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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Stopping Medication
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD) , bipolar disorder , dementia , electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) , learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) , panic , personality disorders, phobias , post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) , schizophrenia , stress , transitions, and work problems.
Stopping Medication
by Camille1, Jun 20, 2001 12:00AM
I take 150mgs of Luvox daily and was taking 50mgs of Trazodone daily at night for a couple of months to help me sleep. I recently stopped taking my Trazodone as I have been sleeping with no problem. I have not been in therapy for about one month and need to return but have no one to ask: what can happen when one discontinues taking his/her medication cold turkey? What are the dangers? Can there be side effects? Can stopping taking only 50mgs of Trazodone a day cause problems? I believe I'm experiencing side effects but am not sure. Why is it necessary to slowly go off of medications? Should I go back on Trazodone and stop with supervision?
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Jun 25, 2001 12:00AM
, Jun 25, 2001 12:00AM
okay to discontinue Trazodone just as you have. no need to go back unless you are having trouble sleeping. Usually want to wean off drugs that effect the brain because of the possibility of seizures, but that is not a problem here.
I take Effexor and when you go off of that it the side effects are miserable! Even tapering slowing causes misery for me. So you may be experiencing withdrawal from Trazadone when I never did.