bp medications

I am thinking of weaning myself off all my mental health medication because of the side effects. I am on prozac, geodon,buspar, ativan, and others.  The side effects are getting worse, and I just want it to stop.  Does anyone know how to wean off these meds by myself?

Talk to your Dr. about it. If the side effects are truly overwhelming and you will be healthier/safer on lower doses or different medications, they WILL help you.

I had some really tough side effects of medications - impaired memory and others. I went off the medications slowly and carefully when my insurance lapsed for a month. I was still on some meds at the end of the month. My Dr. was very supportive since I was stable and because I've had earlier periods of remission. He prescribed starter packs for me to get back on medications when I needed it. I was eventually off medication and stable for a couple of months. I kept my med management appointments while I was off meds.

I started having more stress at work and with change of seasons, I started having mild symptoms. I called in to the clinic to tell them I was starting back which med and confirm the correct dose. It was a little rough while waiting for the med to kick in, but I'm feeling stable again and my physical symptoms from stress are gone.

I agree completely with wolflover about Seroquel. Excruciating. You can search it online and found people who ended up in the ER and hospitalized from stopping Seroquel. The research on Seroquel withdrawal and the information the manufacturer provides to clinicians does not mirror the personal accounts of terrible Seroquel withdrawal symptoms. You can find the pulsihed information on drugs.com if you are interested.

Be careful, get professional help. Don't try this on your own.

Involuntary movement of my mouth, constipation, dry mouth, trouble urinating, and it is getting worse.  I started a lower dose of the geodon and will take half a dose then go down even lower.

Involuntary muscle movements - especially of the face - can become permanent.  This is a severe side effect that must always be reported to your Dr.  Call your Dr. TODAY

I see someone asked what is buspar... I take a small dose of Buspar at night as I have bruxism. I wear a night guard too as I clench my teeth and grind them while I sleep, the Buspar is supposed to help.

I am new here so bear with me. I am so sick of BP and always being hypomanic I am ready to throw in the towel.

How do i kow if i am BP? i am afraid i might have this disorder i have drastic mood changes but i dont know if this is just the way i am or if i am BP, can someone help me with this doubt?

I just came across this, I was looking up a new supplement I started taking and I wanted to share it. I'm not sure how to pull out individual links but i am including the site name for anyone who is interested.
www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch

Celexa (citalopram hydrobromide) - Drug Safety Communication: Revised Recommendations, Potential Risk of Abnormal Heart Rhythms

[Posted 03/28/2012]
AUDIENCE: Psychiatry, Cardiology
ISSUE: FDA is clarifying dosing and warning recommendations for the antidepressant Celexa (citalopram hydrobromide; also available in generic form). In August 2011, FDA issued a Drug Safety Communication (DSC) stating that citalopram should no longer be used at doses greater than 40 mg per day because it could cause potentially dangerous abnormalities in the electrical activity of the heart. Citalopram use at any dose is discouraged in patients with certain conditions because of the risk of QT prolongation, but because it may be important for some of those patients to use citalopram, the drug label has been changed to describe the particular caution that needs to be taken when citalopram is used in such patients. The revised drug label also describes lower doses that should be used in patients over 60 years of age.
Read the FDA Drug Safety Communication for additional information.
BACKGROUND: Celexa (citalopram hydrobromide; also available in generic form) is in a class of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Citalopram is not recommended for use at doses greater than 40 mg per day because such doses cause too large an effect on the QT interval and confer no additional benefit.
Citalopram is not recommended for use in patients with congenital long QT syndrome, bradycardia, hypokalemia, or hypomagnesemia, recent acute myocardial infarction, or uncompensated heart failure.
Citalopram use is also not recommended in patients who are taking other drugs that prolong the QT interval.
The maximum recommended dose of citalopram is 20 mg per day for patients with hepatic impairment, patients who are older than 60 years of age, patients who are CYP 2C19 poor metabolizers, or patients who are taking concomitant cimetidine (Tagamet) or another CYP2C19 inhibitor, because these factors lead to increased blood levels of citalopram, increasing the risk of QT interval prolongation and Torsade de Pointes.
See the FDA Drug Safety Communication for additional recommendations for healthcare professionals and patients.

Healthcare professionals and patients are encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of these products to the FDA's MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program:
Complete and submit the report Online: www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm
Download form or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178

[03/28/2012 - Drug Safety Communication - FDA]
Previous MedWatch alert:
[08/24/2011]