lalab - I'm on meds for bipolar disorder and am considering trying to manage without them. My psychiatrist won't agree to help me wean off my meds, which upsets me, so I'm also considering finding a new psychiatrist if possible. I don't know if not being on medication will work for me, but I'd like the option to try and for someone to give me the benefit of the doubt as well as agree to monitor me in case I do go off the deep end.

And I totally get not wanting to tell people about your disorder. People are quick to judge, especially when they don't understand something. Only my husband and best friend know I'm bipolar and am taking meds. I don't want to have to explain myself (and shouldn't have to, really)

Does your doc/pdoc know you're changing your meds? Have you discussed other possibilities (meds or treatments)? I just don't think that taking matters into one's own hands is safe, even if you aren't getting what you want from the professionals. Finding a regiment that works may take time, unfortunately.

Stay safe!

What is GAD? I have panic attacks and agoraphobia along with chronic depression. Currently I take somewhere in the area of a zillion pills a day, which aren't helping since I'm on this site. I've tried to talk my doctor into weaning off of some, but she keeps telling me it's a difficult process and takes weeks and which medication do we start with and we might have to up the dosage and try something else and blah blah blah. Well - okay. I'm good with that. I feel I am over medicated and she doesn't seem to want to bother with it since she only has 10 minutes with me and gets paid by the patient. I call her my "drug dealer" because that's what she is! So what do I do? Try it on my own? So frustrating!

GAD is General Anxiety. lalab you have a hard time with benzo's, but you didn't say what the problem was.

listlessone,

Please do not go off your bipolar meds! It is treatable with meds. Half my stress has to do with a daughter with mental issues who will not treat them. Yes it is hard but do not give up and find the right regime.

lalab

really weird the picture I use to have just showed up under my old user name. Very close but a little different.,,,,explains a lot.

George70101,

The problem is that I have never been an addict of any kind but was married to one who left me alone with four children to raise so anything addictive scares me. Since I Can't take antidepressants this has been the only way they can keep me from having panic attacks.

Even my small dose is scary.

Thanks for asking
lalab

You should talk to your doc about going off the Benzos. If youre taking them multiple times a day , you should go off very slowly. They are known to have worse witdrawl symptoms than antidepressants , Ive
been on 0.75 mg of Klonopin at bedtime for the last 2 years. its taken me 6 weeks just to get down to 0.50 and i still have some insomnia .

I realize the weaning off is hard. So I am always cutting way back and then skipping a day or two every 2 or 3 months. Sleep has been a major issue for years, so with or with out the I have to deal with that one.

I also suffer from fibromyalgia so the pain causes the anxiety and the anxiety causes more pain. It is all a merry go round that I want off of but the body does not listen.

lalab..Benzos are addictive, but Tramadol which is very similar to codeine causes dependency, and withdrawals, when taken long term. To a lesser extent Tramadol also has the added benefit of acting like the SNRI antidepressant Effexor. Which also makes it effective for treating the symptoms of depression, and anxiety. But its prescribed mainly as a pain reliever for the treatment of arthritis, restless legs syndrome,and fibromyalgia So please be aware of Tramadol's ability to assist in the re-uptake of serotonin and norepinephrine. Which makes it very close to an antidepressant. So if your still having even occasional migraines and seizures please discuss Tramadol's SNRI like actions with your doctor.

George70101

The seizures started in 2002 when I was still in a no medication way of life. Many many many tests all inconclusive. My naturopath and neurologist concluded due to pain and increased anxiety from a life of pain from fibromyalgia caused the non epeleptic seizures.

At that time my naturopath worked with my family Dr, to help with pain and anxiety. I have exhausted every avenue of alternative and western meds. The tramadol and the alprazolam are the only things I can take with no side effects.

Therefore lies my problem as I am obsessive about everything I put in my mouth so I know all the side effects and possible addiction. I would love to be on a supplement that did not scare me but that did not happen and my list of medications that Dr's have listed as a no no is long.

Sometimes I refuse to read anything about this on the computer and just work with my Dr.'s.......but I break down and read how addictive they are and want off. LOL

Believe me I would rather stay home and never leave my house and be off meds before becoming addicted. That is why I take time off from both of them to my Dr's dismay......but it is what I do.

I am hoping to find someone who can relate.

lalab

lalab.. When was the last time you had a seizure? I'm curious because you're not on any anti-seizure medication, by your indications.

Also, have you ever had a brain scan called a Positron Emission Tomography or PET? Which is an electronic scan used to determine brain activity and determine any brain related illness.

I have had two cat scans, two Mri's then another one with contrast to rule out MS. Several eegs. I was sent to the epilepsy dept of a major hospital in Seattle for sleep eegs and a bunch of other tests done that day.

All tests show brain activity during these small seizures but I never lose consciousness. The only thing close to anti seizure treatment has been gabitril and gabapentin which both effect my eyes after 5-10 days so bad I could not take them. Lyrica gives me a cheap drunk. I call it that cause it was a free sample that kept me on the couch for 24 hours afraid to walk across the room.

When I worked I had very good insurance and in 2005 I pulled the plug on all the tests. I was beginning to feel like a guinea pig.

I have taken clonazepam which helped but it is still a benzo.

In April when I see my PCP I am considering asking her help me find something different than alprazolam(yes I know it is xanax)

This is the very shortened version of this perplexing issues I deal with which if I spend too much thinking about I end up with panic attacks.

Thank you for all your answers....I realize it is an issue there will never be an answer to at this time.

I will continue to work with my team of Dr. and quit second guessing myself as there will always be opinions. I need to follow my gut and do what is right for me in my quest to live the best life I can with GAD's, Fibro. OA and all my back issues.

So I'm signing off and not coming back to this discussion as it just makes me more anxious.

Thank all of you for your patience as I dumped out my fears.

lalab