Some Questions

Instead of stealing someone else's thread, I'm starting my own because I have a lot of questions. Sorry if this is a redundant thread.

I have contemplated coming off of my meds (I would LOVE to) but hesitate because of the severity of my symptoms. My husband is also very opposed to me coming off of them. I feel as though I am terribly over medicated but every time I try to come off of them, something happens. I missed 7 days of my low dose saphris very recently and my husband and mom decided I am behaving insanely (although my sleep is consistent so I think they are wrong).

Those of you who are successfully off of your meds, would you consider your Bipolar severe (uncontrollable mania and/or suicidal depressions)? Do you experience psychosis? How do you and your love ones deal with psychosis when you are out of your mind either manic or depressed? Do you have children? How can you be sure that you would never follow voices that can endanger them or do things that just scare them? And, if a main reason for stopping them is horrible side effects, is it worth the risk of experiencing massive cycles?

Thank you!

Sorry I can't help you.

I can't come off my meds.

Hope whatever you do it works out for you.

http://http://forums.psychcentral.com/bipolar/367656-going-off-meds-cold-turkey.html

I certainly am not qualified to speak, however perhaps your husband, and your mom, are seeing things you are missing. I know I was before being diagnosed BP and receiving medications. You also state you have sever symptoms, so that should be a sign to be advised by your psychiatrist before dealing with it all on your own. I don't know of anyone who are successfully off medications. I'd fear it could lead you down a road with horrible results.

http://http://forums.psychcentral.com/bipolar/365103-bipolar-meds-work-you.html

http://http://forums.psychcentral.com/bipolar/363161-stopping-all-meds.html

It's hard to say whether you should attempt to come off your meds, particularly if your symptoms are bad.

I have bipolar 1 which is considered the more severe form, and as much as I wish I didn't have to take five drugs to stay sane, I can't imagine where I'd be without them.
As I've aged my disease has progressed, and every time the dosage goes up on my meds I never seem to be able to bring it back down. I sometimes have some psychosis with my manic/depressed episodes (ever seen cats running under linen carts in the emergency room? I have) even though I'm on two anti-psychotics. I don't even want to know what might happen if I were to come off them. I'm not dangerous---at least when I'm not manic and pissed off---but again, the meds smooth out the rough spots, and I haven't been full-blown manic in a year.

IF you do decide you want off your meds, do NOT do it without your doctor's knowledge and supervision. You will need to taper off, not go cold turkey because you WILL have a bad reaction. It's all but guaranteed.....maybe not right away but it will happen. Your family's opinions should also carry some weight in making this decision, because your moods and actions affect them too. Just saying.

This is the thread I was worried about imposing on because I had so many questions. Thanks for the links to all three forums though; they all gave helpful information. I am still looking for more information, especially regarding how you could deal with psychosis if off meds. I still have it sometimes now but it fails in comparison to when I was not medicated, mostly because of the lithium and anti-psychotics, I'm sure.

I saw in one of the threads you tried coming off of your meds and it didn't work out? I hope you are doing well now.

I actually didn't take meds for about 8 years but that was because I became so much better I believed I was not Bipolar. Then I had a nervous breakdown 3 years ago and never recovered. I just wonder if I went 8 years (albeit mostly stable), maybe I can do that again.

Yeah i was a bit delusional and thought I was cured so kind of stopped taking my meds. Or thought I had been given the wrong diagnosis

I personally have tried to go med free and it did not work for me. Some other ppl do it though
I think however if you have psychotic features it may be dangerous to go off meds
My aim is to stay on as few meds as possible. Some doctors will put you on a bazillion meds that do the same thing
My doctor is light handed with meds so we get along. I have known some ppl where being over medicated became a bigger problem than the illness!

I'm hoping to be able to get to the stage where "less is more" - or so to speak.