Antidepressants/mood stabilizers/withdrawal and more?

 In the news at the current time are Antidepressants, getting on them and coming off them is most important.

The type of ssri is important too some have a short life 24-48 hours then you get withdrawal if you stop, where prozac has several days life, so it is best to taper or cut down as it is known to everyday people.

You can change your ssri to a long lasting one when you want to taper off. See  GP or Psychiatrist for tapering and med changes. I have recently had to come off sertraline when I tried to cut the 25mg I suffered bad withdrawal. I understand a 20mg liquid is available, and a Prozac liquid cutting by 3mg a week is the best or even a fortnight. Why does this matter? having bipolar 2 makes all meds matter and no way should you ever take ssri's without a mood stabilizers otherwise you could go high and manic.

Mood stabilizers are Lamotrigine and Lithium always start all meds at low doses why? I was on Quetiapine 300mg for a year almost asleep 247 so I only needed 25mg my system was sensitive to meds.

 Be kind to yourself because withdrawal is murder and can be brutal too if it takes you 6 months no worries. These pills are given quite freely without a thought on how to get off them. Insist on a tapering schedule. It can include liquid sertraline and a syringe 2.5g per fortnight or month if it helps to stop withdrawal. You can ask for fluxatine prozac 10mg easier to taper and in liquid form too take advice never do it on your own...

Zopiclone is another difficult to quit cut slowly 3.5mg is the lowest dose but you can cut into 3 quarters for weeks then half for weeks then jump off all together, Again take GP/Consultant advice, I was addicted for 3 years and managed to quit.

The side effects whilst on them were; as below 1 to 11.

 Lamical/Lamotragine 25mg to 300mg.

1. Tiredness 2 IBS 3. depression 4.anxiety 5 Suicidal thoughts 6. memory issues 7.hot sweats 8.confushion 9.mood changes 10.desperation 11.sadness.

The above can happen with Ssri's too. Sertraline is one of the worst also known as Zoloft in America,

Try not to read the horror stories online, it can be difficult but help is available people like Mind nationwide have lots of tips too. I am only speaking with over 40 years of mental health issues I am not a Doctor so please use your own thoughts and always consult medically trained people...

Good luck be kind to yourself it matters.

Chris Rogers 2023.

Bipolar, Grief and Lockdown 2020 (A cocktail of emotions)

 You can make a wonderful cocktail with various spirits and the glass is stylish too? I love a challenge but 2020 was a bit too much. My partner passed away on April 7th 2020.

we celebrated 25 years together, sadly the last two weeks we could not see each other because of the restrictions Covid-19 and his end of life home. Some friends suggested I write a short blog to maybe help and inform others?

Bipolar is a difficult illness at the best of times and my medications help, but not for grief you still cry and that has to be healthy, and quite normal, Feeling numb is quite the norm believe me. Anger is another emotion that comes with grief. You will never be slim on medication another sad fact! weight gain is part of the treatment with medications. so you can be slim and ill? or fat and happy? no contest I will take the weight gain anyday.

Sleeping tablets are a god send when you loose someone, because you need to rest your body, mind and spirit really you do.

12 months is the hardest part an anniversary of a passing causes great  turmoil to your very core, you think how can I go on? but you do, most people think of their loved one daily. My dad died in 1992 and my mom in 2001 not a day goes by when they are not in my thoughts,

The pandemic was a real devil too I have lost a few friends to Covid-19. I hope we can reset to what is important and what is not, I have read many books on mental health, and have learned a lot along the way, friends who had experienced mental health issues in lockdown sought my advice,

After 48 years of illness I learned one or two things along the way a bad day is just that tomorrow will and could be better?

Friends were  so kind they really are angels but you sort the genuine ones from the false ones. Cruise is another great organisation and so is Bipolar UK,

Counselling for grief is a must even if you cannot get it on the NHS, Go private costs around £40 per hourly sessions,  much as friends help, they have their own problems and they can help you in a small way,

Medication wise my meds were increased due to grief walking and talking helps but trapped in grief in a lockdown has been a tough one for everyone.

I hate Covid -19 as it stopped me seeing my loved one and that is something the mere name makes the fires of hell in me burn with rage..

Peace and happiness

Christopher Rogers, 2021.