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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stopping meds suddenly.

garybecca
garybecca
asking two questions.firstly stopping meds.i always stop my meds. i take lithium celaxa serquel and lamical.sometimes when the depressions go on forever i stop them.sometimes it sends me high somtimes not.when i start going high if am still taking them i stop them.prolongs the high.when am feeling well not often i sometimes stop taking them.i HATE TAKING THEM.secondly does any body feel better certains of the day.for me always seems to be lat evening.
deleted_user
deleted_user
yeah, night time is my best. i feel somehow secure in the cloak of night.

stopping & starting like that is not good. please be careful. we really do need them for balance.

have you told your doc when you're feeling too low for too long?

mb
deleted_user
deleted_user
It's very dangerous just stopping meds. It can cause seizures. I hate taking my meds too, but I'm responsible for 4 children and they need a functioning mother to take care of them.
deleted_user
deleted_user
ending medication abrubtly can cause severe consequences; please don't do this. Remember that being bipolar mean, by definition, the ups and downs of our moods that are about the normal ranges of most other people. Later in the evening you may feel better because the medications are in your blood and are making sense to your body. Hang in there, friend. --Trish (RaysLadyT)
deleted_user
deleted_user
not sure if the first one is a question (?) or just a statement, but all i can say to that is, i hope i never forget how incredibly awful it has been when i've stopped taking meds (for the same reasons as you, either i think they're not working, or that i'm ok, and therefore don't need them).

there's never been a time that stopping has been beneficial. hopefully i've learned my lesson: meds for life, whether i like it or not.

as to the second question... i feel consistently crappy. doesn't matter time of day.

p.s. - TAKE YOUR MEDS!
deleted_user
deleted_user
Not a good plan.
My mum stops her meds and goes manic within days.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Everything I've read suggest that you talk to your pdoc about a med adjustment if the depression gets bad. Stopping meds is NOT good, and could be doing more damage than good.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Wow -- I work in the field, preach compliance, know better, and up until a few months ago, (maybe 5) was quite a bit like you -- not good and not healthy. It actually took another bipolar site and the support I received on it to get me to start taking my meds regularly. Honestly.

What I figured out is that I was messing with my meds because I simply couldn't accept that I had a chronic illness that required lifelong medication and care. Once I did, I am able to take the meds.

Not only is it majorly risky to abruptly stop them, it's equally dangerous to just restart them at full dosage!

For me, I've always been a night person.. don't know how much that has to do with bipolar. Just some people are morning people and others are nighthawks.
freeheeler
freeheeler
Gary, please be careful. My last depressive episode was so frightening that I barely survived it. I don't think that I'd live very long without my meds. No, I know I wouldn't. I'm not going to be broke and homeless, I'm not going to be a crazy guy on the street. The drugs keep me employed and sane. Stopping them quickly in the past has done way too much damage.

Have you talked to your doc about trying another mix of drugs?