[ggtina]

I really need it. I have been off my meds

for a few weeks now. Everyone around me has noticed but me and I am getting sick of them complaining bugging me to take my meds. Makes me not want to take them even more. Even though I know I should. There sitting right next to my bed have been since i stopped taking them for no reason. Why don't i have any desire to take them. I am probably on some sort of a high right now and just enjoying the ride but I don't want to crash and burn.

So I was supposed to see my pdoc yesterday but got all the way to her office to find out I was off by 2 weeks. So now I need to wait till the 13th of July to see her. They can't get me in any sooner. I blamed my confusion on the person sitting at the front desk even though I know it wasn't his fault that I read the days wrong. I get so irritated lately at everyone ....

So what do I do ... I know its simple to just take the pills and be done with it but that doesn't stop tomorrows daily struggle with taking them.

[hamster-bamster]

Well apparently you can sleep without trazodone so go off it officially but take the other two meds, to split it up...

[BlackPup]

i can't remember how many times I have stopped meds - always a bad idea, I understand your struggle. talk with your pdoc about it.

[gary290]

I agree w/Blackpup. I recently stopped and had to go back because of hypomania. I was angry all the time.

[RobertDark]

Originally Posted by ggtina

So I was supposed to see my pdoc yesterday but got all the way to her office to find out I was off by 2 weeks. So now I need to wait till the 13th of July to see her. They can't get me in any sooner. I blamed my confusion on the person sitting at the front desk even though I know it wasn't his fault that I read the days wrong. I get so irritated lately at everyone ....

I literally did this exact same thing on Tuesday. Except I was off by a month.

I've been off meds for 10 months now and it has not been good. I've cycled from manic to depressed to normal a few times over in the time period and it's gotten exhausting. I was going to try and work without meds and just therapy, but I need both. I know meds are hard to handle sometimes, but I love what I have seen a few people say.... If you had diabetes or asthma, would you not take your meds? BP is no different, chemical issue in the brain so meds are a nice tool to help deal with it.

[bluemountains]

Why does it seem that going off meds seems like such a good idea at the time? Even reading these posts, I still am ready to give it a try, but I have a pdoc appt. on Monday, so I will hold out.
Bluemountains

[BipolaRNurse]

I've tried and failed so many times to manage all this on my own, you'd think I'd be smart enough to understand why I need to stay on medications. But sure enough, the instant I started feeling better this time, the temptation to go off crept back....rotten little liar that it is. So you have my sympathies, but please take your meds because it only gets worse each time you try and fail.

[Anneinside]

Am I the only one here who doesn't go off meds? Since I started them I have never deliberately gone off them and never even think about doing it. I have missed a day here and there. I remember how bad I felt before I started taking meds and how suicidal I become when down. Sometimes I wonder if I'm bipolar I, but I never doubt that I need the meds. Figure that one out!

[BNLsMOM]

Originally Posted by Anneinside

Am I the only one here who doesn't go off meds? Since I started them I have never deliberately gone off them and never even think about doing it. I have missed a day here and there. I remember how bad I felt before I started taking meds and how suicidal I become when down. Sometimes I wonder if I'm bipolar I, but I never doubt that I need the meds. Figure that one out!

Don't feel alone. I have never gone off my meds. Boy is it tempting, but I figure if I am this symptomatic on meds, I can't imagine going back to the days before when I would actually do damage to my life.

[hamster-bamster]

I have gone off deliberately once and a grandiose mania with devastating consequences soon resulted. I am not going off again.

[Secretum]

I have been tempted to go off of my meds, but I never indulged that temptation. So, Annie, you have plenty of company.

[BuggsBunny]

I'm never gone off either, not since my college days of threats to my long suffering T. I do discontinue one on a trial basis, here and there, but the whole kit and kaboodle? Never. I'm bipolar, not crazy.

[possum220]

Yup frustration and anger can make people stop taking their meds. I would give you a good kick up the bum if it would make any difference. But this is one of those lessons in life that you need to make your own way. Consequences are great teachers. Good Luck

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by BuggsBunny

I'm never gone off either, not since my college days of threats to my long suffering T. I do discontinue one on a trial basis, here and there, but the whole kit and kaboodle? Never. I'm bipolar, not crazy.

YESSSS! I should have the bold part engraved some place.

[~Christina]

I often.... well more like daily want to stop my meds.

I did go off all of them cold turkey .. I never had a withdrawls to speak of. My world spun out of control really fast and I wound up in the hospital for 5 days soooooooo I hopefully will remember that daily so I dont just get in a mood and stop my meds

Good Luck ~

[Tsunamisurfer]

Originally Posted by ggtina

...

So what do I do ... I know its simple to just take the pills and be done with it but that doesn't stop tomorrows daily struggle with taking them.

Ggtina, I know your struggle.

Don't get yourself too beaten up about it.
Psych meds aren't like vitamins that do you good or you just waste them if your body doesn't need them. Psych drugs do things to you that can be distressing. The pharmaceutical companies mildly refer to it as "side effects" which in reality aren't that inconsequential. It isn't at all surprising to me that so many people struggle with this.

These drugs are meant to help with problems like distress and the risk of dangerous behaviour. If they aren't solving a serious problem (either being ineffective, or creating other serious problems that outweigh the initial concerns), then seriously evaluate their appropriateness for you.

But be aware that going on psych drugs and suddenly stopping can mess us up and dramatically exacerbate symptoms.

If you think you should be off drugs, please get your psychiatrist on board and do it gradually over a period of time, and with a good safety net of support and a low stress environment?

(HUGs)

TS