Posted by ratgrrl on October 18, 2003, at 23:12:26
In reply to general med withdrawal symptoms?, posted by sarita0001 on October 17, 2003, at 23:06:48
Hi Sarita--
I've been following your posts about trying to go off lithium. Have you actually gone off and are having these problems or are you worrying in advance?
My understanding of withdrawal is that it varies widely by med and by person. One should also remember that it takes the brain a long time to readjust after a med change. Sometimes very long (I'm 3 months out from going off zyprexa and am still having severe tremors...but zyprexa is COMPLETELY different than lithium). I've been worrying about you a bit, because if I remember your story right, you are trying to do this to see if you even really are bipolar. It seems like it might be tempting to see every withdrawal symptom as evidence that you really are bp. If I were you, I'd try to decide on a date to shoot for, maybe 4-6 months from now, and try to make it through the withdrawal/adjustment until then (unless you get dangerously manic or depressed). Give your body time to adjust and THEN try to observe whether you feel better/worse on or off the lithium.
Keep in mind I haven't ever gone completely off meds, I'm just trying to imagine what I'd do in your shoes. It is what I'm doing with the zyprexa. The first month I thought I should go back on, but I whethered it, and now I feel better off of it (though I'm still on 3 other meds)
good luck,
ratgrrl
poster:ratgrrl
thread:270448
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031015/msgs/270710.html