during the 5 months off from work with pdoc throwing more and more meds at me, I am worse than I began. I want to get off at least the duplicate meds (ie. Depakote/Lamictal) and (Zoloft/Wellbutrin). Anytime I mention it to pdoc he says "We have to get you well first." I'm guessing he "thought I was well" when he sent me back to work.

When I saw my GP last week for an unrelated situation, he took a look at my meds, asked some questions and said he would recommend Zoloft and Lamictal! EXACTLY!! So, I'm going back to him and see if he is able to wean me off, or if he knows of a facility to wean off with medical attention on site. I'm really scared about hearing all the horror stories about going off meds and equally mad I was put on all this stuff without any explanations at all.

Has anyone gone through this? Ideas please?

Thanks so much!!

[SeptemberMorn]

{{{{{{{{{Aza}}}}}}}}}}} I think you could wean yourself off with your MD's help if he's willing to stay in close contact with you. If he thinks you need help, I'm sure he knows of good detox centers.

The two that he recommended, was that the ones to wean off of??

[Azalysa]

Oh, sorry, Sept - I worded that wrong. of the two mood stabilizers I'm taking (Depakote and Lamictal) plus the two ADs (Zoloft & Wellbutrin) the GP recommended staying on Zoloft and said it had an anti-anxiety component to it (which is really my biggist issue right now - anxiety) and also to stay on the Lamictal, saying (for me) it was a better med.

His suggestion was to remove Wellbutrin, Depakote and I'm not sure about Seroquel. Hope that made more sense.

I plan to see him next week and see what he says!

Thanks, Sept, I've been freaking out over "I can't EVER get off these drugs!" lol

*HUGS*

[SeptemberMorn]

Ok... I've been on both, but not at the same time, Zoloft and Wellbutrin. Of the two, Wellbutrin was the worst for side effects! YOWZA! It made the glands under my arms swell up and I thought I had cancer!! It hurt so bad! Zoloft gave me palpitations so I didn't stay on that one either.

I just haven't had any trouble getting of the drugs I've been on. Going straight from Xanax to Prozac was nothing. One day I took the last Xanax and started the Prozac. Ater the Prozac stopped working was when they tried all the other stuff that had too many side effects for me.

When I went into the psych ward about 4 yrs ago is when the pdoc put me on all sorts of meds. Lordy! I told him I didn't think I needed them all and he cut me down to just Celexa and Klonopin as needed. I hardly ever need it. I had no problems getting off any of them.

Hopefully it will be just easy for you... but please, don't try it cold turkey. You never know...

[Azalysa]

Thank you so much Sept. for sharing your experiences. NOOOOO, I'd never try cold turkey!!! I'm feeling badly enough now.

I'm still going to talk this over with my GP but I found some info online that is apparently going to be a book soon called "The Road Home." It has a tapering plan as well as using supplements (which are extremely expensive) to build up the body while doing so. (http://www.theroadback.org/antidepressants.htm) Have you ever seen anything along those lines?

I'm feeling like starting a campaign to MAKE pdocs give more info to their patients before prescribing a drug AND the possible side effects AND how hard it would be to get off them. (But my goal has always been to be an advocate. )

[dottie]

Hi!! You may want to try Centrum Silver. It is a terrific vitamin. Walgreens has a generic version fairly reasonable. GL

[Azalysa]

Thanks, {{{{{Dottie}}}}}}