is it possible to go through withdrawal from a medication?

[AbbaRabbit]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 12:26am

my doctor took me off a medicine last tuesday... i've been nauseous, cold and just haven't felt good ever since. i wasn't on a very high dose and i was only on it for 3 months... is that long enough to become dependent on something to the point of feeling so crummy when taken off it?
i have an appointment with my doctor on friday.

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 12:30am

Yes.

You can feel withdrawal after being on medication for even a very short amount of time

Example: Pain medication: Percocet- doctor's often are iffy about prescribing it because it can be addictive.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 12:36am

Of course it is. It depends what it is.

If you don't mind, what is it?

I'm a whore for pills so chances are I'll know.

[AbbaRabbit]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 12:42am

it's called risperdal.
i can't find any information for the specific reason i'm taking it though...
all i can find is information on schizofrania patients taking it... they're doing some expirimental things with adults with asd and there's really not any information on it since it was only aproved in october for children and hasn't yet been aproved for adults.
i would think that there would be different side effects depending on what you take it for since brain chemistry is different... i searched on google for "risperdal withdrawal" and didn't really find anything.

[Rose_MacShane]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 12:43am

It's entirely possible. Sometimes if I forget to take my Paxil for several days in a row, I get shaky and feel like I'm going to black out.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 12:47am

I used to take Risperdal, but I never developed a dependence. Then again, I don't have an addictive personality. Maybe you're more susceptible. Definitely inquire your doctor.

[AbbaRabbit]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 12:50am

i'm hoping it's just my body getting used to not having it in me and that it will pass.

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 12:51am

I took risperdal! Then again, I've taken about every anxiety/depression medicine in the market.

Anyway, I gained a lot of weight on risperdal so I had to go off it.

"i can't find any information for the specific reason i'm taking it though..."

Wait a minute, you don't know why you are taking it? That's a little odd, in my opinion. Usually you are supposed to know the reason you are taking specific medications...

Updated On: 1/11/07 at 12:51 AM

[AbbaRabbit]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 12:54am

that was one of the main reasons for stopping it. apparently it messes with your thyroid.

thank god for ativan though. i've had to take more ativan since stopping the risperdal.

i know why i'm taking it, there just isn't very much information on the subject beacuse it was only aproved for that use in october and there haven't been any studies on adults.

Updated On: 1/11/07 at 12:54 AM

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 12:56am

Well unless she's schizo, it can be assumed that she's taking it for behavioral reasons.

Risperdal is not typically addictive, and withdrawal symptoms are not common but they are not unheard of. If your body gets used to doing any one thing for a period of time, it will go through a transition period and that is perfectly normal.

It seems as if you weren't on the medication for any hugely serious reason, otherwise they would have decreased dosage slowly. Don't worry, though - it goes away. For now, have some wine

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 12:56am

Wait a minute, you don't know why you are taking it? That's a little odd, in my opinion. Usually you are supposed to know the reason you are taking specific medications...

I think she meant she couldn't find any information pertaining to the reason she's on the medication. What you quoted doesn't indicate that she doesn't know why she was on it; if she can't find information on the reason, she must know what it is.

Updated On: 1/11/07 at 12:56 AM

[AbbaRabbit]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 1:01am

exactly emcee

there's not much information about adults who take it for asd related anxiety. just schizofrania and behavioral problems.

munk, they took me off cold turkey. wine sounds wonderful but i dont drink so i'll join you for a glass of sparkling cider.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 1:04am

What are you feeling?

[AbbaRabbit]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 1:06am

the nausea is the worst problem. i had to lay down with a heating pad on my stomach for about 2 hours today.

[Plum]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 1:07am

Of course you can get addicted to medication. Just ask all the painkiller addicts out there. Even non-addictive drugs like corticosteroids can cause withdrawal symptoms, especially if you aren't weaned off of them properly.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 1:09am

Does that work? I've never heard of that for nausea.

Did you try Pepto or some light, caffeine-free tea? Something like chamomile honey?

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 1:13am

Yea, I've never heard of a remedy such as a heating pad for nausea. Maybe it's just me but it almost seems like it would make it worse.

Do you know how many milligrams you were on? It's not a medication where you usually take more than 2-3 milligrams.

But, I'm not sure why he took you off cold turkey. You should ALWAYS be weaned off of medication. Your last couple days of the medicine, should be the same of the first couple days...

[AbbaRabbit]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 1:14am

i have a perscription for zofran for the nausea but i try to take it as little as possible.
i plan on having a cup of camomile tea before i head upstairs.

the heating pad just relxed me i guess.
i was on 1 mg a day... .5 at lunch and .5 when i went to bed

Updated On: 1/11/07 at 01:14 AM

[StageManager2]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 1:14am

"Of course you can get addicted to medication."

That reminds me. Perry Smith, one of the two killers profiled in Truman Capote's IN COLD BLOOD, had an addiction to aspirin. ASPIRIN!!!

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 1:19am

I'm probably addicted to aspirin, if it's even possible. I've taken it every day since I was about 9 years old. Horrible. Now I take it JUST in case.

[AbbaRabbit]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 1:24am

i'm going to bed... hopefully i'll feel a little better in the morning.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 1:26am

i know why i'm taking it, there just isn't very much information on the subject beacuse it was only aproved for that use in october and there haven't been any studies on adults.

Aww, our little rabbit is a Guinea pig!

Seriously, isn't this something you should be discussing with your doctor? Why are you asking us? Frightening.

[Yawper]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 1:38am

If a hot water bottle helped I'm guessing your nausea is from heightened anxiety that hasn't been knocked down by the antivan.

My brother-in-law had a tough time with risperdal.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 6:17am

its not just "possible", its likely.

[Jane2]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 8:39am

IF you're taking an addictive medication, no doctor should take you off it cold turkey. Not under any circumstances. It doesn't matter why you're taking a drug-with addictive type medications, abrupt discontinuance will bring back the original symptoms only worse than you had them before. If this happens, what they do is put you back on the medication immediately and slowly wean you off it, which is the proper way. I don't think it has to do with having an addictive personality or not.