Coming off medicine slowly and Kava Kava?

Question

I'm currently on my first dosage of Klonopin (0.5 mg- twice a day) and Halioperidol (Haldol) (2 mg.- once a day)

I have not received medication before this first dosage.

When I am done with my dosage, I plan to take two and a half weeks off and take Kava Kava. Is it fine to come off the medicine like that? I mean this is the first time I've taken this medicine, so I don't think I will have to come off it slowly.

What do you guys think?

Answer 1

I think that if you intend to come off of psychoactive medications and aren't going to do it under the guidance of your doctor, you are likely to end up on the psych ward. Seriously. Psychoactive medications are NOT toys to be played with.

Klonopin is highly addictive. Kava kava will not help you with the withdrawal from that, nor will it replace the Klonopin's effects on your body. Improper withdrawal from Klonopin can lead to hallucinations, seizures, psychotic episodes, and other fun stuff.

Haldol is used primarily for the treatment of schizophrenia and Tourette's Syndrome. If you are schizophrenic and thinking kava kava is the answer to your problems, you need to talk more with your doctor. If you have Tourette's and come off of your meds without doing it in the proper way, you could very likely make the problem worse.

Psychoactive meds are not to be taken on a one month on, two weeks off basis. They are a lifelong thing. They are as necessary to your life as insulin is to a diabetic.

Diabetics can't just say: "Well, I'll take my insulin THIS week, but not NEXT week. NEXT week I'll take aspirin, instead."

Neither can the mentally ill choose when and if to take their medications. Daily maintenance of mental illness is KEY to a healthy and balanced life.

How do I know? I am mentally ill, so is my husband. We take our meds every day. Without fail. I'm diabetic, too, so my analogy is one I really understand and not something I yanked out of my rear end.

Answer 2

I would say Kava is great for anxiety. All these things about being bad for the liver? 90% if the food in the grocery store is bad for your liver, Kava is natural. Kava is a good thing to drink at night. In the morning a great way to reduce anxiety is to do some stretching and mindful breathing. However don't rely on Kava everyday, use it as more of a ritual.

Answer 3

I think that you should seek advice from the Doc that prescribed these drugs to you before replacing them w/ a homeopathic solution. Haldol is not a drug to be messing around with. Has Kava Kava been approved by the FDA for the use you are intending? Double check with you doctor prior to doing this....you really don't want to create your own worst problem...do you?

Answer 4

Haldol...umm..yes, you need to come off of it slowly.