Reduced My Meds - Doing Ok

[James B.]

Hello Everyone,

I moved here last November and started using Gabapentin not long after. It's still working well, no plans to change @ 300 mg x2/day. The word on Gapapentin is pretty good; sublte though pretty useful mood stabilizer, aches and nerve pain. I have arthritis so this is helpful. It doesn't make me dull or sluggish.

A while before June I put myself on 50 mg Seroquel XR. Not a big dose, pretty powerful. I seem to hit a six month wall with some meds. Began feeling more and more bogged-down. Decided that since I am out of the woods with really bad sciatica and have better mobility, now would be a good time to cease Seroquel and see how I am doing. It's going ok. Not too bad, honestly think my anxiety has been helped by patching (eye-patch). Have better energy for doing things and exercising.

Was using a tiny dose of Chantix to help me get off nicotine. I am off the Chantix as well. Some of the ruminating negativity is surfacing but not too bad and I hope I can get through this without any more medication.

I am very sincere in being addiction and (mostly) medication free. My next step is trying EFT and seeing what that's like - my instinct is good about EFT.

Thanks for reading.

 

[intothelight]

Hi James,

Sounds like you are doing really well. Keep us in the loop as you progress. It really is nice to see people living their lives and managing the PTSD.

ITL

 

[AdamAnt]

Good job James. It's amazing how cognizant you are of how things effect you...I'm sure a tool that took some developing, but serves you well!

 

[James B.]

Thanks you two.

It's dawned on me how important it is for me, being a member of this community. Honest, it's just way better for me to be humble about this and admit that I begin to feel rudderless (isolated) pretty quick if I don't stay in touch. Regarding medications, wanted to mention I have begun to "formally" use Niacin, basically as a med. My self prescribed dose is 100mg 2x/day. I think it takes about 1 hour for Niacin to work. Today I experienced a pretty major, functional and very stable mood-reversal after coming home from shopping, taking the niacin, lying down a while, then getting up and going out in public again. Niacin can create a "flush" that I find very pleasant. It ushers in the use of water, works good.

Also, have stepped up dosing with Emergen- C (drink). I think it hits my system way fast, is satisfying and for me acts as a fairly powerful relaxant/pick-me up. I will happily double dose (mixed 2x pack with water) twice daily. Raspberry is my fave flavor. Being addiction free has been a goal of mine for like 20 years. I feel somewhat emotionally "open" and a bit weepy, but (for me) better that than the hard edge of really toxic attitude.

Regarding diet, am in a phase of reducing (near eliminating) carbs in all their forms. So far so good, and thanks again for the replies.

 

[James B.]

Today digressed into some un-helpful thinking styles. It may be the lack of medications. I am worried about this. It may be too early to go off the two meds mentioned above. My negative or un-helpful thinking styles are a feature that I have a lot of problems with. I am going to start training/learning EFT. I hope this may help. I feel sort of exhausted and worn-out from tedium and lifestyle repetition. Am planning a break for a couple days, this may be a good idea. Thanks for the support.

 

[d-art13]

Its great to hear how others are doing. I hope you are able to find some relief and reduction of symptoms.
I've been trying to cut back on ativan and seroquel only because my anxiety hasn't been getting any better. I'm still on my Lamictal twice a day and I will be seeing my T soon. I guess I'm just frustrated at taking all these meds and nothing working. I'm starting to try other ways to deal with the anxiety like breathing and starting this week...yoga. I'm hoping this helps.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

I hope you get some meds that stabilize you as you continue your process. I think it is wise not to depend too heavily on meds as I have. It ruined my teeth and now I have to get dentures because my teeth are all breaking off at the same time. I never knew that being on meds could ruin your teeth but I know now. I wish you the best.