Quitting All The Meds At Once

[Chaz Kindred]

I have started to think more and more about this thought as it grows stronger each day. The thought of who i was before I started taking the different medications the doctors have put me on for my PTSD, Anxiety and depresion. Though a certain quote stops me from doing it each and every time and everyday I start back into my same routine again with taking my medication. My wife once told me that she could see me suffering so much before the meds and it was enough to make her cry.

Yet I have this urge growing stronger more each day as it builds and festers inside me. Stop the meds and see if you can be "normal" again. Before I started taking the medication I was completely against the thought of it. The Doctor while in Active duty asked if I wanted to be put on them. I declined and stood my ground for a year and a half. Then one day I snapped and walked into the local VA and told the receptionist I needed to talk to someone ASAP and I had never been seen before fresh from the military and fresh from war.

I was placed on medication within a week or so after talking to the doctor. It's intresting how I look back and see photos from how I looked then compared to now. I can see a tremendous change in me. My memory being shot for what it's worth and bits and pieces here and there. I still remember how I was before taking medication. I feel as though right now I am being blocked from life because these meds aren't allowing me interest in anything.

Then I think about how much I want a smoke since quitting that while on the meds and also finding out I'm deathly allergic to Chantix now because I tried that too. But I opened up my perscription file and I see how many different drugs I was on and now.............WTF. I know I'm going to have a relapse of some sort by quiting cold turkey but is it worth the risk to try and get my life back?

Has anybody ever thought about this as well? What are the general side effects of stopping your meds cold turkey?

 

[Heather]

. My wife once told me that she could see me suffering so much before the meds and it was enough to make her cry.

Why would you want to go back to that? I would NOT stop your meds. cold turkey. BAD BAD BAD idea. Go to your doctor tell him how you are feeling. See if anything can be adjusted. It has taken me years to find the right combination of meds. to finally feel 1/2 way "normal".

It's not perfect but it's a hell of alot better than it used to be. I've been on these meds. for 8 months straight. And for me that is UNHEARD of because they work.

DO NOT GO OFF OF YOUR MEDS! without talking to your doctor first.

Take care of yourself. Hugs. Heather

 

[Chaz Kindred]

Been on meds for over two years.. The person who I want is someone who was full of life, that same outgoing energetic everybody loves, Cheers kinda guy. It's like I'm in a fight with myself on taking the meds and now I'm lost...

 

[ronin47]

Chaz, if you stop cold turkey on all those meds at once, it is not totally outrageous to suggest that it might kill you. If nothing else, you will get very sick. You will also not go back to the person you were before you started medications. When someone goes cold turkey on psychoactive medications there are a lot of withdrawal symptoms, not the least of which is a total "crash and burn" of your mental state. Your depression and anxiety will spike to a level even worse than they were before you started medications. I stopped my medications cold turkey once before, and to cut a long story short I ended up in the hospital.

DO - NOT - STOP - ALL - AT - ONCE!!!!! It is not possible for me to stress enough just how dangerous it would be if you did. You have no idea how your body will react but you can know that it will not be good. If you feel determined to stop taking medication, for God's sake, do it slowly. Do it under the supervision of your doctor. Taper off little by little. I will even go so far as to say, if you feel you must do it on your own (which I don't recommend at all either), then do it by taking smaller dosages first, then take small doses everyother day, or something like that. Do anything but stopping all your medications all at once.

 

[Reclusive]

I agree, the effects of stopping cold turkey can be really severely horrible. I know how bad missing a day can be and that's bad enough! Work with your doctor, see if you can taper off them. That way you can monitor your reaction and results. It'll also give you a chance to see how much of how you feel is you and how much is the meds. But go slow, with doctor supervision.

I've been playing the med games for over a year and finally am on something that let's me feel like me again. Not exactly the same as before, but I feel like myself a lot more.

Just don't jump without a safety net.

 

[Nicolette]

I don't have time to read the posts in this thread but based on the topic I sincerely hope you are not serious about going off all meds at once. :eek:

 

[Brontie]

I agree with everyone else.
This thread GRABBED my attention.
Please don’t stop taking meds without consulting your doctor and getting a programme to come off them gradually. Not on anything now, but take it from someone who has done that a few time. One time I ended up in hospital.

 

[KP the nut]

BAD BAD BAD idea. Speak to you doctor, pharmacist, therapist, psych doc, but do not go cold turkey. Even if a your doctor does agree, meds should be reduced very slowly and if taking more than one, then start one med at a time.

Please don't do this on your own.
Take care
KP

 

[intothelight]

Hi Chaz,

Everyone is correct that you should NOT stop taking your medication all at once. However, if you are concerned the medication may be too strong at this point in your recovery, then by all means, please bring this up with you doctor.

The apathy, numbness, or loss of interest that you are experiencing may be medication related or a PTSD symptom, but only you and your healthcare professional can determine that. There is nothing wrong with wanting to "feel" interest in life again, but to cold turkey meds is not a good way to go about it.

Wishing you success in your healing.

Debbie

 

[Ted Moen]

Chaz, the challenge is to achieve that mix of medication and therapy that allows you to learn to live better with your ptsd symptoms. That mix changes as you become better at managing your ptsd symptoms. Sleep, getting out of the sleep deprivation state, is very important, so if that is a problem sleep medication is appropriate even though most sleep medication has side effects. I took trazadone for about six years before my recovery reached a point where I no longer needed medication to sleep. I take paxil, an SSRI, probably for the forseeable future, because it is more effective at reducing panic and anxiety sypmtoms and I no longer spiral into major depression with it. At the same time I have seen veterans that end up with a whole bag of drugs and obviously over medicated. It is up to us to research our specific drug needs and work with our psychiatrist and psychologist to develope the mix of medication and therapy that is appropriate to our situation at our current stage of recovery.

As for going back to that imaginary person we once were, either the one before medication or the one before trauma, that's not going to happen. That's just your perception playing games with you. The person before medication was acting out ptsd symptoms, and the trauma happened.

Take care,

Ted

 

[Froggie]

What are the general side effects of stopping your meds cold turkey?

I agree with Heather, very bad idea as the side effects can be very bad. I'm not a pharmacist nor a doctor, but I have been told by my GP, my Psys and my Ts to not do a cold turkey. There is a method to lower the medication doses. Maybe there is a change of medication that could help you through all this. It sometimes has to be a psychiatrist who prescribes the medication and evaluates the results. I started feeling better after this adjustment by my psychiatrist. It was a combination of anti-psychotics (yes you're reading well, they got the grips on my flashbacks and nightmares) and anti-depressant. That really stunned me knowing that I had to take a schizophrenics medication and made me realize how severe and realistic were my flashbacks and nightmares. Think about it Chaz Kindred.

 

[Chaz Kindred]

I have tappered myself off one medication I think I am totally against. I have talked it over and did NOT quit them all cold turkey. I did successfully tapper down one I was concerned with. I also involved my wife in the process of it. with in a short amount of time she was able to start seeing a change for the better.
Concerns for this medication were not something being played in my head, I was actually being blocked by my own doing from taking it. I did go through a minor withdrawl in the process of it. BUT I had the help of my wife, doc and myself. I really can't say exactly what or why is was hindering me back so much but when your significant other notices you smile now more than you have in years, well thats a huge notice.