Prescription Drugs

[NewGTGuy]

Hello everyone.

I have another question. I've just started the raw lifestyle (5 days now) and am wondering when I can stop taking my prescription drugs.

I'm 33 and take 3 pills a day. I take a diuretic and calcium channel blocker for high blood pressure. I also take Lexapro (a selective seratonin reuptake inhibitor) for depression. I'm worried about getting off of Lexapro. I tried it once before and the withdrawal symptoms were unbelievable! Anyone else experience this?

Brian

[Revvell]

That would be up to the doctor who prescribed them or who you are seeing now, not to anyone here.

Revvell

[NewGTGuy]

That would be up to the doctor who prescribed them or who you are seeing now, not to anyone here.

Revvell


That's fair. I just don't have a lot of trust in the medical community. Everytime I go in there, he seems to either want to increase my dosage or give me a new pill. All to cover symtoms rather than solve the problem.

I finally feel like I'm solving the problem.

Brian

[Sharon in Colorado]

I think you should try doing blood tests and testing your blood pressure regularly (do you have a monitor?). Then see a medical naturopath to help you with it. It may be a matter of easing off the drugs, or even possibly taking herbal substitutes until you are able to get back on track and eventually be drug & supplement free.

[Revvell]

I understand. I've only been to a doctor once since 1980 and took an anti-biotic which caused more problems than it solved.

Thing is, some drugs one has to be weaned off of. I don't know anything about the drugs you are on (or any other, for that matter) so, if you wish to do this on your own, please do some research on the side effects of doing so OR tell this person in no uncertain terms what you are doing for yourself and your ultimate outcome.

It would be GREAT to hear that being on a raw food program brought you to such good health you didn't "need" to take drugs anymore.

...and I agree with you about them masking the problem instead of "curing".

Best to you ~

Revvell

[Jackie1995]

I totally agree, your doctor must make the decision about stopping the drugs you're taking, because if there are consequences you aren't aware of, whoo boy, that could be terrible.

That said, I'm noticing a huge increase in "mellowness" since I started raw on May 1st. I'm talkin' major california. Like, just smiling inside and out for no discernible reason.

What is THAT all about? On another thread on one of the boards, it was attributed to being a lot more alkaline than I usually was on the SAD diet (that's the theory, anyway. Don't know if I buy it or not.)

Also, about 2 years ago I took Lexapro, but when my course of treatment stopped, nobody said anything about going off it slowly, so I just stopped. No bad effects for me, but CAUTION, WILL ROBINSON: that was my body's reaction (or non reaction) NOT yours.

Anyway, I'm sure that staying raw will improve your blood test results next time you have your regularly scheduled doctor appointment, and that will help the doctor make the prescription drug decision which will, hopefully, affect you the least adversely.

I had enormously successful results only 24 days into "raw-dom" per my blood test results, but I'm sure it will be at least 6 more months before my doctor re-examines my particular problem and regulates or reduces or cuts out completely the med I am taking daily.

So, that's my experience with raw, for what it's worth.

Just enjoy your raw experience, and have fun!

[RawTruth]

Also, about 2 years ago I took Lexapro, but when my course of treatment stopped, nobody said anything about going off it slowly, so I just stopped.Lexapro (and most SSRIs) is not something to take lightly. Most people need to be weaned off (Jackie, your dosage may have been different - perhaps lower - than his) slowly and under medical supervision.

I also strongly encourage you to do the weaning off all your prescriptions with the help from someone who is open to the process -- naturopaths and/or holistic M.D.s are more likely to be okay with this. Though, not all of them are up to date or knowledgeable. If you lived in this area, I could give you some solid references. But ... lacking that, I suggest you do some serious research to find someone in your area. Perhaps asking around at your local health food store or at a raw potluck or similar events will yield a few names. When you hear the same name mentioned favorably a few times, that's obviously an encouraging sign!

Since high blood pressure is a diet-based disease (like heart disease and diabetes), I'm sure going raw will favorably impact it. But, again, going off or reducing the meds is a serious step.

I wish you the best of luck in this endeavor. You are already on the way to health, Brian.

[Sharon in Colorado]

If you really want to know about your meds, ask your pharmacist. They know a lot more than doctors (for the most part) about side effects, interractions, and if it's better to slowly wean off a med or if it's safe to stop immediately. I think too many - not all - doctors tend to be a bit clueless about the meds they are prescribing to their patients.

Of course, the pharmacist is only allowed to give out info on your med, and not your particular condition.