Going off Meds-an experiment

Sometimes I think back to a time in my life that seemed happier, where I was on no meds and had no diagnosis of Bipolar. I often wonder if I could be her once, could I be here again? What if I went off of the meds to see how I react?

Has anyone done this?

I talked to my therapist about it. He has a philosophy that discourages his direct input of feelings and decisions in my life. When I mentioned it, he told me that he wasn't a psychiatrist-maybe it would work-maybe it wouldn't.

I asked my husband. He told me that I was like that once, but I also tried to kill myself three times in 2009-2010 and spent over fifteen months in pych wards. He didn't think that it was worth trying.

I guess I wonder if I didn't become a part of the system, would I be better? Would I have relied on myself and not on doctors and meds? What would somebody in another decade do? Wouldn't they just have to "suck it up" and work on their own to feel better?

Does anyone ever think about discontinuing their meds?

Yes. I went off to study my reactions to the real world off drugs. Also because people emotionally made me a hostage. They're gone now. But, I got two months. I am going back on them.

I don't know how frequent you swing. But the episodes get to you, and scare people. It's not worth risking your life.

It's up to you, though. Try it f you really think you can manage. If you can, you can. If you can't... keep your pdoc on speed dial to help you get back on them.

Honestly, I think it depends on the severity of your symptoms. The thing about bipolar is you don't know when it will strike again. Some people are able to go into remission for years and not have trouble with their medication while others (like me 8D) have frequent symptoms. For me it is worth taking the medicine. It gives me a new lease on life. I can see myself living past the 20's, which I frankly never imagined unmedicated.

You know what you could do is taper off and take smaller doses at first. Like if you're taking 750 depakote, ask if you can go down to 500 for a couple weeks and if you're still fine reduce to 250...or if you're comfortable at the 500 you can stay there. Then you can talk to your pdoc about a plan of what needs to be increased and what you need to take when you find the symptoms reoccurring. This way you still have enough of the medicine to help curb an unwanted depression/manic/hypomania.

You can also try asking for extended release and splitting half the dose for morning and night.

Hope I helped.

I did go off meds. It was my pdoc's idea so as to see the 'pure' pattern of my swings and then suggest the drug that was more likely to work as I was struggling to find 'my' drug for so long...For me it didn't go well. I went into a very confusing state of rapid cycle and mixed, and my anxiety got worse. It was also not the best time to do it I think - last semester of my final year at uni.

You can try going off, but I would suggest you have your pdoc by your side, you pick a time when everything else is stable in your life, and before you do it, look back to see how episodes occur - are there clear symptoms, like physical symptoms straight away? Or is the way you think affected first and you slowly get sucked into a severe episode that may cause problems that can't be solved with hospitalisation?

I wish you the best

Oh...And about different times and what people did...Quite a lot of them killed themselves...So I wouldn't look back for answers...You are who you are, and you need to find out what works best for you

//

Irishgirl, I went off the meds for 13 mths after taking them for six years, as they had put a TON of weight on me. I lost all the weight overnight (that STUPID doc who lied to me said there was no relationship between the meds and the weight!); but I found that I gained tremendous mental benefits, as the dosage she had me on zombied me out.
However, the downshot to this is that I had a nasty episode last July, and I had to evaluate myself which is worse; taking the meds, or having a manic episode. My final decision: it's not worth it. I have toyed subsequently with the idea of coming off, but I really don't want to end up in a mental hospital, so that's a question you have to ask and answer for yourself. As you take the drugs, we are talking about YOU, not your hubby or anybody else. So that's the question you have to ask yourself; where you want to be. On drugs and well, or off them and take a risk.

I often felt that same way about how the meds changed me, but I couldn't risk going off the meds because prior to being diagnosed/medicated I had a very serious attempt and was committed to a Psych ward. I received my diagnosis then.

Prior to my med change in May 2010 I was over-medicated. This was necessary when I was first diagnosed, but it should have been reduced sooner. I'm now on a good med combo and I also practice self care (eating well, exercising, seeing a therapist etc.).

For many with bipolar the longer we stay undiagnosed and/or not on medication the symptoms become worse and/or med-resistant. This was my experience. I would suggest discussing med options with a Psychiatrist first.

I've lost count of the times I have gone off my meds, and it's always ended badly.... I struggle taking my drugs every morning and night... but know it's what is best for me...

Yes many times i have thought about going off my meds..I miss who i was and my Life. When i was told i might have bipoler i just laughed and said not me...I thought i was in control and could do anything.WRONG! It started getting out of control..The episodes were coming so fast i couldnt keep up...Anyway i was diagnosed in 2007.Was told i was a rapid cycler.. But like you i often wonder what it would be like if i went off my meds..God i miss that freedom.I miss being the person that felt so care free.Every day was good...I loved the boucey feeling i always had..If i get it now ( which is not enough) i hang on to it for as long as i can..When i mention going off my meds ...My husband says "Not a good Idea" .Here's a question...Say you go off your meds...and things start getting out of control...When you go back on your meds..How long before they start working again?? Does it depend on how long you've been on them? Or how long you were off them?

Personally I wouldn't recommend you coming off your meds. Yeah, I once was happy go lucky too, but when the bipolar hit I was a terror to everyone around me. So I am thankful for my meds, they manage me. My biggest fear for you is what SadRobot said, many who quit their meds are not alive to tell you about it. If you are determined to quit them please talk to your pdoc and have a game plan in case things get bad. I just want you to be safe.