Med compliance/routine

Do you ever sabotage your med routine when stable, just to get some more excitement/stimulation going?

No, that would be irresponsible. There's plenty of exciting stuff in life and fun hobbies to get into, no need to ruin stability for it

No, never. I have responsibilities in my life that require me to maintain as much stability as possible. If I need excitement, I go find exciting things to do. I don't have to do that by sabotaging my mental health which would eventually lead to some pretty serious consequences.

Yes, all the time. I have lost count how many times I have been on and off my meds. I'm stable but I miss the highs too much. I have always managed to maintain sensibility through those periods. Never been hospitalised never been too ill

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No I keep a routine and try to take meds at same time every day. If I happen to take them late I can tell, keep a spare set in my purse to

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No way. I'd be dead or at least divorced.

I have never taken a drug holiday. I can't afford to be unstable and would not be fair to my family to intentionally go off my meds and then cry about how horrible I feel. I might lose their support during the times I really am having an episode that hits me hard and unexpected. It would be akin to "crying wolf".

I never (never say never) go completely off them for more than one day (absolute) max, but I notice myself rather subconsciously varying the times I take them. This very much against my scientific nature/training, but I notice what probably is these variations causing very slowly escalating/self-supporting worsening of (any) routine.

I also might drink whisky sometimes to "rock the boat" in ("too") calm waters.

I also take enough for a few days with me wherever I go. Except for supplements: would really be too much. I very much notice not taking my supplements.

I blame it on borderline behaviour, which could very well be it.

Well, the only med I feel I need right now is lamictal and occasionally propranolol, so I've gone off the other ones and am weaning off gabapentin right now. Little nauseous from that, but it'll pass. Not doing it for excitement though. Am stable right now. I actually feel a lot better.

Question about my meds. I started effexor and welbutrin at the end od January. A couple weeks after I was on them I acted wierd. Like very hyper and doing some rash things. I messed up really bad on an assignment. Something I wouldn't do. I am stable now. Is this normal?

No I like my meds. I eat them like Junior Mints.

The temptation is to get back to "the old me" but the old me was an annoying, hard charger who could alienate anyone around me as long as I was accomplishing what I felt I needed to do.

I'm comfortable with the new me. I'm much more mellow. It's a good start.

Yes. Some paradoxical effects (in that you lose control instead of gaining some) is normal. Do you also use an antipsychotic or mood stabiliser? Otherwise, if you are BP, you probably need that added as soon as possible or you can get (hypo)manic(-like) again.

I wouldn't take either med for too long. Have a plan to make sure you learn to cope without and execute it as quickly as you can (so still gradually, or that will work paradoxical: it's a balancing thing, life is).

Especially the excess adrenaline that builds up (somewhat; and levels off) due to the venlafaxine (Effexor) can have negative effects for the entire time you take it.

Thank you. Yes it's evened out now. Dr. Will decrease once I've been on them awhile. I just wondered because I messed up royally at work and it was very strange. I told them I had just been diagnosed adhd and I didn't want that broadcasted. We'll the Principal contacted HR and I think it's to cover their butts. But I was like I don't need specialized treatment just things written down if it's a tedious task. I asked the principal if o was getting fired and she said we just want to make sure you have all accommodations you need to be successful.

I play with the dosage as of late. And I'm paying the price.

No I don't do that. Messes with your brain too much.

I have some leftover Lexapro, 10mg... about 25 days supply. Been taking 10mg instead of the 5mg prescribed by my pdoc. (5mg is just too little.)

My pdoc thinks 10mg makes me manic (which is why he stopped prescribing me 10mg), but I'm already in a mixed state (dysphoric mania). I'm kind of in a "do not give a sh**" mode, even though I know I'll regret it later.

100% complient ...

My story of med compliance is too long, boring and clinical so I'll skip that part.

No, I've never intentionally messed with my meds. Have I misused my meds in the part? Yes.... In different ways and for different reasons. I've never taken meds to purposely induce a hypo or manic episode.

This is definitely a pro stay on pills for life thread. I bumble all over the place with that. Sometimes I agree, sometimes I'm indifferent or middle of the road, and other times I'm against them fiercely.

Yes, this thread is sponsored by GlaxoKlinePfizerJanssenAstraZeneca, just so you know. Approved by The unisex, time lord Psychiatrist.

APAB.

Edit:
Smith was bought by another conglomerate.

What dosage lamotrigine?

You shouldn't need anything more disinhibiting, probably. It is somewhat pro-manic for a mood stabiliser and you probably shouldn't take anything with the same kind of effect.

I would gradually lower the %#*-am because the withdrawal effect might not work well with lamotrigine. It isn't the mood stabiliser that is to blame then.

"If you want to carry water without spilling any, you only need two hands and dexterity." -- Chinese proverb I just invented.

I didn't get that vibe at all. In fact, I no longer am on meds, so I'm the last person to be "pro stay on pills for life." What I hear people saying is that while they are on meds, they don't mess with them on their own because doing so creates problems for them. While I was on meds, I was careful to take them following my doctor's instructions, and when I was ready to get off of them, I did that with my doctor's blessings and assistance. I just never played with my meds while I was on them because to do so probably would have created other issues;it wasn't worth the risk.

I used to tempt fate occasionally, but for the last couple of years been faithful to my med regimen. It's just not worth it to mess with my meds---I'm so afraid of them not working anymore and I'd have to start all over again, which would be a nightmare. So I take my pills at the same times every day and I stay pretty stable, although I've been a little hypomanic for the past several weeks. A "little" hypomania isn't a bad thing.

When I missed a good euphoric mania oh yeah I did it. I'm surprised actually at all the answers here lol

Or if I felt I was cured or being manipulated by the medical world, once I thought my family just wanted me drugged to control me

The med I'm on now which is a shot to "guarantee my stability' is already letting me down and probably from either
1. Working 11-7 or
2. It's almost April which has led to the hospital the last couple years

So basically meds don't guarantee anything