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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Christ_empowered on January 18, 2011, at 19:12:20
I've been off meds before--I stopped them suddenly, did OK, then had a period of agitation, parranoia, and psychosis, so I had to not only go back on the medication, I had to go on a higher dose to get the problems under control.
Now, I'm wondering...does there come a time when you can safely, slowly taper off your meds? I don't want to waste my life being crazed or end up in a mental institution, but I do wonder if at some point, after maybe a couple years w/o depression, mania, or significant psychosis, I could slowly taper off and live w/o meds and psychiatrists?
Any thoughts?
Posted by Lou Pilder on January 18, 2011, at 19:34:43
In reply to can you taper and thrive?, posted by Christ_empowered on January 18, 2011, at 19:12:20
> I've been off meds before--I stopped them suddenly, did OK, then had a period of agitation, parranoia, and psychosis, so I had to not only go back on the medication, I had to go on a higher dose to get the problems under control.
>
> Now, I'm wondering...does there come a time when you can safely, slowly taper off your meds? I don't want to waste my life being crazed or end up in a mental institution, but I do wonder if at some point, after maybe a couple years w/o depression, mania, or significant psychosis, I could slowly taper off and live w/o meds and psychiatrists?
>
> Any thoughts?C_emp,
You wrote,[...does there come a time when you can safely, slowly taper off...I don't want to waste my life...could live without (drugs) and psychiatrists?...any thoughts?].
There are a lot of people that have withdrawn from psychotropic drugs and have lived from that point on drug-free without a psychiatrist and an abundant life. The question I see here is what happened to those that did that to enable them to overcome addiction and depression and have an abundant life.
Now I see ways for that to happen. One by human achievment and the other by divine accomplishment.
Here is the best part. In my reading of your posts here, you have a head start.
Lou
Posted by morgan miller on January 18, 2011, at 21:38:56
In reply to can you taper and thrive?, posted by Christ_empowered on January 18, 2011, at 19:12:20
Lou was the first to be here on this one.
CE, I used to want to be off my meds, but I now realize the risk of major episodes and feeling bad has so much potential for damage it's not ever worth being off medication.
I'm not sure if it does you any good to be thinking about getting off medication at one point. If you can, you may find yourself much better off trying to reach a point where you totally accept and embrace the fact that you take medication. Then you can just take your pills and start living your life, doing what you need to do to make life as fulfilling as possible. If one day after several years of feeling really well and you feel you are on track to accomplishing the great things in life you are capable of, then consider start to consider the idea of getting off your medication. But, also try to reach a point where you are comfortable with the idea of taking medication for the rest of your life. This is just how I believe it is best to approach a life that has been afflicted with mental illness and subsequent medication treatment. I'm sorry if I annoyed you by giving you advice on how to make decisions and live.
Posted by Christ_empowered on January 18, 2011, at 21:54:05
In reply to Re: can you taper and thrive?, posted by morgan miller on January 18, 2011, at 21:38:56
Thanks, Lou and Morgan.
Morgan, I think you have a point. Meds help shrink madness down to size, reducing it from an all-consuming affliction to something bearable and tolerable. I think my focus on meds was missing the point; its about having a good life, not whether or not I need Abilify to help achieve that good life.
Posted by Lou Pilder on January 19, 2011, at 8:06:38
In reply to Re: can you taper and thrive?, posted by Christ_empowered on January 18, 2011, at 21:54:05
> Thanks, Lou and Morgan.
>
> Morgan, I think you have a point. Meds help shrink madness down to size, reducing it from an all-consuming affliction to something bearable and tolerable. I think my focus on meds was missing the point; its about having a good life, not whether or not I need Abilify to help achieve that good life.
>
C_emp,
You wrote,[...my focus on meds was misssing the point; its about having a good life, not whether or not I need Abilify to help achieve that good life...]
You have brought up the crux of the matter IMHO. You see, if one is led to believe that they need a chemical in their brain to have an abundant life, that planted in someone's mind can in and of itself (redacted by respondent).
But if one has an understanding of how we are made, and what a purpose in life could be, then they could have a broader understanding of their life's purpose.
I have come to give people here that want to hear ,a broader understanding of life from my perspective so that they could make a more informed decision as to if they want to take chemicals into their system, or not, in an attempt to achieve an abundant life.
And if you are considering becoming drug-free, there is a way for that to become true, and it can happen to you.
Lou
>
>
Posted by Lou Pilder on January 19, 2011, at 8:19:51
In reply to Louu's reply-cncumptew » Christ_empowered, posted by Lou Pilder on January 19, 2011, at 8:06:38
> > Thanks, Lou and Morgan.
> >
> > Morgan, I think you have a point. Meds help shrink madness down to size, reducing it from an all-consuming affliction to something bearable and tolerable. I think my focus on meds was missing the point; its about having a good life, not whether or not I need Abilify to help achieve that good life.
> >
> C_emp,
> You wrote,[...my focus on meds was misssing the point; its about having a good life, not whether or not I need Abilify to help achieve that good life...]
> You have brought up the crux of the matter IMHO. You see, if one is led to believe that they need a chemical in their brain to have an abundant life, that planted in someone's mind can in and of itself (redacted by respondent).
> But if one has an understanding of how we are made, and what a purpose in life could be, then they could have a broader understanding of their life's purpose.
> I have come to give people here that want to hear ,a broader understanding of life from my perspective so that they could make a more informed decision as to if they want to take chemicals into their system, or not, in an attempt to achieve an abundant life.
> And if you are considering becoming drug-free, there is a way for that to become true, and it can happen to you.
> Lou
> >
> > C_emp,
If you could view the following video, there could be part of this broader understanding that I would like to present to you so that you could have more information in order to follow your decision, whatever that could be.
Lou
To see this video,
A. pull up google
B. Type in;
[youtube, part 6 of 10, psychiatry]
you will see a man and it is 10 min on Jan 15, 2009
>
>
Posted by Phillipa on January 19, 2011, at 10:53:06
In reply to Re: can you taper and thrive?, posted by Christ_empowered on January 18, 2011, at 21:54:05
Didn't you say a while ago also that you realize you now need meds? Seriously if your meds are working as I wish mine would I wouldn't give it a second thought about taking them Phillipa
Posted by Hombre on January 19, 2011, at 20:35:44
In reply to can you taper and thrive?, posted by Christ_empowered on January 18, 2011, at 19:12:20
I've self-tapered off Effexor, lorazepam, and ambien, with little discomfort, only to crash hard a few months later. That led to two years of the most hellish living I've ever experienced. Now I'm taking some serious meds, but along with herbs and lifestyle choices, I'm in great shape and don't even feel like I'm taking anything.
I also find that I have to take certain herbs and vitamins in ordered to maximize my energy levels. I have accepted that some seriously rough living in the past along with congenital factors require that I take these things, and while it is sometimes a hassle, I can't argue with the fact that I can basically do whatever I want now, not hampered by anxiety, fatigue, and depression.
I seriously caution you not to rock the boat if your current regime is working. It will take much longer for you to internalize your new ways of thinking and being, as well as ingraining new habits until they become subconscious. If you are doing well now, I say enjoy it and don't think twice about the meds. Seriously, just take them and then don't think/write/talk about them. The only good they do is from the taking of them. The thinking and whatnot do absolutely nothing.
Best of luck.
Posted by morgan miller on January 19, 2011, at 22:16:54
In reply to Re: can you taper and thrive?, posted by Hombre on January 19, 2011, at 20:35:44
>Now I'm taking some serious meds, but along with herbs and lifestyle choices, I'm in great shape and don't even feel like I'm taking anything.
This is the goal, to feel great and live well, without feeling like we are on medication.
Posted by 49er on January 20, 2011, at 4:19:03
In reply to can you taper and thrive?, posted by Christ_empowered on January 18, 2011, at 19:12:20
> I've been off meds before--I stopped them suddenly, did OK, then had a period of agitation, parranoia, and psychosis, so I had to not only go back on the medication, I had to go on a higher dose to get the problems under control.
>
> Now, I'm wondering...does there come a time when you can safely, slowly taper off your meds? I don't want to waste my life being crazed or end up in a mental institution, but I do wonder if at some point, after maybe a couple years w/o depression, mania, or significant psychosis, I could slowly taper off and live w/o meds and psychiatrists?
>
> Any thoughts?Of course your mileage will vary but for me, the answer is yes, by doing it very slowly. I tapered off of a 4 med cocktail generally at 10% of current dose every 4 weeks. I have not had any relapses in spite of dealing with issues like a relative's death and job instability.
Were you diagnosed with BP or schizophrenia prior to being placed on meds or where these symptoms as the result of cold turkeying meds?
49er
Posted by Christ_empowered on January 20, 2011, at 21:04:50
In reply to Re: can you taper and thrive?, posted by 49er on January 20, 2011, at 4:19:03
hey. I'm happy for you--that's great that you tapered off your cocktail and you're doing well.
I was diagnosed Bipolar type I, so I don't know if tapering off meds is a good idea. I'm prone to psychotic depression and occasional manic episodes.
Posted by 49er on January 23, 2011, at 4:40:36
In reply to for 49er, posted by Christ_empowered on January 20, 2011, at 21:04:50
> hey. I'm happy for you--that's great that you tapered off your cocktail and you're doing well.
>
> I was diagnosed Bipolar type I, so I don't know if tapering off meds is a good idea. I'm prone to psychotic depression and occasional manic episodes.Was this prior to being placed on meds?
The reason I am asking is many people develop BP symptoms from being on antidepressants which are many times falsely diagnosed as bipolar disorder.
Even if your diagnosis is accurate, as an FYI, I belong to a yahoo groups list of people with BP disorder who are living med free. I have never had it but felt I could learn tips from being on the list.
Perhaps this list would be of interest?
Again, I realize your mileage will vary and perhaps being med free is not in your best interest. But in case you really wanted to get off of meds, I thought this group would be a great source of support.
49er
Posted by SLS on January 23, 2011, at 5:18:42
In reply to Re: for 49er » Christ_empowered, posted by 49er on January 23, 2011, at 4:40:36
Hi 49er.
> Even if your diagnosis is accurate, as an FYI, I belong to a yahoo groups list of people with BP disorder who are living med free. I have never had it but felt I could learn tips from being on the list.
>
> Perhaps this list would be of interest?I would be willing to read about that stuff with an open mind. I am sure there are some valuable tips that I am unaware of.
I am glad that you are doing well.
- Scott
Posted by papillon on January 23, 2011, at 11:09:07
In reply to can you taper and thrive?, posted by Christ_empowered on January 18, 2011, at 19:12:20
Personally I think the question is not "can I taper and thrive" but "does it matter if I need medication to thrive"?
People with Diabetes Type II need daily insulin injections to live a healthy life. Is that bad? Should they gradually taper off their insulin so they can live a life without injecting themselves like the rest of us? Of course not!
If you can taper and thrive, that's great. But please do it properly and in consultation with your psychiatrist.
If you need medication to thrive, why worry? You're thriving!
Redefining the meaning of recovery does not make you a failure.
Posted by Christ_empowered on January 23, 2011, at 11:57:31
In reply to Re: can you taper and thrive?, posted by papillon on January 23, 2011, at 11:09:07
I think for the time being (and probably well into the future), I'll be taking my medications. I just worry about side effects, especially Tardive Dyskinesia (I'm on of those bipolar patients who functions best on an "atypical" antipsychotic). I also sometimes worry that I'm missing something by being medicated. Then again, I don't want to end up in a mental hospital again.
Thanks for all the posts.
Posted by Lou Pilder on January 23, 2011, at 16:48:46
In reply to Re: can you taper and thrive?, posted by papillon on January 23, 2011, at 11:09:07
> Personally I think the question is not "can I taper and thrive" but "does it matter if I need medication to thrive"?
>
> People with Diabetes Type II need daily insulin injections to live a healthy life. Is that bad? Should they gradually taper off their insulin so they can live a life without injecting themselves like the rest of us? Of course not!
>
> If you can taper and thrive, that's great. But please do it properly and in consultation with your psychiatrist.
>
> If you need medication to thrive, why worry? You're thriving!
>
> Redefining the meaning of recovery does not make you a failure.
>
Friends,
The aspect that people with diabetes need insulin to survive is posted here.
I wonder if that posting could lead you to believe that one needs to take psycohptropic chemicals to survive like a person that has diabetes. If you are interested, I am requesting that you read the following article that addesses that aspect.
I would like for you to read chapters 1 and 2 and any other chapters.
Lou
To see this article;
A. Bring up Google
B. Type in,
[Primer on Psychotropic Drugs, Matthew L. Israel, Ph.D]
This is the end of the thread.
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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