Posted by Englishman006! on April 9, 2013, at 8:38:58
In reply to Re: My attempt to discontinue Lamictal = relapse. » SLS, posted by tensor on March 31, 2013, at 14:43:25
Hi Scott, I think tapering off of certain meds can end in failure simply because we don't give ourselves enough time to heal. I beleive it can take the body a long time to recalibrate once a medication has been discontinued. It may feel as though you are relapsing when really all that is going on is withdrawal. I remember weaning off Nardil fairly rapidly and feeling intense anxiety to the point that it became unbearable, this resulted in me taking a dose out of shear panic and to my surprise it settled me immediately. But I again abstained as I wanted to get a clean SPECT scan with no meds on board. I couldn't cope doing the simplest of tasks and this went on for 2 weeks. Then it was time for the scan but something remarkable happened.. I began to feel centered, a feeling deep in my gut, a calmness I hadn't felt in many years. My social anxiety lifted! I was meant to begin some new meds but I resisted as I didn't want to disturb the peaceful feeling I was beginning to experience. However, despite the relief from anxiety a depression descended that probably only lasted a couple of weeks but felt like years during which I panicked thinking I had damaged my brain with all the years of taking antidepressants. But once that passed I felt better than I ever had on in all the years of taking medication.
It taught me a lesson.. That sometimes we second guess ourselves. We come off meds only to relapse and quickly go running back to them. I think maybe we give uo too early. Maybe we should discipline ourselves to give our bodies time to heal and get over any rebound depression or anxiety that stopping the meds may have caused.
Just something to think about perhaps!
poster:Englishman006!
thread:1041110
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20130408/msgs/1041945.html