2011-12-13

Do I Need to Taper Off My Medication?

Most medications can naturally be stopped when they are no longer needed. This is especially true of short courses of medications used for short periods of time, and for most medications for which a corporeal dependence does not develop. There are some medications where a doctor supervised taper to safely stop the medicine is critical. Here are a few examples, not designed to be widespread or exclusive, but rather examples of the types of medications that need to be tapered.

Opioids: Most designate pain medications are in the opioid class of medicine. Patients using these medications can develop a corporeal dependence to the drugs. If you have to take opioids for more than a merge of weeks discuss seclusion side effects with your physician. Opioid seclusion is roughly never fatal, but can be indeed miserable.

Benzodiazepine Withdrawal

Benzodiazapines: This class of medications along with Xanax, Valium, Librium, Klonapin, and others is also physically addicting. They are used to treat anxiety, and a side effect of seclusion can be anxiety, a big problem. Seizures and even death can effect from abrupt seclusion from high doses, so doctor monitored seclusion after prolonged use is very important.

Anti-convulsants: Seizures can effect from abruptly stopping medications used to control seizures, so tapering off is important.

Beta-blockers: These medications are used to treat high blood pressure, heart disease, and sometimes to prevent migraine headaches. abruptly stopping higher doses can lead to rapid heart rate, which can lead to problems and even heart assault in at risk patients. Discuss tapering off these meds with your doctor.

Corticosteroids: The adrenal gland function can be suppressed by long-term medicine with prednisone or other corticosteroids. abruptly stopping can lead to serious adrenal scantness that can be fatal. Avoid long medicine if possible, and if long courses are needed a supervised taper is important.

In normal ask your doctor if it is Ok to abruptly stop your medication if it is something you have been taking for longer than a merge of weeks unless you are certain that stopping abruptly is safe.

Do I Need to Taper Off My Medication?