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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garybecca 07/13/2007

hi i suffer from bipolar 1 diagnosed at 15 now 31.i always stop and start my meds.sometimes go months med free.i am supposed to take lamical celaxa lithium and serquel the only that i take helps with sleep.ive seen my doc and ive made a descion about my meds doc does not agree.coming of the lithium hate this drug reduces my highs.and lamical also celxa dangerous taking an anti depressent by itself.people have been telling me for ages you need meds cant cope without them.BUT I DO better off them than on them.anybody else also med free.i hardly EVER take my meds and am still alive.only been i hospital couple of times.i party have a girlfriend i work.

deleted_user 07/13/2007

Stopping medication cold turkey can actually trigger a severe mania/manic episode a few months later. It is extremely dangerous to stop lithium without supervision from a doctor and the appropriate blood lithium level tests. If you feel that you no longer need meds then you should discuss this with your Dr and start a wind down program where you are slowly weaned of the drugs (dosage reduced over time).

dobiedots 07/13/2007

being "alive" and having a "life" are two different things. It's your choice, you don't have to take meds if you don't want.

deleted_user 07/13/2007

Well, maybe your bipolar is relatively mild or you are misdx. Those of us with severe bipolar, wouldn't successfully be able to do what your talking about -- I couldn't anyway.

Unwell 07/13/2007

you must have a mild form of bp...i wouldnt be able to go months without my meds...

deleted_user 07/13/2007

I have always been under the impression that BP means I will be on meds indefinitely. Every time I've gone off of something cold turkey, I've downspiraled into one of the most dangerous depressions I've been. One warning: DO NOT go off of the celexa cold turkey. It causes severe withdrawal symptoms that almost put me in the hospital.

deleted_user 07/13/2007

yeah i tried to kill myself, and i was psychotic when i decided it would be a good idea to stop mine cold turkey.

if u want to stop tell your doc thats your decision, they cant force u to take meds, and then the doc will help you off of them....stopping like that is really dangerous.

deleted_user 07/13/2007

I agree with Melasande in addition to what she mentioned you could also have seizures.

deleted_user 07/13/2007

Last time I stopped Meds I ended up Catatonic and Suicidal. Never again.

deleted_user 07/13/2007

Alive is alive. If you are really BP, every time you have a manic episode more of your brain gets fried. I, personally am not cool with that, but having said that, my BP is mild and I would refuse lithium. Anyway, I agree w/ MHA, you may have been misdxed.

deleted_user 07/13/2007

Get another opinion from a different dr. before you stop all the meds. You may still need something. Don't stop the ones that can cause seizures if you stop cold turkey. And be cautious, b/c sometimes when a person is BP stopping meds can send them reeling into either a severe manic or depressed episode. Good luck and I wish you the best!

deleted_user 07/13/2007

Oh, and stay in touch with your friends here - they are the ones who can help you get through it, too!

deleted_user 07/13/2007

Im bp II and cannot survive without my meds. Everything I ever tried Ive lived to regret it. No way would I ever try to do without.

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