[Row Jimmy]

I decided to kick my meds (lithium and Celexa). Lithium made me feel stupid and I was forgetting a lot of things. I wasn't sure the medication was helping and I was relying on it without the other elements of self care like mindfulness, diet, and exercise. I've been off them for about a month. This is *my* story and it might not apply to everyone so keep that in mind. I've been OK, some outbursts but nothing like in the past - throwing trash cans on my roof, destroying my garage....you know, the good stuff of BP. I just did it on my own against advice of my wife but I was determined to make it work. So I run a little bit, climb a few mountains, and zone out on the couch at night to the smooth grooves of the Grateful Dead. Anyway, there it is.

[~Christina]

Hey

I dumped lithium cold turkey years ago , oh hell I was sick sick sick for a couple weeks, felt like the flu on rocket fuel. It honestly took my brain almost 3 months to get back to working sans meds. I will never take it again.

Eventually I needed back on meds.

I now have been Med free since March off Latuda , Lamictal , Tenex and Doxipen.

There’s been some ups and downs.. some just straight Bipolar shyt and some situational.

Now that said... it took me weeks to decide to quit them, my husband and I talked a lot about it.. we came to an agreement.. if I started to really slip up or down or had trouble with irritation and anger I would go back on them even if I didn’t “see it. “

I know I’ll wind back up on meds at some point but I truly felt my body needed a break from taking such a huge chemical slushy daily.

Do you have a plan in case quitting isn’t going to work for you or anyone around you ?

[bpcyclist]

I stopped all mine in 2012--lithium included. Sadly, the data celarly show that pts with bp 1 who rapidly d/c their lithium are most often headed for a big recurrence. Almost 100% of the time. If they actually have the illness. So, please, pay attention to the emergence of any symptoms. The sooner you pick up on it, the sooner you can address it. Sending you positive vibes and wishes for a healthy brain.

I wish you luck with this. I'm glad to at least read you are working coping skills.

Not everyone can quit meds. I tried twice maybe 11 and 12 years ago and was soon after hospitalized with severe manias with psychosis that were hard to stop and kept coming back. My youngest nephew quit his and everything seemed marvelous for a while (he lost a lot of weight, felt good, got a job) then his illness came back with a vengeance and it took him before he could reach a therapeutic dose of Lithium. He obviously doesn't take medications now.

[HALLIEBETH87]

Well, it seems I have to stay on meds. Without them
I am a complete wreck. I changed a dose and ended up
Ip recently for 12 days psychotic, suicidal and depressed! And boy the lectures...

[fern46]

Originally Posted by Row Jimmy

I decided to kick my meds (lithium and Celexa). Lithium made me feel stupid and I was forgetting a lot of things. I wasn't sure the medication was helping and I was relying on it without the other elements of self care like mindfulness, diet, and exercise. I've been off them for about a month. This is *my* story and it might not apply to everyone so keep that in mind. I've been OK, some outbursts but nothing like in the past - throwing trash cans on my roof, destroying my garage....you know, the good stuff of BP. I just did it on my own against advice of my wife but I was determined to make it work. So I run a little bit, climb a few mountains, and zone out on the couch at night to the smooth grooves of the Grateful Dead. Anyway, there it is.

I too am wishing you all the best with this. I have been off meds since September and it is going well so far. I've taken great care to have more awareness of my state of being and I am also using mindfulness, diet and exercise. I am appraoching things holistically. I was wondering if you had any particular strategies for your heart and spirit? The emotions and our sense of being connected to our purpose are equally as important in my view.

I'm happy for you and send supportive vibes your way.

[wiretwister]

I was off for three months and loved it but then the anxiety came roaring back so back on pills . . . but I hope to never go back on lamictal . . . I wish you well but please seek your wife's advice about how your doing . . . I regually ask mine . . . be suprised how much sooner she see changes than I see it myself . . . good luck friend . . .

[Jester's Rags]

Good luck, and be cautious. And if you have someone close, ask them to keep an eye on you for changes in behavior.

“Nothin’ left to do but smile, smile, smile. “

[Row Jimmy]

Originally Posted by ~Christina

Hey

I dumped lithium cold turkey years ago , oh hell I was sick sick sick for a couple weeks, felt like the flu on rocket fuel. It honestly took my brain almost 3 months to get back to working sans meds. I will never take it again.

Eventually I needed back on meds.

I now have been Med free since March off Latuda , Lamictal , Tenex and Doxipen.

There’s been some ups and downs.. some just straight Bipolar shyt and some situational.

Now that said... it took me weeks to decide to quit them, my husband and I talked a lot about it.. we came to an agreement.. if I started to really slip up or down or had trouble with irritation and anger I would go back on them even if I didn’t “see it. “

I know I’ll wind back up on meds at some point but I truly felt my body needed a break from taking such a huge chemical slushy daily.

Do you have a plan in case quitting isn’t going to work for you or anyone around you ?

No plan, just taking it day to day. Doing well since the post, feeling a bit sharper but still need to remain vigilant. Sleeping like a log, I might add, and functioning well during the day in spite of my aggravating profession (teaching).

[Row Jimmy]

Originally Posted by BirdDancer

I wish you luck with this. I'm glad to at least read you are working coping skills.

Not everyone can quit meds. I tried twice maybe 11 and 12 years ago and was soon after hospitalized with severe manias with psychosis that were hard to stop and kept coming back. My youngest nephew quit his and everything seemed marvelous for a while (he lost a lot of weight, felt good, got a job) then his illness came back with a vengeance and it took him before he could reach a therapeutic dose of Lithium. He obviously doesn't take medications now.

For me, it made me a mush-head and I just got sick of it. In a way, I wish it simply *worked* for me without the side effects. In that way, I could be comfortable with a more comprehensive approach.

[Row Jimmy]

Originally Posted by HALLIEBETH87

Well, it seems I have to stay on meds. Without them
I am a complete wreck. I changed a dose and ended up
Ip recently for 12 days psychotic, suicidal and depressed! And boy the lectures...

Yeah, tell me about it......the lectures.......I didn't tell my mom because she'd wring her hands about it every time we spoke. And she's a trigger because she's not a nice person.

[Rick7892]

Thanks for the updates! I hope things continue to go well!