Good day and THANK YOU for taking the time to read my post.
I am currently taking seven medications...two narcotics...and a few others have SERIOUS consequences if I do not titrate off of them properly. I have done a TON of reading/research on the subject and if I start with the Valium alone, some suggest a titration plan that would take THREE YEARS.
If you have any useful and ACCURATE information, which will be fact checked, PLEASE help.
Of course I understand what works for one person/situation may not work for another.
-Background Information-
I am male, mid 30s and prior to my first accident I was in near perfect health minus one herniated L5/S1 disc sustained during a NCAA Div 1 collegiate athletic event in the late 90s. I am well educated, understand how/why the medications I take work, understand anatomy and understand brain functions (especially in response to medications). Even with the herniated disc I would take ZERO medication. Two 'Advil' in one year would have been unheard of prior to my accident.
In 2007 I was involved in a traumatic accident causing serious head/neck/back/shoulder trauma. I regained consciousness before arriving at the hospital and was subjected to the full regimen of scans/x-rays for SIX HOURS before anyone would administer ANYTHING for the pain (despite my constant respectful requests). I was intravenously pumped full of Dilaudid leading up to my surgery and then again after my surgery. EVERY doctor/specialist who knows the details of my accident has said I am lucky to be alive at least once.
-Today-
Fast forward six years. I was involved in a car accident (NOT my fault) approximately one year ago. This has resulted in a MAJOR relapse in neck/back/skull pain. Over the last six years I have seen every specialist and done every procedure I could with three exceptions. I am currently pursuing the third option.
Many of the medications I am taking have SERIOUS side effects if a proper titration plan is not followed. If I quit taking all seven of my medications at once I can say with almost certainty one of two things will happen:
#1. I will die either from the chemical imbalance created in my brain or the withdrawal side effects (seizures, heart palpitations - etc)
#2. I will survive the BRUTAL withdrawals and be left with permanent 'after effects' (muscle twitching, dulling of senses, possibly seizures - etc)
I do not want ANY of that ^^ so, given the following list of medication that requires a titration plan...
In what order...
At what dosages...
At what time intervals...
Would you recommend I stop taking these medications?
I currently take seven medications a day for my ailments. Some once a day - others four times a day. The only narcotics I take are Dilaudid (4 X 4 mg) and Valium (4 X 10 mg). I regained consciousness with a '10' migraine (for those of you familiar with the 0-10 pain scale) and my migraine has not gone below a '6' despite being on 200mg of Topamax once nightly. It did not take long before the depression hit, 20mg of Lexapro in the morning, and I am still depressed to this day.
Dilaudid 4 X 4mg daily
Valium 4 X 10mg daily
Topamax 1 X 200mg daily (Night)
Lexapro 1 X 20mg daily (Morning)
The other three do not have serious side effects, after effects or reports of anyone with issues coming off the medications.
Okay...I know the first two questions you are asking yourself...
#1. How do you stay awake if you are taking 16mg of Dilaudid, 40mg of Valium, 200mg of Topamax and 20mg of Lexapro daily?
A few days, I have not. If I do not stick to my pill/meal/coffee plan like clockwork, I am sunk. It has only happened a few times...but once was unacceptable for me. I must give the Topamax 12 hours in my system, the second Valium is usually the killer and requires a coffee.
#2. Why do you want to titrate off any/all of these medications if the underlying issues persist?
The costs associated with two of the three remaining options are high, it will take some time to save up the money, they may not even be possible/probable and they have to peel my face off to do one of the procedures. Realizing I am running low on options I have accepted I might have to live with the underlying issues to my body forever. If that is the case, I WILL LIVE THE REST OF MY LIFE MEDICATION FREE DESPITE THE PAIN!
I know that sounds cheesy...but I am serious. I am a VERY strong willed person. The last six years have been HELL. I have lost SO much in the last six years that I will NEVER get back...but I KNOW I can still get a few things back...mental clarity...happiness...this monkey off my back...a 'normal' schedule...BUT I am a realist. The four medications I have listed above are each, individually, difficult to stop using.
DOES ANYONE have an opinion or any experience with how I would move forward with getting off ALL FOUR without risking withdrawal or the after effects?
Thank you for taking the time to read my obnoxiously long post.
-Titrate Conundrum