coming off antipsycotics and antidepressants to ttc...

[LissyD]

Right, I've set myself two months to get off 2mg risperidone and 50mg sertraline a day. I'm waiting for my mh nurse to get back to me, but what do you think is the best way to get off them? both at once or one at a time? which first? what happens if I go mad again? I really want a new baby, and I'm desparate to get off these drugs!

[LissyD]

my usual time to take them now...I think I'll have a half dose of sertraline and a full dose of risperidone...is this right?

[fiodyl]

Im not sure as I just stopped them both straight away- which one do u think has worked the most? try stopping that one first

[Jas]

I think you would be best waiting for your MH nurse to get back to you with some professional advice...

[sue1911]

Would suggest waiting for your MH nurse to sort out a safe way to reduce the sertraline.
I should think that the other will be easier to reduce but sertraline must not be increased or reduced within a week of each adjustment.
i think 2 months is a realistic goal to set yourself as long as you take it each step at a time and make sure you have good support along the way.
Good luck.

[LissyD]

DOes anyone have any tips to minimise the side effects? WHenever I've tried to reduce them before I've got really jumpy, and got drunk to try and relax, then ended up getting really upset and wound up and seeing things again I'm trying to keep the booze to a minimum (I feel less deprived if I can have, say, a weak shandy rather than a lemonade, iyswim) and get out of the house every day, and I'm making an effort to have early nights and not nap during the day so I sleep properly. ANy other tips?

[LissyD]

Oh, and I've decided to reduce the risperidone first, as its the most effective one and the one that I'm most nervous about coming off, this way hopefully the sertraline will cushion the blow. I was meant to be stopping setraline anyway as they agree I'm not really depressed, just either bipolar or some other kind of psycotic illness. I'm having CBT as well, so I'm pretty positive about being off the drugs. I miss my sex life for a start...I've not had a proper orgasm for months and believe me, I've tried! Plus I can't stop eating and I sleep all the chances I get when the baby is asleep. (relative) normality here I come!

ALthough I am planning to ttc, so I suppose things won't be normal for a good while yet!

[LissyD]

Oh, and the nurse is aware of me doing this and is coming round with the consultant next week to talk about it. I don't think reducing the dose by 1mg every other day is any different to what they'd do, well I can't see any other way of doing it really.