I think it's better not to quit meds but to find the right ones. That takes time and persistence. I have my own prejudices about seroquel. I've never used seroquel but have friends who have used it and I don't consider seroquel fit for human consumption.

i have tried many different mixes of meds and have been through ect treatments and side effects it sucks and i agree 100 percent on the seroquel bu my insomnia is so bad it is the only thing that helps me sleep and thanks for the reply it does take time so much time

I too kicked seroquel to the curb (weight gain to mention just one major side effect) I am currently taking melatonin for sleep 4mgs at twilight and it seems to be helping and i have been a lifetime insomniac. xanax also helps on the nights when it is very difficult to sleep - it always gives me a few hours and i wake up nice and relaxed after it. i wake up feeling like i never slept if i take klonopin or valium of even a sleeping tablet. benadryl or phenergan are both good if you fall asleep within a certain window after taking them. I would not recommend going off meds. I know personally the couple of times i did I ended up in intensive care after suicide failures. as tommy said it can be a matter of just finding the right med which might happen soon if you have already tried a wide variety. I am currently on prozac, geodon and xanax as needed and this combination along with 4000 vitamin d3 seems to be working very well. I have also started taking spirulina which is good for giving energy. let us know how you get on. hugs.

Stopping meds without dr for anyone bp is a risk, I've done it and not a good fit for living life. I'm on lamictial, 200mg Zoloft,100mg bp 1, last depressive episode landed me in hospital for 11 days...melatonin is a good substitute, as sleepy time tea, and chamomile teas...and prayer/deep breathing counting breaths to keep my head quiet. Take care, ML

I find counting helps keep my head quiet too!

Thank you all for your feedback i appriciate it very much and i will talk to my pyciatrist about the seroaquel because since i been on it i managed to gain 50 pounds depite excersise and diets that part really sucks

Let's see. I took lamictal for a year or two with no side effects. Burst thought I was in too many meds so he weaned me off. I was givin vistiril in the hospital for anxiety but it did nothing for me. I take celexa currently and haven't had any side effects. Seroquel I took for a year until I flat out told my Pdoc I wouldn't take it anymore. It took away my appetite and I was too thin. But everyone reacts differently to medications. If the side effects are that awful, talk to your prescribing dr and see what can be done

i have tried so many meds im up to a point when i want to just stop it all i have side effects and meds to stop those side effects and so on im at my wits end my friends tell me to try marijuana i did a couple years back and i dont not like the high feeling like im not in control and the paronia i couldnt handle i said never again im justup to a point where i feel like its just never gona get better and im just angry for being sad and sad for being angry im just so over life today ima take my seroquel and pray tomorrows better.thank you tho air hugs ***

I'm seeing my Psych on Wednesday and want to ask her about a vitamin made by Swanson that is vegetable based. It's called Lithium Orotate. I found out about it from a friend who swears about it. I will let you know what I find out. I am unable to find a bi-polar medication that doesn't either cause me side affects or severe zombie like feelings the next day. Hugs

Hi and welcome bip.... I think with medical marijuana it can be quite different... It can be given several different ways and it's not the same as smoking 'street' pot
I would work with your psychiatrist... They want to help you to be stable but also feel as good as you can... I've gained weight on Seroquel as well and have been thinking about talking to my shrink about going off of it...sigh....x

Unfortunately if you give up all your meds and you have BiPolar, you won't be able to help your family at all, because you can't manage this Disease without medication....and it's not a possibility that it will tear your family apart...it will tear your family apart. I'd think long and hard before you decide to give up on yourself and your family by quitting meds.

Get to brass tacks with your Pdoc and make them understand how this is affecting your life, and find out what you can change. And if there are meds you can stop, you always taper off of them, never quit psych meds cold turkey because they will have a negative effect on you and every other psych med you take.

thanks to all and @suncloudjd my therapist claims marijuana causes cancer not that i would of wanted it anyways and @gramybear i would love to hearr about your results hugs*@oldercper ive heard mixed thigs about going off meds while bipolar some say its he government tryin to control usand others say we need it...... sometimes it gets to be confusing people pulling your thoughts over there and over here idk but personal expirence says i need it hugs to all and thanks for your feedback i really appriciate you guys

LOL...hon if other BP'ers are telling you the needing meds is the Government trying to control us...that's there paranoia coming up. I've been BP for 27 years now, I've never been able to be stable without meds, I know and counsel and have counseled hundreds to thousands of BP'ers over the years, through my career and Support Boards and the only way you reach Stability is Medication. BiPolar is a chemical imbalance in the brain, it takes other chemicals in the form of medications to balance things out so your brain can work the way its supposed to.

Good luck!

I am on Seroqual, too, and lamictal, celexa, remeron, Ativan and neurontin. I am seeing a new dr now. I have an appointment with her soon. I am going To talk to her about condensing stuff. I am on way too much crap.