Stopping Medications Abruptly

SlumberKitty · Aug 11, 2022 at 01:26 PM

Hi friends,

When I was hospitalized in the psych ward last week and beginning of this week, they did a lot of changing around of my medications.

They stopped me cold turkey on
Cymbalta (Duluxotine)
Rexulti
Latuda

And they tripled the dose of Olanzapine.

I've been more depressed the past few days than usual and dizzy as well. I tried to find some side effects of stopping these medications abruptly but I didn't find a whole lot.

Just wondering if anyone had any experiences stopping these meds suddenly. Did your symptoms come back full force?

Thanks, kit

WastingAsparagus · Aug 11, 2022 at 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlumberKitty

Hi friends,

When I was hospitalized in the psych ward last week and beginning of this week, they did a lot of changing around of my medications.

They stopped me cold turkey on
Cymbalta (Duluxotine)
Rexulti
Latuda

And they tripled the dose of Olanzapine.

I've been more depressed the past few days than usual and dizzy as well. I tried to find some side effects of stopping these medications abruptly but I didn't find a whole lot.

Just wondering if anyone had any experiences stopping these meds suddenly. Did your symptoms come back full force?

Thanks, kit

Hi,

I have stopped medications abruptly before. I suppose it depends on the medication, but a lot can be stopped abruptly. I don't know about those meds in particular. But did they give a reason why they were stopping those ones abruptly?

Also, I'm not sure what symptoms you're dealing with, but it might be worth a conversation with whoever is prescribing these meds for you and you can figure out something to help your depression.

For example, in my case, olanzapine helps my psychotic symptoms, but only slightly helps with depression. So it might be worth considering an antidepressant or something like that.

Hope you can find some relief from the depression.

SlumberKitty · Aug 11, 2022 at 03:04 PM

Hi WA

The doctors at the hospital didn't tell me why they were stopping my medications. But I messaged my Pdoc through the portal for his work just a few minutes ago. I asked him if I could go back on the Cymbalta because this depression is no joke! But I don't want to do it without his blessing. I think I am okay psychosis wise. Like I don't think I'm doing great by any stretch of the imagination, but they are tolerable. So I will just leave the AP's alone right now. But I think I need the Cymbalta back. I don't want to wait three weeks for my appointment to ask him. I hope he doesn't get mad at me. I have been bugging him a lot. He probably hates me.

Thanks for commenting on my post. You're a good friend. HUG kit

WastingAsparagus · Aug 11, 2022 at 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlumberKitty

Hi WA

The doctors at the hospital didn't tell me why they were stopping my medications. But I messaged my Pdoc through the portal for his work just a few minutes ago. I asked him if I could go back on the Cymbalta because this depression is no joke! But I don't want to do it without his blessing. I think I am okay psychosis wise. Like I don't think I'm doing great by any stretch of the imagination, but they are tolerable. So I will just leave the AP's alone right now. But I think I need the Cymbalta back. I don't want to wait three weeks for my appointment to ask him. I hope he doesn't get mad at me. I have been bugging him a lot. He probably hates me.

Thanks for commenting on my post. You're a good friend. HUG kit

For sure! Don't wait for the appointment. As I said in the other thread, don't think you're bothering him. It's his job. I know how it feels to think you're bothering mental health professionals. But yeah, it's literally what they're choosing to do with their lives for work. I have sometimes just had to sit with the phone in my hand for like an hour or maybe less, but just working up the nerve to call my pdoc's office. But it can be done. And ultimately, it usually helps to just let them know what's going on.

*Beth* · Aug 11, 2022 at 06:38 PM

Based on my experience the Cymbalta may well be causing issues...depression and brain zaps/dizziness. I really can't understand why they pulled you off of it suddenly.

As for contacting your doctor, please do. I've had prescribers act annoyed when I needed extra attention. Too bad for them - and like Asparagus says, ultimately it helps both of you to let them know what's going on.

SlumberKitty · Aug 12, 2022 at 09:25 AM

Thank you, Beth. I did reach out to my doctor through the portal and he said I could restart the Cymbalta. Just take 30 mg at first and then bump it back up to 60 mg. I had to get over my fear of being an annoyance or worse. But the depression was terrible. I didn't want to sit with it for three weeks until I had my appointment!

Desoxyn · Aug 13, 2022 at 03:25 PM

I think the only issue is the Cymbalta (Duloxetine) cuz the olanzepine will fill in for the other two antipsychotics.

Cymbalta is similar to Effexor (Venlafaxine) - Both are SNRI's. If you even miss ONE day, you can end up feeling really depressed.

So good that you were put back on it ^- You're set (Enough) to stabilize..

If they kept you on the Vyvanse, that's good.

SlumberKitty · Aug 15, 2022 at 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Desoxyn

I think the only issue is the Cymbalta (Duloxetine) cuz the olanzepine will fill in for the other two antipsychotics.

Cymbalta is similar to Effexor (Venlafaxine) - Both are SNRI's. If you even miss ONE day, you can end up feeling really depressed.

So good that you were put back on it ^- You're set (Enough) to stabilize..

If they kept you on the Vyvanse, that's good.

Hey Desoxyn, yes they kept me on the Vyvanse--thank goodness. And I already am feeling less depressed now that I have some Cymbalta in me!

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