Bipolar Disorder Support Group

Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.

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Has anyone ever stopped taking their meds before?

deleted_user
deleted_user
I'm considering stopping them after my trip to Japan next month. I've been taking meds for only 2 weeks and I'm over it already. I don't wnat to put these chemicals in my body anymore.
deleted_user
deleted_user
NO! dont stop it takes a bit for them to work... you must give you body time to adjust. if you quit you will get sick.,
deleted_user
deleted_user
I must caution you to talk to your pdoc BEFORE you stop. Abruptly stopping a lot of meds can cause severe depression or other side effects. I have stopped before and I ended up in the hospital. Please speak to your pdoc and s/he can take you off slowly.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I'm already sick. The side effects are awful, they are starting to subside now but I'm just over it. After my trip I'll consider going off both meds or just going off lithium.
deleted_user
deleted_user
DO NOT quit cold turkey it can be a miserable experience. I got very sick and started rapid cycling. Please call your doc before you do anything and be careful!
deleted_user
deleted_user
The problem is I don't trust my pdoc and I don't have an appointment with a new one until mid December.
deleted_user
deleted_user
NO! NO A GOOD IDEA! Just because you are feeling better doesn't mean it is gone for good. If you go off of your meds it WILL come back and with a vengeance! If you decide to go off anyways do it with a docs supervision. You have to taper off of these meds.
tommymott
tommymott
My history is that I got hospitalized, felt real good after 6 months on meds, quit meds, wound up in hospital again...repeat for the next two years until I finally started lithium in hospital.

You may need to go through the same process to finally "get it." I hope not, it's an effective but unpleasant way to learn!
deleted_user
deleted_user
If you are having side effects from lithium, call your pdoc, you may be on too much. You also have to drink plenty of water on lithium. It made me slightly ill too, and I called doc right away.
deleted_user
deleted_user
If you are bipolar it can be a disaster, getting manic or whatever can make a mess of your life. sticking with the meds gives you a chance of minimising the extreme mood episodes.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I have bipolar 2. I don't feel I am really at risk of anything other than depression. The stories you guys have of being manic and ending up in hospital or rapid cycling. I've never had any of that. I've been hypomanic ONCE and it was the most positive time in my life. My ONLY concern is the depression so maybe I'll continue the antidepressants alone or I'll just battle through it like I always have.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I tend to trust no doctors, but they do know how to taper you off the right way so you can avoid unpleasant side effects. Stopping abruptly is not good at all.
deleted_user
deleted_user
If I were you I would contact the pdoc you are using now and tell him how you feel. See if he thinks you can lower your dose. I wouldn't stop taking it cold turkey.
deleted_user
deleted_user
When first taking meds I too stopped, hosp, restart, only needed to learn that once. My Dr at the time said most people do this at least once, don't believe they need them, feeling better. If you do stop you will learn your lesson but the hard way. Please take this advise and stay on your meds. I hope we are proof enough. Good luck for good choices. Be safe.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Yep, you're BP. Hey, if you want to, it's obviously your choice. But, listen to "old timers" here - it's not a smart choice. But, as I've said before, some need to learn by their mistakes rather than listen to others who have been there.
Oh and I hate putting chemicals in my body too - but i'd rather be sane and live.
deleted_user
deleted_user
But I don't trust my pdoc at all. I think he is way past his due date. He backpedals nearly everything he says.

I feel I am less severe than other bipolar people simply because I don't become manic and I've only been hypomanic once. Depression is a serious concern of mine but maybe I can just go on antidepressants when I become depressed.
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