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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Ezekial18 on February 3, 2006, at 13:42:42
So I started decreasing my zyprexa dose 3 nights ago. I went from 10mg to 7.5mg and the thinking was to keep going down by 2.5 each week until I am off of it. I increased my seroquel to 200mg from 100mg when I started decreasing the zyprexa and may go up to 300mg as I decrease more. The problem with seroquel is that it makes me excessively tired and getting up in the morning is really difficult. Now to the point.... I noticed last night that I was feeling depressed and was having a lot of intrusive thoughts, I was too anxious to fall asleep, was too tired to get up today and when I got to work got really wound up and speedy. This was a lot of different things in less than a 24 hour period. I called my pdoc this morning and she said to go back up to 10mg on zyprexa. I DO NOT want to do this. I feel like chancing it and keep going down but not telling her (when I decide I want to do something, like go off of a med, nothing can stand in my way) but keep taking the seroquel (it ultimately helps me sleep). I am thinking I can take klonopin as a prn the next few weeks to help me cope if this unstable mood thing keeps happenening. She's a great pdoc so I'm sure she will notice if I am unstable (I see her every week), although I have successfully covered things up before. I realize as I am typing this that I am full of sh**, but I just wanted to lay down the story and see what responses I get. Oh yeah, I have been stable for a long time now and just really miss being out of my mind which I think is a big part of this. When I felt myself destabilizing last night I got kind of excited about it.
Posted by vainamoinen on February 3, 2006, at 14:45:47
In reply to Against Medical Advice, posted by Ezekial18 on February 3, 2006, at 13:42:42
I'm reminded of addicts and alcoholics who have "euphoric recall" when they think back to the days when they were drinking or using. Of course when they go back to it the reality is a lot different than the pre-relapse fantasy.
I hope your hopeful fantasies about destabilizing prove true, but I fear that they may not.
Posted by blueberry on February 3, 2006, at 18:09:28
In reply to Against Medical Advice, posted by Ezekial18 on February 3, 2006, at 13:42:42
Just my opinion, but I think dropping the dose by 2.5mg every week is way too fast. And a drop of 2.5mg is too big. Begging for trouble. Been there, done that. Use a razor blade and get good at shaving tiny amounts off the pill.
If you would like some detailed hints on how to be safe about tapering down zyprexa, please let me know.
Please be careful. While all psych meds deserve some respect when weaning off of them, anitpsychotics in particular deserve extra heavy duty caution.
Posted by Phillipa on February 3, 2006, at 21:16:46
In reply to Re: Against Medical Advice, posted by blueberry on February 3, 2006, at 18:09:28
May I ask what you take the antipsychotics for? As they are given for everything from anxiety, bipolar, schizophrenia, etc. I think your dx may play a part in how and if you should play with the meds. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Ezekial18 on February 5, 2006, at 13:48:24
In reply to Re: Against Medical Advice, posted by vainamoinen on February 3, 2006, at 14:45:47
> I'm reminded of addicts and alcoholics who have "euphoric recall" when they think back to the days when they were drinking or using. Of course when they go back to it the reality is a lot different than the pre-relapse fantasy.
>
> I hope your hopeful fantasies about destabilizing prove true, but I fear that they may not.
As a recovering alcoholic and addict of over 8 years I totally understand what you are saying. I can't help it, I am addicted to insanity. I have given up thosoe vices and now have to come to terms with giving up the vices that come along with having a mental illness.
Posted by Ezekial18 on February 5, 2006, at 13:49:35
In reply to Re: Against Medical Advice, posted by Phillipa on February 3, 2006, at 21:16:46
> May I ask what you take the antipsychotics for? As they are given for everything from anxiety, bipolar, schizophrenia, etc. I think your dx may play a part in how and if you should play with the meds. Fondly, Phillipa
I am bipolar I.
Posted by vainamoinen on February 6, 2006, at 10:59:45
In reply to Re: Against Medical Advice, posted by Ezekial18 on February 5, 2006, at 13:48:24
> As a recovering alcoholic and addict of over 8 years I totally understand what you are saying. I can't help it, I am addicted to insanity. I have given up thosoe vices and now have to come to terms with giving up the vices that come along with having a mental illness.
>No kidding, me too. Keep coming back. I'm just back off a relapse that happened during a hypomanic episode. I have what was a previously undiagnosed (prior to my relapse) Bipolar II condition.
Be careful, my hypomania told me I could "handle it" again .
This is the end of the thread.
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