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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I quit my meds

mistyeyr
mistyeyr
I had been on Lexapro, Risperdal, and Vistaril for a while now. I felt as if the meds were making me worse instead of better. I had never been Baker Acted before, but last month I had to be. It was terrible. And Just a few weeks ago, I almost had to go back. I decided on my own that it was best that I stop these meds. I researched all the withdrawal symptoms and the risks in stopping my medication. I saw the benefit to me outweighed the risks. And so far, I have been doing excellent! My mood has improved, my sex drive has came back..and in general I feel great. My husband and I are even trying for a second baby. I just feel like im on cloud nine. And i've been this way for a week or two now with no low moods. I feel as if this was the best thing I could have done for myself. Just thought I would share this with everyone. I really havent felt this good in about a year, and im hoping this will last forever!
nobody666
nobody666
unfortunatly mania usually does not I'm really sorry =(
Shelly4
Shelly4
Misty, I am glad you have a "positive" attitude about your mental health but hope that you dont delude yourself about this disorder. I am a bit confused after reading your journals. You say that you have been on those meds for a while now. You and I see "a while" differently. It seems you could only have been on them for a few months. That isnt a very long time to evaluate them and decide that meds are not for you.

I wish you the best and I hope that you can continue your stability. Please do not attempt this without therapy especially if you are not going to take meds. It wasnt that long ago that your marriage was strained and just a few short months later you are thinking of having another baby.

Please think clearly about all of this before you make such important decisions in your life. xo
starfish
starfish
give it all some time....... (((( huggles ))))
daninflorida
daninflorida
My best friend goes off his meds once in a while. His meds are on his kitchen table. He's in jail 550 miles from home. This isn't the first time he's done this. I hope it works out better for you.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I do think you should consult your Pdoc for getting off meds, I heard of many people who felt great for a while after they quit their then they crashed.

I wish it goes well with you,

ScubaBeeper
deleted_user
deleted_user
This has trouble written all over it.
gmason
gmason
I always feel great when I have quit my medication. I think it is a sense of control that creates a false sense of wellness and happiness. It all comes back, and the time frame is different for individuals. For me I usually feel great for about a month, then crash, then start cycling again.
deleted_user
deleted_user
It won't last forever... Coming off of meds sometimes brings on euphoria and mania.... We'll see you here with a different story real soon....
Cammiecat
Cammiecat
I'm glad you're feeling good right now. But I urge you to talk to your pdoc about this so that you don't have a huge crash later on. You said that you had been taking visteril. I know that when I was on that medication all it did was to make me tired and dragged out. Maybe there would be a better anxiety medication for you to take? Again, ask your pdoc.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I am glad that you are feeling well, what did your doctor say about your decision. Please listen to what the others have said. It is best to be able to remain stable for years, once you start having ups and downs and reoccurring episodes that is not a good thing for you and chances are you will be a bit worse with each reoccurring episode. I have seen others who are no longer able to function as they did before. Don't want to scare you, there are many medications that perhaps may work for you better than what you had been taking. Take Care of yourself.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Please read all these posts carefully, becuase they all say the same thing. So does mine. I went off my meds and felt great until it all crashec and I had to be hospitalized. And the crash doesn't happen all that gradual. Please be careful and best wishes.
deleted_user
deleted_user
this is unsettling. please talk to your pdoc
deleted_user
deleted_user
I understand how easy it is to get discouraged about medication. I have been on pretty literally everything and had some horrendous side effects. I was hospitalized once for Tegretol toxicity and told I was in real danger of dying. My hair thinned on Depakote (thank God it came back), got toxic on Lithium, and went to the ER once because I got that sick from Seroquel. Also experienced weight gain, termors, the list goes on :(

Having said all that, for me giving up on medication just wasn't an option. I just couldn't put myself or my family through that again. I will never be really stable and my meds have to be adjusted fairly frequently. Best meds for me have been Lamictal, Abilify, Celexa and Xanax. Unfortunately I had to stop the Abilify due to tremors.

For me, medication is worth the work it takes to find and maintain the right combo. When I look back at some of the things I did unmedicated I feel horrible. Being unmedicated has caused a lot of heartache. Not just for me but for others. My best advice is to hang in there, work with your doctor and try to find the med regime that works best for you.

Just a suggestion, you might ask your doctor if he could replace the Risperdal with Abilify. To my mind, it is the cleanest anti-psychotic out there.