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Posted 2/26/2010 4:17 AM (GMT 0)
In a crisis here. Have over the past 2 1/2 weeks been weaning off of my meds under psych supervision(he agreed they were making me worse).

Have so far gotten off Trileptal and Lamictal completely.

Am now halfway off the Neurontin(1 week  wean so far) and THIS has been hellish. Crying, no appetite, severe horrible anxiety. I am afraid of what happens when I go down another 300mg.

I cant be alone at all all day due to panic when alone. I am basically a mental basketcase. Lucky my mom has been able to come while my husband is at work.'

I am obviously unemployed now and almost homebound. Washing my hair causes severe crying bouts. Can barely brush my teeth etc.

We want to stay out of the hospital. Does anyone think partial day hospitalization is helpful during this time?

Anyone been through this.

My Bipolar tends to be the depressive kind and I only had one major 4 month manic episode 2 years ago(yes, 4 months probably induced by the highdose effexor I had been put on.

Sorry this is so long but my rope is getting shorter!

Thanks for being here.

Posted 2/26/2010 12:32 PM (GMT 0)
Greetings,
I so can relate, and yes partial Hospital can help as I have had to do that just to stay on top of life. I'm unemployed and suffer from depression and anxiety so much that I don't want to leave my house. I have times when I cry all morning and can't pull myself together. I'm afraid to take a shower it gets so bad. However; I'm on some good meds in the evening, but at the moment my morning meds aren't real good. In the past I have done day treatment and it has helped with the depression and anxiety because it helps to keep me focused on other things and give me coping ideas. I also was able to touch base with a therapist once a day which was great. Then there was some one to work on my meds right there. Whole around treatment. It was through the university which is close to my home where I live. I hope you would be able to take advantage of this aswell and benefit from it. Good luck in what you decide and I hope you can get your meds in order you are not alone....
Posted 2/26/2010 2:01 PM (GMT 0)

I experience a lot of depression as well.  May I ask why you are going off the meds?  Are you switching to new ones? And does your pdoc/therapist know that you are in crisis?  That is important.

Make sure you are taking things moment to moment, one step at a time...I was in crisis for three days this week and was on back to back 24 hours plans that I had from the Crisis phone line in my area.  I called them in the am, we made my day plan, then touched base later in the day when I got really scared or anxious...just kept in touch with them and part of my plan was to make sure someone was around me at all times.  If someone wasn't physically with me, I would get someone on the phone.

I got into a support group a few years ago and that group gave me coping skills to use for times like this. I have hear too that Day Treatment programs are helpful. If you feel you should be in hospital, even part day, then go.  It might help to go there, see a pdoc and get yourself settled to move on to the next hour...etc...

Keep telling yourself that you are strong and get can through this...We are here for support...So keep in touch...Hope you are feeling more stable soon.

Posted 2/27/2010 1:26 AM (GMT 0)

I'm wondering if going into the hospital might help you out. You sound like you need some help right now, going to a place where they take care of everything so you can concentrate on getting better and working with your meds.  WHen you have as much going on as you do this might just be the time to ask for a helping hand. Thats what those  health professionals are trained and there for.

   Hope you feel better and keep us posted.

    Bill

Posted 2/27/2010 1:24 PM (GMT 0)
If you haven't already, contact you doctor..  Obviously the wean is not working for you.  Partial hospital can monitor you, but you really need to talk to your doctor first.  No way should you have to tough out what seems to be a major depression in progress.  Please get some help.  We all care about what is going on with you.

Posted 2/27/2010 5:28 PM (GMT 0)
I'm with everyone else. This doesn't sound like it's working very well for you. At least your doc should give you something for the anxiety.

Good luck,
serafena
Posted 2/27/2010 7:10 PM (GMT 0)
I have some personal experience with weaning off the meds. One thing the doctor never tells you is you must go extremely slow.

It should take months, or even a year to go off pills not weeks.

Your body will experience withdrawal and maybe re-occurence of your symptoms. This method saved me alot of hospitalizations, but I still take meds and I think I will always need them. So listen to your doctor but be aware they don't have the time to take you off slow. You have to do that with support of your family.

All this is my personal belief, it is not a professional opinion but I do have personal experience with this.


Take care and go slow. It's the best thing you can do, and if you need to go back to your original doses with the doctor's approval, do it, it could save you from being hospitalized. But don't hesitate to go to emerg if you need to and feel it's necessary.

All the best to you. Let us know how it goes with you.

Post Edited (Christine777) : 2/28/2010 11:58:56 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/28/2010 1:46 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks all so much. It has been a horrible time. I appreacheate the advice and well wishes. I am seeing the doc on Monday. He gave me 1mg Ativan every 6 hours for the anxiety. I was taking 3 of Klonopin a day before and just switched to the Ativan. I wonder if this caused so trouble just dropping long term Klonopin to nothing. Well, I let you know on Monday if I get some changes from him.
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