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New Member
Member Since Nov 2022
Location: Florida
Posts: 7
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#1
Hello all!
I am new here and very happy to have found a place with people who may understand what I am going through and possibly offer support and/or advice! I have been taking medications for 5 years now and a few months ago I started having very intense aversions to taking my medication even though it has been incredibly beneficial to me. It happened out of seemingly nowhere, I have this voice in the back of my mind telling me I don't need the medication anymore because I have been doing so well the past couple of years since I became stable on my medication. I know very well that stopping my medication is not smart but I keep going weeks of taking it on and off and I feel very unstable. I am currently on day 1 of taking them again and just want to get some advice from others before I stop taking them again. Every time I stop taking them my mood and behavior become erratic and I cannot control or stop it ( I have rapid cycling Bipolar disorder for reference) and the erratic behavior and constant mood swings cause severe mental exhaustion. Does anyone have advice on how to continue medication despite something telling me that I don't need it, I just don't know how to help myself and I am not yet ready to talk to my therapist or psychiatrist about it. Any help or advice or support at all is very helpful and appreciated so I thank you all in advance! and I am not shy about sharing my other disorders or the medication I take so if you feel that could help any advice you have to offer please do ask! |
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bizi, Soupe du jour
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bizi
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Legendary
Member Since Apr 2012
Location: Earth
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#2
I have trouble taking medication. I take all my medications at night right before I go to bed. My husband hands me my meds and water to take it. I was on an injection medication before moving. I would move your meds to night if possible. If you have to control your meds yourself get a monthly med counter that opens at a certain time and locks after a certain time.
__________________ Dx: Me- SzA Husband- Bipolar 1 Daughter- mood disorder+ Comfortable broken and happy "So I don't know why I'm tongue tied At the wrong time when I need this."- P!nk My blog |
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bizi, CrystalM
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bizi, CrystalM
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Crone
Member Since May 2010
Location: Some where between my inner mind and the solar system.
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#3
Some of us only learn the hard way. I know it was that way for me. But I’m on good medication now and stable, I’m loathe to lose that stability for something stupid as self sabotage. But it took years to learn that. I’ve no magic ideas, just experience.
__________________ Nammu …Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. …... Desiderata Max Ehrmann |
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bizi, CrystalM
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bizi, CrystalM, MuddyBoots, Soupe du jour
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catches the flowers
Member Since Jul 2019
Location: Downtown Vibes, California
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#4
Welcome to the forum @CrystalM
I know that you are far from alone, so many people (especially those with bipolar disorder for some reason) have difficulty with taking meds consistently. The first thought that comes to my mind is, does your pdoc ask why you don't need refills? __________________ |
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bizi, CrystalM
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bizi, CrystalM
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Bizi is bizi
Member Since Nov 2005
Location: cajun country
Posts: 10,851
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#5
I have been messing with my meds forgetting to take them If I remain stable then I will just take the 4 ones in the morning and not take the vitamins and supplements.I take a lot of them.
good luck, bizi __________________ 150mg of lamictal 2x a day haldol 5mg 2x a day 1mg of cogentin 2x a day klonipin , 1mg at night, 4-5 peri-colace for chronic constipation multi vit,, vit c, at noon, tumeric, caffeine at noon PRN Remeron 15mg at night, zyprexa10mg under tongue, requip2mg. |
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CrystalM
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CrystalM
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Monster on the Hill
Member Since Sep 2020
Location: by the river
Posts: 4,128
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#6
Quote:
After 20+ hospitalizations, most from coming off of meds whether purposefully with my own intent or from incompetent pdocs/pharmacies, I've learned it's best to stay on them. I also do the monthly shot in addition to pills as back up. __________________ Live life for nothing but that sweet sweet melody. |
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CrystalM, Nammu
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CrystalM, Nammu
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Elder
Member Since Jun 2015
Location: Czechia
Posts: 5,154
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#7
I must third what Nammu wrote and then MuddyBoots. Some of my absolute worst episodes were results of stopping medications. I can even say now if I even forget or skip one dose of my evening medications, I can feel two steps from needing a psych hospital. It's not nearly as much so with my morning medications, but then I haven't missed more than two of them in a week in years.
Have you really sat down and made a list of why you go off medications? What are those aversions based on? I realize sometimes people have concerns that would seem very good reasons, and yet still ones that must be weighed against mental instability. Wanting to deny mental illness...self-stigmatization...medication side effects (a biggie)...chasing mania...thinking you're "strong enough to finally handle it without meds"...wanting to get drunk...immaturity (in some people's cases) or desire to be reckless and/or get attention...and many others. In your case, it's clearly more than just forgetting. There obviously are reasons you are doing what you're doing. What are they? Without you knowing, it's hard to believe you'll suddenly become a dedicated medication taker. Or, that we could really give any form of advice. __________________ Dx: Bipolar type 1 Psych Medications: * Tegretol XR (carbamazepine ER) 800 mg * Lamictal (lamotrigine) 150 mg * Seroquel XR (quetiapine ER) 600 mg I also take meds for blood pressure, cholesterol, and tachycardia. |
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CrystalM, Nammu
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CrystalM, Nammu
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New Member
Member Since Nov 2022
Location: Florida
Posts: 7
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#8
Quote:
I have been trying so hard to talk with my psychiatrist about it but I just clam up when I get the opportunity. I was stable for four years with no issues and then this started, about four months ago. |
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Soupe du jour
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New Member
Member Since Nov 2022
Location: Florida
Posts: 7
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#9
Quote:
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*Beth*
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*Beth*
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Elder
Member Since Jun 2015
Location: Czechia
Posts: 5,154
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#10
Quote:
Your doctor WANTS to know about your breakthrough mania and how it's affecting your medication compliance. Having breakthrough mania is not a "bad behavior". It's illness. Your doctor needs to know so that they can deal with it. Open truthful communication is admired and ultimately does you good. __________________ Dx: Bipolar type 1 Psych Medications: * Tegretol XR (carbamazepine ER) 800 mg * Lamictal (lamotrigine) 150 mg * Seroquel XR (quetiapine ER) 600 mg I also take meds for blood pressure, cholesterol, and tachycardia. |
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CrystalM
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CrystalM, MuddyBoots, Nammu
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Monster on the Hill
Member Since Sep 2020
Location: by the river
Posts: 4,128
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#11
Quote:
If you're still having manic symptoms, chances are your meds need some tweaking anyways. __________________ Live life for nothing but that sweet sweet melody. |
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CrystalM
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CrystalM, Nammu
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Crone
Member Since May 2010
Location: Some where between my inner mind and the solar system.
Posts: 71,381
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#12
Quote:
__________________ Nammu …Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. …... Desiderata Max Ehrmann |
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CrystalM
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CrystalM
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ɘvlovƎ
Member Since Nov 2013
Location: Australia
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#13
It’s such a gamble not taking meds. I landed up IP once because of it. As you say you’re unstable when you stop taking your meds so your best bet is to continue taking them. We’ll never be cured of this disorder. I’ve come to accept that I’m on meds for life.
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CrystalM
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CrystalM
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New Member
Member Since Nov 2022
Location: Florida
Posts: 7
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#14
Quote:
I really appreciate you taking the time to help me out! __________________ DX: Rapid cycling Bi-polar disorder, social phobia, and panic disorder RX: Lamictal 300mg Zoloft 75 mg Gabapentin 2x daily; 100mg & 400mg |
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Soupe du jour
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New Member
Member Since Nov 2022
Location: Florida
Posts: 7
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#15
Coming to terms with the fact that this is for life has for sure been difficult, so thank you for sharing because I think this is something I really need to understand and accept.
__________________ DX: Rapid cycling Bi-polar disorder, social phobia, and panic disorder RX: Lamictal 300mg Zoloft 75 mg Gabapentin 2x daily; 100mg & 400mg |
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*Beth*, Crazy Hitch
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Crazy Hitch
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