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Background
• Consumer reportso GPs and many psychiatrists not awareo Anecdotal reports of severe and prolonged MDS
• Lack of good research evidence
• Lack of simple high quality information for consumers & supports
• Produced by Matua Raki as part of Equally Well
• Extensive literature review
• *Begins after the decision to stop or reduce made
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Peer review and advice from:
• Equally Well recovery prescribing group
• Royal College of General Practitioners
• Royal College of Psychiatrists
• Mental Health Advocacy and Peer Support (MHAPS)
• Support and Awareness Canterbury
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Contents: Stopping and Symptoms
• What are medication discontinuation symptoms (MDS)?
• Planning to reduce or stop your medication
• How to taper your medication working with your doctor
• What to expect when reducing or stopping medication
• How common are MDS when stopping a mental health medication?
• What MDS could you experience?
• How to tell MDS from re-emergence of the original problem
• What to do if your MDS are severe or hard to tolerate
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Contents:
Coping with MDS
• General strategies
• Strategies for specific problems
Use of terms
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Key points
• This guide does not deal with the decision to stop medication
• Getting discontinuation (or withdrawal) symptoms when you reduce or stop taking a medication is not the same as addiction
• It is best to plan reducing or stopping medication ahead of timeo Plan for a time with few important things to doo Discuss with key supports, doctor and employer if possible
• MDS are unlikely until the medication has been taken for 6-8 weeks
• Roughly 50% of people stopping medication will experience MDS, and roughly 25% will experience problematic MDS
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Key points
• MDS are highly variable from person to person
• MDS v re-emergence of the original problemo It can be very difficult to tello MDS usually emerge soon after (a few days to a week) stopping
the medication
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Coping with MDS: General strategies
• Optimise general health and wellbeing
• Protect relationships
• Get active
• Divert attention using enjoyable activities
• Spiritual interventions e.g. karakia, prayer
• Meditation
• Rongoa Maori
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Coping with MDS: Strategies for specific problems
• Suicidal thoughts
• Seizures
• Sleeping problems
• Nightmares
• Dizziness
• Anxiety
• Restlessness, agitation, irritability and anger
• Headache
• Nausea
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Contents: Prescribers notes• Strategies for specific medications• References
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