[DiamondJoe]

Hi all, I'm new here. Pleased to meet everyone.

I'm 33 BP1 diagnosed 8 months ago. I had a severe manic episode last summer (June - late August). Became severely depressed in October and only just recovered (I think).

I was taking 15 mg Olanzipine and 60 mg Fluoxetine until 3 weeks ago after I titrated off both. I hate the cognitive dulling and disassociation side effects of Olanzipine and I fear the Fluoxetine contributed to suicidal feelings.

I just want to know what others feel about managing BP without the use of meds.

Thanks

[Skeezyks]

Greetings Joe: I see this is your first post here on PC. So... welcome to PsychCentral! I hope you find the time you spend here to be of benefit.

There are a lot of articles in PsychCentral's archives on the subject of managing bipolar disorder. I looked through some of them to see if there was anything that talked about managing bipolar disorder without medications. However I, at least, did not find anything. Here are links to some of the articles I did find though:

https://psychcentral.com/lib/10-smal...olar-disorder/

https://psychcentral.com/lib/the-4-k...olar-disorder/

https://psychcentral.com/blog/3-myth...olar-disorder/

https://psychcentral.com/blog/strate...olar-disorder/

https://psychcentral.com/blog/the-bi...olar-disorder/

https://psychcentral.com/lib/living-...olar-disorder/

May I suggest you introduce yourself over on PC's New Member Introductions forum? Here's a link:

https://forums.psychcentral.com/new-...introductions/

There's a lot of support that can be available here on PC. The more you post, & reply to other members' posts, the more a part of the community you will become. Plus there are the chat rooms where you'll be able to interact with other PC members in real time (once your first 5 posts have been reviewed & approved.) So please keep posting!

I have a friend who manages her BP without meds, but it took her years to get there and working with her doctor and therapist. I actually feel so much better on my current meds that I can't imagine being without them. I really think its individual, but you should discuss with your doctor. It really sucks to be hospitalized because you should have taken your meds and didn't (I've been there).

If you were recently diagnosed, how long have you been on Olanzipine and Fluoxetine? Have you tried any other bipolar meds? There are lots of other med options out there that you can try if you don't like Olanzipine and Fluoxetine.

[Victoria'smom]

My goal is to be med free one day. I need to find a great therapist and develop a trusting relationship before stopping my medication. That said I'm on a rather low dose of (10mg) Olanzipine and lamictal. The higher dose made me sleep and eat all the time. So I still have symptoms, I'm not willing to go on a higher doses. Pdoc hasn't offered either. I have to learn how to deal with this. I take a lot of hot showers, blare music into headphones. I trust my dog to hear alarming things. So if I hear something and she's not reacting I know it's just me.

[DiamondJoe]

Originally Posted by DiamondJoe

Hi all, I'm new here. Pleased to meet everyone.

I'm 33 BP1 diagnosed 8 months ago. I had a severe manic episode last summer (June - late August). Became severely depressed in October and only just recovered (I think).

I was taking 15 mg Olanzipine and 60 mg Fluoxetine until 3 weeks ago after I titrated off both. I hate the cognitive dulling and disassociation side effects of Olanzipine and I fear the Fluoxetine contributed to suicidal feelings.

I just want to know what others feel about managing BP without the use of meds.

Thanks

Thank you so much Skeezyks for your warm welcome and for taking the time to dig out thoughtful articles.

The articles all appear to suggest the only way of managing BP is with the assistance of psychiatric drugs. I can't help it but I really hate taking them! They turn me into someone completely different. I'm so scared of all of this.

[Northchild]

I'm managing well without meds, after having been on them for about 2 decades. I've been off of them for about 3 and a half months now with no troubles, though the withdrawal symptoms were difficult at first.

I have no problem with seeing my doctor and am ready to go back on meds if I need them, though I don't want to use them as a prophylactic if that's at all possible. I also have a talk therapist to see if things get bad again.

[DiamondJoe]

Originally Posted by Northchild

I'm managing well without meds, after having been on them for about 2 decades. I've been off of them for about 3 and a half months now with no troubles, though the withdrawal symptoms were difficult at first.

I have no problem with seeing my doctor and am ready to go back on meds if I need them, though I don't want to use them as a prophylactic if that's at all possible. I also have a talk therapist to see if things get bad again.

That's really interesting Northchild. I'm interested to see how no meds works out for you and how you compare no meds vs 20 years with meds.

I feel so much clearer without them. I have some Olanzipine at the ready if I feel like I'm going high. Not sure what I'll do when I crash though.

[Wild Coyote]

Hi!
I have zero experience with BPI, so my response will be very limited.
From what I do understand about BPI, I'd think it would be very difficult to have a decent life without helpful meds. (I don't think the meds you'd tried were most helpful to you.) At the same time, you are already getting responses from some people not using meds; I take them at their word. Please do keep in mind the real individual differences we cannot avoid.

I hope you get some more responses and you find them helpful.

I want to welcome you to PC and to the Bipolar Forum!

I hope you find the support and the information you may be seeking!
Please do make yourself at home! I hope to see you around the forums!


WC

[Pookyl]

I’ve gone as far as skipping all the meds that I take with breakfast. By 9am I was feeling sick and by 11am I was starting to become manic (never a good idea on public transport).
Since you asked how I feel: my personal feeling is that in almost all cases going off medications is a bad idea.

[tecomsin]

Many people with BP1 stop taking their meds. I did because of metabolic side effects and because I thought I could manage without them. I ended back at hospital each time.

If you can stay on top of your symptoms and restart meds if you need them, then everything should be ok. On the other hand symptoms of BP1 tend to sneak up on people so they get caught up in things and don't realize they are going off the deep end. That is what has happened to me. However hope springs eternal and each person is different.

[Unhinged88]

It took 10 years to find a drug that worked for me but 4 years ago I stopped all meds too. I wanted to make sure whatever emotions I was feeling were actually mine. I just felt nothing. All the time. And granted the meds did stabilize my moods, I wanted a change. Have I coped as well as possible? No. I have days I want to drive my car into the back of a semi. Weeks with no energy. And days where I am manic and do dumb stuff. But the weeks in between, I feel I appreciate life more than before. And I am in no way saying don't take your meds. They help. And some need them more than others, depending on your situation. So its really like another mentioned, depends on the quality of life you want. And only you know you. And what consequences may arise.

[Zigy]

I would love to get off of meds. Especially that my pdoc basically said today that he doesn't believe any drugs will help me and my only hope is therapy or quitting my job.

What I hate most is taking Temazepam for sleep. I don't mind Lamictal that much but I should probably get off of it, I don't think it does anything. Sleeping by myself would be great.