![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by mike lynch on July 13, 2006, at 7:50:57
I'm just curious as to the longest period of time any of you have functioned without meds until going into relapse and once again needing the intervention of meds
Posted by SLS on July 13, 2006, at 8:05:36
In reply to The longest you have been off meds until replapse, posted by mike lynch on July 13, 2006, at 7:50:57
> I'm just curious as to the longest period of time any of you have functioned without meds until going into relapse and once again needing the intervention of meds
2 months.
I was in remission for 6 months prior to the discontinuation of medication. They were discontinued due to the induction of mania.
If someone is going to relapse, it usually occurs within 4 months. Thereafter, one is more likely to stay well for an extended period of time. However, it is imperative to protect the remission. This is best accomplished by reducing psychosocial stress and preventing those depressive styles of thinking that can trigger biological shifts towards a relapse. This might require some sort of psychotherapy and avoidance of external stressors.
- Scott
Posted by SLS on July 13, 2006, at 8:14:18
In reply to Re: The longest you have been off meds until repla, posted by SLS on July 13, 2006, at 8:05:36
> > I'm just curious as to the longest period of time any of you have functioned without meds until going into relapse and once again needing the intervention of meds
>
> 2 months.
>
> I was in remission for 6 months prior to the discontinuation of medication. They were discontinued due to the induction of mania.
>
> If someone is going to relapse, it usually occurs within 4 months. Thereafter, one is more likely to stay well for an extended period of time. However, it is imperative to protect the remission. This is best accomplished by reducing psychosocial stress and preventing those depressive styles of thinking that can trigger biological shifts towards a relapse. This might require some sort of psychotherapy and avoidance of external stressors.One can incease their chances of remaining well by continuing an effective treatment for a year or more and tapering medication very gradually to prevent a rebound depressive reaction. This is particularly important if the course of the illness has been recurrent.
- Scott
Posted by antigua on July 13, 2006, at 10:05:03
In reply to The longest you have been off meds until replapse, posted by mike lynch on July 13, 2006, at 7:50:57
Six years. I was on Prozac for a couple of years and got off it once I just kept forgetting to take it and knew I was feeling better.
My depression cycles were/used to be six or seven years between major bouts, but this last bout has lasted three years.
My Pdoc says I will never go off meds now, the chances of reoccurence are just too great, but I'm not sure I believe in that yet. But I'm doing o.k. now so I'm not eliminating the meds yet.
good luck,
antigua
Posted by mike lynch on July 13, 2006, at 11:46:45
In reply to Re: The longest you have been off meds until replapse, posted by antigua on July 13, 2006, at 10:05:03
> Six years. I was on Prozac for a couple of years and got off it once I just kept forgetting to take it and knew I was feeling better.
> My depression cycles were/used to be six or seven years between major bouts, but this last bout has lasted three years.
> My Pdoc says I will never go off meds now, the chances of reoccurence are just too great, but I'm not sure I believe in that yet. But I'm doing o.k. now so I'm not eliminating the meds yet.
> good luck,
> antiguaWhat usually triggered your relapses?
Posted by linkadge on July 13, 2006, at 18:48:38
In reply to Re: The longest you have been off meds until repla, posted by mike lynch on July 13, 2006, at 11:46:45
I don't know if supplements qualify, but I've been off meds for about 1.5 years now.
High dose fish oil has kept me afloat. Not great, I'd like more support, but hey.
Linkadge
Posted by mike lynch on July 14, 2006, at 0:34:52
In reply to Re: The longest you have been off meds until repla, posted by linkadge on July 13, 2006, at 18:48:38
wow..fish oil is the therapy I'd like to rely on.. considering it has virtually no side effects.. no numbing etc
Posted by Klavot on July 14, 2006, at 2:57:03
In reply to Re: The longest you have been off meds until repla, posted by linkadge on July 13, 2006, at 18:48:38
Linkadge, you say that (i) you are 23 years old; (ii) you have been med-free for 1.5 years now; and (iii) you have taken over 30 meds. So that equals 30 something meds over how many years? It seems to me that you have been through a chemical roller coaster ride, and I think your doctor should take some responsibility for what seems to me like bad medical practice.
I myself have only ever taken 3 meds (Zoloft, Fluanxol, Wellbutrin) over my 8 year history of psychotropic drug use. But then, I have been lucky enough to always responded well to these meds.
Klavot
Posted by linkadge on July 14, 2006, at 17:15:33
In reply to Re: The longest you have been off meds until repla » linkadge, posted by Klavot on July 14, 2006, at 2:57:03
To be fair, we are talking about all meds including benzodiazapines.
Some of them, such as doxapin, were used as adjunctive to help me sleep.
Some were used in the hosptial, ie cogentin, to unkink me from risperidal etc.
Some I only took for a few days, ie risperidal.
Linkadge
Posted by linkadge on July 14, 2006, at 17:16:13
In reply to Re: The longest you have been off meds until repla » linkadge, posted by Klavot on July 14, 2006, at 2:57:03
But, I have been prescribed meds by something like 10 different doctors/psychiatrists.
Linkadge
Posted by antigua on July 14, 2006, at 20:37:22
In reply to Re: The longest you have been off meds until repla, posted by mike lynch on July 13, 2006, at 11:46:45
Retraumatization experiences that I couldn't get through on my own; abandonment issues, etc. Two times I get better by having a baby, but I can't do that this time, so I have to suffer, but hopefully I will eventually put this all behind me. Right, not the way I'm feeling these days.
Thanks for asking,
Antigua
Posted by Denise190466 on July 19, 2006, at 14:46:57
In reply to The longest you have been off meds until replapse, posted by mike lynch on July 13, 2006, at 7:50:57
About 3 years and then relapsed in 2001 since then have never fully recovered and sometimes wish I'd never come off them but who knows maybe in time they would have stopped working anyway.
I was never suicidal before but have been many times since 2001.
Denise
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.