Withdrawing from one medication to try another

[N_D]

I have GAD, Bipolar 2 and have recently been diagnosed with CPTSD.

I’m currently on medications. My Dr wants to trial another medication. ( He has commented that it doesn’t seem to be doing anything for my anxiety p, which I agree with ). It’s been a month since I’ve been of my previous medication and my anxiety is sky high and getting headaches, which I understand to be withdrawal symptoms but I’m not improving. Why can’t he tell me it’s all withdrawal symptoms or if I’ll need another medication and just prescribe it so I don’t have to live in this limbo? I’ve read online forums that say withdrawing can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months and don’t know whether to keep persevering🧐

[Petal22]

Hi N D,

Im sorry you are feeling this way.

I understand it would be hard.

You could go back and see your doctor again if things aren’t improving.

Have you been taught any strategies to help you with your anxiety?

[geoff]

Hello N_D  changing medication has been a problem for years, and it really depends on what type you were prescribed, because when I had to change, the doctor started me on a very low dose of the new AD straight away, but each doctor has a different view point.

They may be ale to prescribe something to counter these feelings.

Geoff.

Life Member.

[smallwolf]

Hello.

It sounds like a difficult position to be in. 

I have also changed medications a few times. Unfortunately it is hard to determine the cause of the effects. By that I mean, whether the new medication is actually effective? or making things worse? and plenty of other questions. At least these were the questions I had. 

It sounds to me like your doctor wants you totally off medication before starting the new one? Is that correct?

I cannot comment on others experiences but when I "switched" from medication A to medication B it was a case of transitioning from one to other. There is a period of time when the amount of medication A decreases and increasing the dosage of medication B. This may also depend on the medications used?  I am certainly no expert in this area.

Do you have any coping tools for anxiety?