[TheMadHattersMuse]

Hi, so I joined this site yesterday because today I had an appointment with my consultant about coming off my meds partly due to physical side effects. I wanted him to turn to me and say yeah you're doing really well let's stop the meds you'll be just fine! Obviously that wasn't going to happen I knew that but I thought at least he would advise me to slowly come off them...

That didn't happen either. What happened was he told me it was too risky to even try coming off, apparently my history of depression, hyper mania, delusions and aggression it would be catastrophic to my mental health.

I know it's sensible and rational to stay on drugs but I'm considering stopping against advice. Does anyone have an experience or opinion on this?

[~Christina]

It really depends on what meds your taking.. Do you have enough self awareness to catch your unmedicated episodes coming on? Do you have a trunk full of coping skills and know when and how to use them often?

Do you have support of family or /and friends that can let you know if something is "off"

Will you still be able to have that Pdoc to help you if you wind up a hot mess?

There's a lot of things to think of before you toss the meds. You have a pretty strong history of delusions and aggression that's worrisome. Did those things happen while you have been on medications? I'm not a fan of Big Pharma, But you have to look at this with common sense and logic.

Take care and Welcome to PC

[Blitter2014]

Wanting to come off a particular form of medication is perfectly understandable and rational. But not wanting to have ANY medicaiton is sort of throwing out the baby with the bathwater. Are there any other medications that you can try? Have you discussed the side effects and why you want to change medications?

I have found in the past that when I go to see my Pdoc with preconceived Ideas I always come away disappointed. I have also gone into an appointment with the express idea of coming off medication only to be told that they would not support the decision and that they would no longer treat me if I followed through on my decision. I think you are right in trusting yourself and knowing what side effects the medication is having. But you also need to place some trust in your Pdoc that he knows the dangers and side effects of having NO medication. No one, including your Pdoc wants to see you in crisis, nor do they want you having unnecessary or intolerable side effects.....trust them to do their job and keep communicating until you can come up with something that works for you.

[LastQuestion]

I believe reducing medication and continuing to remain stable involves acquiring many of the skillsets and resources Christa mentions. It's not something to do lightly and will require a great deal of vigilance and discipline. Even then there's no guarantee for success.

Withdrawal from psychotropics can be destabilizing if one has developed a physical dependance upon them. For some withdrawal is difficult and for others it is no big deal. How effectively one is able to cope with either outcome depends upon how prepared one is.

[tomorrowisanewday]

I highly advise against coming off medication even if you're having side effects.
The fact is you're on medication for a reason. Just because those initial symptoms may have gone away does not mean they are actually gone- it is your medication making them go away.
The second you go off your meds they will come back and most people who are on medication and go off go into super mood swings and honestly it doesn't usually, or really at all, end well.
Trust what your doctor says.
If the side effects are as bad as you are saying suggest new meds. Do your research. You have to be an active participant in your medical treatment. Look up meds similar to what your on that you would feel comfortable taking and bring some ideas to the table when you go see the doctor.
If a doctor is telling you that you shouldn't go off of meds it isn't for his/her benefit. They aren't saying that for kicks and giggles or anything like that. They are giving you their professional medical opinion that took their years of school and education to get. If your doctor thinks it is a bad idea. It is most likely a bad idea.
If you feel like you can't trust what your doctor is saying, find a new doctor you CAN really trust. But in the meantime stay stable and say on your meds.
I've been around the block so many times. I've been having side effects so bad I'm on medication that fixing the side effects I'm having from the drugs I'm taking for my bipolar symptoms. But if you want to really get better and really maintain that stability, it is possible but you need patience, trust, and a good doctor-patient relationship.

[TheMadHattersMuse]

Thanks guys. To answer a few of your questions yes I do have a supportive family tho I don't have any friends. The aggression was present when I was on quitiepine but the delusions weren't I stopped that drug last year as it stopped working and I needed it upped every couple of months.

A little update on today tho is that I left work after only three hours because yesterday triggered a down phase I feel really quite down. I can't function today I just feel really disappointed. I knew I wasn't going to be able to come off my meds I did but at the same time I really want to. I know I feel fine at the moment because of the drugs but I had hopped things had change.

[Victoria'smom]

Are you in therapy? If you reduce meds I highly recommend weekly therapy.

[Disorder7]

When my pdoc put me on meds, I let him know I was concerned about side effects. I told him I had read that some of the meds can kill you.

He told point blank the odds of me putting a belt around my neck, or being killed by someone in a rage altercation far outweighed the risks from meds.

Sometimes I fool myself into believing I'm stable enough to be med free. But then when I verbally attack a total stranger, and I'm physically being restrained, I know I probably need more meds, not less.

[jack123]

I am not even brave enough to try

[Curious651]

This is a personal decision. It would depend on your abilities, skill level, and support as stated by Christina. I was on meds for years and due to lots of weight gain I stopped. It was not easy. I do have rapid cycling and at times I wonder how smart I am. When doing the right thing, eat, sleep, exercise, work, talking I do pretty well and manage my symptoms. I will state that there are days that are extremely rough though. I would talk to more professionals and be straight with pdoc. Discussion never hurst. Pray you do well and make the best choice for you.

[venusss]

It is important to have some coping skills and strategies. All that Christina mentioned. But, unlike others I think being off meds is doable.

Most people are on meds because they were prescribed meds. That is the "reason". Other reasons are too varied to say that if you ever go on meds, there is no going back. Some people develop coping skills and sort their lives enough to be able reduce or come off their meds. Sometimes BP might lessen as we get older.

From these posts I feel that doctors exaggerate the benefits and lessen the risk when talking about meds. Well, there has been ever article here on PC about this happening. Pdocs don't know much about med-free bipolar, because they operate in the mode of meds. And if they threaten to drop anybody who drops their meds... they never see a success story, because that person never goes back to them. They don't have the insight of gods, they really don't,

So it is up to you. Just be careful about your decisions.

[TheMadHattersMuse]

Once again I thank everyone for the comments after thinking about it I do want to be off drugs and stable but I'm well aware that it won't happen. I just wanna be happy and healthy but I can't be either of those things if I'm not following medical advice.

I know I don't have a very much self awareness and can't usually tell when I'm going off the rails be it depression or hyper manic so I wouldn't be able to stop myself if I was falling. So just going to have to keep up chin up and continue with my treatment.

[Creative1onder]

Originally Posted by TheMadHattersMuse

Hi, so I joined this site yesterday because today I had an appointment with my consultant about coming off my meds partly due to physical side effects. I wanted him to turn to me and say yeah you're doing really well let's stop the meds you'll be just fine! Obviously that wasn't going to happen I knew that but I thought at least he would advise me to slowly come off them...

That didn't happen either. What happened was he told me it was too risky to even try coming off, apparently my history of depression, hyper mania, delusions and aggression it would be catastrophic to my mental health.

I know it's sensible and rational to stay on drugs but I'm considering stopping against advice. Does anyone have an experience or opinion on this?

Its your choice. You don't have to take drugs if you don't want or agree with it.

[Creative1onder]

Not everyone with illness has treatment, help and support with their battle.