Question about my anxiety meds?

Ardmhs83 · December 2012

I already posted this on the PPD board, but it was like 3 days ago and no responses at all, so figured I'd try it here too...

How did you know you were ready to wean off your meds?
I have weaned down one of my meds from 600mgs to 50mgs and I'm doing great, but my benzo, for anxiety and sleep is what worries me.
Success stories please? Specifically to benzo weaning. Example, drugs like Ativan, Xanax and my med...Klonopin. I am only on 2mgs once a day, at bedtime.
My psychiatrist and therapist tells me I am on a low dose and suggests weaning this summer when I'm off work. I'm a school teacher. I don't have nor have ever had any addiction problems. I just want to be med free, I want to TTC in a year and a half. However, don't want to relapse. Thoughts....suggestions?

I still see my therapist once a month with cognitive behavioral therapy and I follow all dr and pharmacist instructions to the T.

Just wanted to add...sometimes I just feel so broken that I am on meds and that I may never be able to have and nurse another baby. Man...today is just one of those days. I am soooooooo fearful of med addiction and pregnancy/nursing while on meds. However, with the added stress that I have right now with family issues on my side and my IL side...I know the holiday season isn't the right time to wean. I also heard that if I wean off a benzo...it is best to stay on my anti-depressant that also helps with anxiety to help lessen the withdrawl. I also know I will need to wean slowly and it may take me a few months. Any help?

J+MS · December 2012

Just take it one day at a time. The good thing about benzos are, if you feel like you need them for a sudden wave of anxiety, you can take one and not have to continue a regimen. So maybe wean off the benzo but keep taking like an SSRI and maybe keep the benzos on hand just in case?

acaudill75 · December 2012

What are you taking for anxiety? I took Lexapro for years until I got pregnant with DD1 and had to wean myself off by 20 weeks. I went back on after stopping BF'ing DD1, and then when my insurance decided to stop paying for it, I started weaning myself off, and found out I was pregnant with DD2 at the same time. I never went back on. I have an Rx for lorazepam for the times when I get anxious, but I guess I was on Lexapro for so long that, and was able to modify my responses to anxiety enough to deal without the Lexapro. I wouldn't feel bad if I were you. Keep taking your anti-anxiety until you get pregnant, then worry about weaning yourself off. You really have a while to wean yourself off before the baby is born. I know with Lexapro, the third trimester was a no no for the drug, and while breastfeeding. DD1 is fine. As for as weaning off, I took 20 mg, so I cut it down to 15 mg for a week or so, then 10 for a week or so, then five, and then nothing. No real side effects. I would recommend that if you still having bad days, then you still need to be on something, and I would also say it is important to speak to someone who can give you cognitive behavioral therapy. I think medication is almost no good without some sort of therapy that changes the way you approach anxiety or depression inducing situations. Good luck. Its not easy, but it is doable.

Ardmhs83 · December 2012

Ty ladies. Yea I still see my therapist once a month. She is great and a cognitive behavioral therapist. I've seen lots of improvements with her. I also believe meds and therapy give you the best results.

Other poster...I take 2mgs of klonopin every night at bedtime. I need it once a day for now. I also take 100mgs of trazodone and 50 mgs of serequel. I use to take 600mgs of serequel but weaned down last summer.

frecks2112 · December 2012

I would say wean off the benzo first, take 1mg for awhile, then .5mg. The trazadone should be helping with sleep. Step up the therapy if possible, stay in the Seriquel for a bit, then either wean the seroquel or trazadone by slowly reducing dose over 12 week periods. I took a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction class that has changed my life. I highly recommend you look into it!! Also, do all this under your psychiatrists supervision.

Ardmhs83 · December 2012

frecks2112:
I would say wean off the benzo first, take 1mg for awhile, then .5mg. The trazadone should be helping with sleep. Step up the therapy if possible, stay in the Seriquel for a bit, then either wean the seroquel or trazadone by slowly reducing dose over 12 week periods. I took a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction class that has changed my life. I highly recommend you look into it!! Also, do all this under your psychiatrists supervision.

Ty!

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