on the way down

[hell1971]

I have been reducing my meds over the last month and I am slowly going down hill, I dont want to admit it but I guess the doc was right, how long should I leave it, could it just be a quick dip and then I will be ok again. I dont want to get sick again, im not due to see my doc for another month and dont know what to do. I know my family are noticing my mood swing and are getting concerned, I just feel like Im on the tip of tears, I feel sad and preocupied.

[hell1971]

I cant adjust my meds as they are pre packed in daily doses for me so I have no excess to go up again, the tappering is all worked out in the packs. I would rather go on something else than to increase the olanzapine I have put so much weight on I dont want to put any more on, that in its self would make me depressed.

[bpchrisb]

The most positive advice I can give you is to move back up to a small dose of olanzapine and then start tapering back down from that dose. For example, if your last dose of the medication was X, then take X-1 (sorry, I don't know the dosages) and taper back down off of that dose.

When I was tapering off of Celexa, I was literally doing it in around 1-2 mg increments every week or so; cutting little pieces of the medication. If I cut down too low and started having problems, I'd move back up to the last effective dose and cut back slower. But, I always ended up back on 10mgs of the medication; anything under that would cause me serious issues. The problem was, I got down to 2.5mgs, lost it, tried to move back up to 10mgs slowly and that's when the sh-t really hit the fan. That's something that you have to remember; when you come off of a medication, there's nothing that says it's going to work when you move back up.

And, don't start medicating the side effects of the withdrawals; that's bad, bad news. I went down that road with the Klonopin when the Celexa was causing me problems. My mood was still swinging and the benzos took the down episodes to a whole new intensity; that's when I ended up in the psych center for the last time.

I would try jumping back up to a small dose, cut back from there and see how you feel. If you still feel like crap, I'd get back on the medication.

Honestly, I wouldn't bet on this just being a 'bump in the road'. That's how I've felt when tapering off of any medication; I'd have a bad period that lasted a week or so, then I'd feel better. But, those bad periods lasted longer and longer, until they extended out to months. But, I wasn't rational, so I just kept decreasing the dosage and paid for it.

[hell1971]

Thank you for your kind words, im doing everything else im supposed to do like exercise, going to bed on time, reduced the caffine but I cant seem to shake this cloud that has come over me, im trying really hard but when I smile its just fake, I hate feeling like this.

[jensal1964]

Take your epilim on schedule so your levels are theraputic but you know that.  I talked to my son and he said the only way he got through withdraws he asked for a perscription of klonopin to take as needed. To battle depression the doctor gave him a simple but very effective remedy, exercise even if you don't want to, and take 1400 IU's of vitamin E daily.  He still takes the vitamin E daily it really battles his depression. He is only taking Klonopin when needed maybe once every other week.  But you need to give yourself a break Withdraws are Big really big and you need to be proud of your progress and not be so hard on yourself.  He laughed when I asked him how he handled his extreme mood swings and wanted to kill (not really but you know what I mean) someone he said he listened to music and exercised.  Also, find someone you are comfortable talking with and talk talk talk.  I don't think you realize detox off of any med is positive not negative.  You will live, you will get through it, nothing in life is easy unfortunatley but you can do it.  Look around there are always worse cases than you.  My son is not only bipolar but suffers from childhood schiphrenia (sorry sp) and he will be going to college next year..Time is on your side you can do this, be patient and be proud of yourself!!! you are accomplishing something really big.

[hell1971]

Yes my doc knows I am reducing my olanzapine to be off them in 4 more weeks reducing the dose every 2 weeks because of weight gain which has been massive, I am still on epilim but I keep forgetting to take my morning dose so I know Im not at theraputic levels of eplim, I know its my own fault.

[jensal1964]

Call your Doctor.  Does the Doc know you are reducing your meds?  My son was on 12 different meds a day it took a year plus to reduce to one effective med a day.Slow and steady is the way to go.  You need to use coping stratagies for your mood swings, exercise, write everything down, talk talk talk to someone who understands.  Be strong, I know harder said than done.  But I would like to see you call your Doctor and go to your therapist.