Re: quit all my meds too fast

[Guest guest]

Dear Dinah,

You said:

<<I was fired from my job April 3rd of this year, and lost my health

coverage that very day. I had been taking Topamax (not sure why,

just another med that my dr. added), and was out and had another

refill to pick up and didn't when I found out how much it cost. I

was also on Zyprexa 2.5 (put on it for sleep), Effexor 225,

Wellbutrin sustained release 300, and Lexapro, 10 mg. I have taken

drugs for depression for about 18 years. Started with Prozac, it

worked well, then changed me to Zoloft, it worked for 14 years or so,

then finally to Zoloft, and as it didn't work so well as time went

on, they kept just adding all the other stuff!

I never was really helped by any of it in the recent years, but

didn't know what else to do. Initially I was afraid of coming off

the medicine after I recovered from my initial major depression, for

fear I would end up in the same kind of place emotionally. Well,

since I was jobless and broke, now seemed like a good time to quit

all of it, and I pretty much quit without proper tapering. My diet

has always been poor, and I have gained lots of weight over this 18

years, and have very little physical activity, and remain fatigued.

I managed to lower my doses of Effexor and Wellbutrin more than the

rest, but went cold turkey about two weeks ago. Felt alright, not

much different than usual, just a few brain zaps, felt more

emotional, very teary much of the time, you know like at commercials

and stuff. These things I expected. But then I started having

diarrhea, and now I have a fever, and feel awful. I did start taking

some supplements, and the diarrhea got worse, so I quit them as well,

but the diarrhea persists, and the cramping that comes with it is

worse as well. Today I have tried taking Lomotil for the diarrhea,

and it's not working. I know in my heart I caused these reactions by

stopping so abruptly. What can I do to get better?>>

** It's crucial for you to go back on these drugs and reduce them

appropriately. Talk to your doctor and ask for samples until the

doctor can fill out the from you would need for free drugs from the

pharmaceutical companies. You will become totally disabled if you

allow yourself to continue this way. You never should have been on

all these drugs; it's a wonder you're still alive.

The diarrhea is from too much serotonin and too few serotonin

receptors as well as cortisol that is probably through the roof.

Here are some links for programs that will help you get free drugs:

This one gives good info on how to do this:

http://www.thelivingweb.net/lowcost_prescription_drugs.html

https://www.pparx.org/Intro.php

This site has applications for different drug companies. These

are the applications your doctor would have to fill out. Give this

to your doc and ask for his help:

http://www.rxhope.com/pap_info.asp

Please also look into whether you are eligible for General

Assistance and Medicaid in your state. Call your local Department of

Human Services. They can send you an application in the mail. Ask

them to do this if they do not offer to do it.

This is very serious. You need to get some of these drugs in you

ASAP. I want to caution you to be careful and not take more than one

drug at this time that manipulates serotonin. Your best and safest

bet is to reinstate the Wellbutrin first which has more action on

dopamine than serotonin. Reinstate gently -- begin at a lower dose

and wait a few days before raaising it. You may find that the

Topamax also helps.

You've been on these drugs much too long and you were on too many

of them to continue this way. You will find yourself disabled for

life if you don't get some of these drugs back into your system. I

am not by any means exaggerating. There are people here who will

tell you they wish they didn't do what you're doing.

Keep us posted, please.

Regards,

(list owner)

[Guest guest]

You're doing the right thing Dinah, and your body will thank you. I

wish I'd gone back on my medication when I had the chance -- I was so

keen to get rid of it that I didn't consider the damage that a quick

withdrawal was doing.

Best wishes to you, the people here will give you a lot of help and

support

.

[Guest guest]

Thank you for your words of support. My body is thanking me already. It's hard to describe the difference 24 hours made after finally going back on some of the meds. I truly thought I was going to die-never felt so bad in my life! It's slow and easy from now on!!!!! Dinah wrote: You're doing the right thing Dinah, and your body will thank you. I wish I'd gone back on my medication when I had the chance -- I was so keen to get rid of it that I didn't consider the damage that a quick withdrawal was doing. Best wishes to you, the people here will give you a lot of help and support .

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[Guest guest]

>

> Thank you for your words of support. My body is thanking me

already. It's hard to describe the difference 24 hours made after

finally going back on some of the meds. I truly thought I was going

to die-never felt so bad in my life! It's slow and easy from now

on!!!!! Dinah>>

** Dinah, how are things going for you now? Are you feeling

stable enough to tackle the withdrawal more slowly now?

Regards,

[Guest guest]

Yes, feeling much better. My problem now is that both my meds are the sustained release kind. I need to get the regular formulations. Do you think I could get liquids? I was avoiding visiting my doctor because of lack of insurance, so thought I would just maintain on the reduced doses that I am now taking, until that situation changes.ccreel_04064 wrote: > > Thank you for your words of support. My body is thanking me already. It's hard to describe the difference 24 hours made after finally going back on some of the meds. I truly thought I was going to die-never felt so bad in my life! It's slow and easy from now on!!!!! Dinah>> ** Dinah, how are things going for you now? Are you feeling stable enough to tackle the withdrawal more slowly now? Regards, __________________________________________________