Today is my last day of weaning myself off of seroquel. Tomorrow i am going to start weaning myself off of nortriptyline. I will be calling my pdoc on monday and at that time i will be telling him i'm taking myself off of meds and no longer will be seeing him. Now, once i am finished with weaning myself off the meds completely. What should i expect? Withdrawals? I just want to get an idea of what i'm in for. Thanks for your responses.
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Answers
(((Chalmy)))
Yes, my dear, I would definitely expect withdrawals, especially depending on how long you have taken them. Are you seeing another pdoc, or just none at all? If you want to talk more, you can pm me on PC or talk here, either way.
I would be very careful with it, though. Dont get me wrong. I dont agree with everyone being on medications, yet we also have to be careful that we can be off of them or that we can handle being off of them.
What I mean by that is that I would check with the pdoc or anyone before I would wean myself off anything, especially that kind of medication...it can cause worse anxiety attacks, etc.
http://www.topix.com/forum/drug/seroquel/TRH6Q95A8IBAFRLTN
The same thing with the nortriptyline:
Med Net: http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=17021
Basically, either AND ANY OTHER medication must not be weaned off of unless approved by a pdoc or a professional. I know lots of people who want off yesterday, but working a good program and feeling better about yourself helps you get off of it quicker than weaning yourself off, cause later on, it just makes it worse.
(((Chalmy)))
((((Clyde))))
Thank you for answering. Whats going on is last thursday my pdoc told me he thinks I'm bipolar and put me on Seroquel. I was up to 100mg and was hanging from the ceiling. My anxiety got so much worse. I couldnt concentrate, my memory got so much worse and I constantly had my heart beating in my throat. The mood swings were coming and going faster than I could count them.
Prior to the Seroquel, I was taking .5mg of clonozapem each morning and night along with 100mg of nortriptyline at night. My pdoc stopped the clonozapem the day I started the Seroquel and continued me on the nortriptyline at the same mgs.
I called and spoke to the pdocs nurse on wednesday of this week and was told to take 25mg of seroquel less each night. Tonite I am no longer taking seroquel, I've weaned myself off of it. The past two days i have been taking .5mg of the old clonozapem that I have at night and the morning. If I dont, I'm crawling the walls and biting everyones head off. At least taking this little bit takes the edge off enough so i can get through the day.
I received a call today that my pdocs nurse wants me to come in on monday. Which i will. I'm wanting to get off of the nortriptyline too. I'm going to see what the nurse tells me and try and talk to them about how I'm feeling. The nurse listens to me, the pdoc does not. But, in the position i am at this time I have no other option of seeing another pdoc.
I had a long talk with my mother today and she tells me she has been on anxiety meds for a good 20 years and has had problems with mood swings where her regular doctor has wanted her to see a pdoc. I asked many months ago if anyone in our family had any mental issues and she assured me no. So i know have to go and tell the pdoc's nurse that yes it is in my family.
I feel stuck with this pdoc. Like i'm going no where but down. So many people are telling me to give him the benefit of the doubt. I guess I will try one more time and see what happens. But if I'm not happy with the outcome on monday, I will be weaning off the nortriptyline and taking what i have left of the clonozapem till its gone. Which will only be a few days.
It's been a year since this all started with the meds and I haven't found any relief yet. In my head, I think no meds and maybe I'll feel better. Who really knows, ya know.
That sounds better, Chalmy, then your first post to me ;)
Speak to the pdoc Monday, and let him know what you arent happy about. I am glad to hear that they are also wanting you to cut off the meds a bit.
Maybe you will feel better without meds, just be sure that they help you (or someone helps you--a professional) all along the way.
I am very glad to hear you are seeing them Monday. Be honest and straightforward, cause they are there to help you :)
Best of luck!