Anxiety medication tapering

[Pebz-04]

Hi all. 
I have been living with anxiety for 3 years and medication has been a blessing. I have decided to reduce my medication. To be honest, I don’t really know why since it works well for me. I guess, I want to prove to myself that I can do it without it and anxiety will not win. I’m not sure if this is a way of thinking about it.

It’s only being a little over a week but I’m feeling symptoms.  Mostly negative thoughts and restlessness on my legs.  I was wondering if anyone has any tips on how to make this transition a little easier.  Has anyone reduced their medication and was successful?  Many thanks 🙏🏼 

[Croix]

Dear Pebz-04~

I'd like to welcome you here to the forum where I'm sure you wil find others who have been in exactly your situation.

Having an anxiety condition (as I know) is very restricting on one's life and highly unpleasant. So finding a medication that saves you from all that is a real blessing - it took me years to find the right one.

I can quite understand why you might want ot go off meds. Things sound as if they have been good and there is a temptation to think it is you, and the meds are no longer necessary.

I've felt that way too. The trouble is that tailing off is something that needs to be done under medical supervision as the results can be very unpredictable -everyone reacts differently. One time I became overconfident, another suicidal.

So I hope you are doing this in conjunction wiht your doctor. If not may I strongly suggest you wait until you have seen them and got the ok.

I'm not trying to be discouraging, you may in fact not need them now, I've no idea. I do know I've never been able ot manage without them and expect to take them permanently, which realy is no big thing as in my case the side effects are pretty minor.

If you felt like it we would like to know how you get on

Croix

[Brisey]

I reduced but stay on 50% dose. Similar side effects including bad sleep. I think it's important to look after yourself and ha e support during this time e.g someone to talk to. I also practice meditation which  can  be difficult but has improved my mood over several months. I know that it's not for everyone 

[Pebz-04]

Thank you Croix.

I was reducing it with guidance from my GP.  Unfortunately, I couldn’t do it. I was becoming very emotional and had two meltdowns after I wrote my original post.

I just felt awful so I started taking my original dose 😔.  I’m disappointed but I’m a mother of two so I need to be able to function and this is what my medication does, it allows me to be myself pre-anxiety diagnosis.  I’m feeling better every day. I guess I need to work on accepting that I will need to take it for the rest of my life and I think I need help to do this.

I will be starting counselling again next month but my focus this time will be different. Accepting.

[Croix]

Dear Pebz-04~

I'm very glad indeed you are improving every day. A lot depends upon how you look at things.

To be in a world of complete anxiety, not thinking properly and unable to give your kids all the love they deserve, locked in a smaller restricted world of not knowing how you are going to react to even the most trivial of matters is a terrible thing, and to be free of that is priceless.

The fact you started to go off your meds and then reacted badly is not a failure, it was a way of finding out exactly what needed to be done. You now can contemplate taking meds permanently, just as I have. Provided the side effects are not too hard to put up with its a pretty good deal.

I've reached the stage I'm happy they are available and do their job, it is life-changing for me and I'm content. I hope you will be too. You may find your kids are happier with the  arrangement as well, they get their old mum back.

I'd be very happy if you felt like coming back and giving an update how you are getting on

Croix