Medication change...going crazy

[WintersTale]

Hi guys,

I've been having rapid mood swings lately. I'm on Risperdal 3 MGs, and was on Klonopin 1.5 MG. My doc wanted me to taper the Klonopin down, so I've gone down to 1MG (by just jumping), and I'm having a really time staying stable.

Does anybody have any suggestions to keep sane, if you are Bipolar and you mess with the meds like this? I'm almost tempted to go back on the higher dose, and lie to my doc, but I'm not sure if that is such a great idea.

[Dust_in_the_wind]

You should tell your doctor don't lie. Tell him it's to stressful of a drop.

[WintersTale]

I should ask him if I should go back to the higher dose.

But then, my mood has been a bit better today, so maybe I am getting stable? That's what I worry about...if I manage to get stable, without switching back, wouldn't it be better to stay with that?

God, I don't know what to do!

[Equinox]

What meds have you already tried for bipolar prior to your current combo?

[WintersTale]

Pretty much everything.

I don't want to have another change. It's really the Klonopin withdrawal that is causing issues.

[Equinox]

Yeah I would explain the symptoms and ask your dr to increase the dose back up to 1.5mg if the symptoms last much longer. I don't know the specific reason why he wanted to lower your dose but there's not much point changing something if it's working well without causing negative issues.

[WintersTale]

Well, I see a therapist to talk about my feelings, and a psychiatrist (the one who prescribed me this medication.)

I saw the therapist yesterday, and I had successive panic attacks and manic attacks inside of the session! First time that has ever happened...she told me that it was probably because of the medication, and that I should give it two more days. If I'm not feeling better by then, I should call my doctor.

Maybe it wasn't such a great idea to taper down? Bleh!

[WintersTale]

Update: my Doctor told me months ago that if I felt like I couldn't handle it, I could up the dosage again.

I literally felt like I was going mad tonight around 7, to the point where it physically hurt...so I took 1.5 MG of Klonopin and went to bed. Slept for five hours, woke up, and...feel normal, for the first time in three weeks.

I don't think I'm meant to taper off this med. I'm only normal when on it.

[Otherside]

I haven't been on Klonopin or Risperdal...but I'm bipolar as well, and med changes always seem to make my moods somewhat interesting.