Okay, my advice is, before you do that, talk to some people who know you personally, and ask them what you were like before you started taking meds, that perspective could help.

lost..you know my story.

I was Taken off all meds cold turkey.The only reason I wasn't hospitalised ,was because my BF took a FLA,and stayed with me 24/7..Pdoc approved.

I still ended up in ER a couple of times,siezures mostly.It was HELL,and it took several months before I was "clear"

Pdoc and I considered ECT...I was so afraid.But nothing was breaking the depression.

Finally we went with Depakote(low doses) and no Anti-D's.

I've been holding on ok for about a year and a half so far.

Hang in there sweetie,something will work.Please GOD,let something work for my friend!

Are you under your doctor's supervision? I wouldn't do it unless you are. I don't know, I've just gone on and off meds so many times, mostly off, and it has not been a good time. So I'm all for staying on meds now, or if you go off, finding the right one's that work for you and staying on them. I hate to be redundant but I wish I had known....

I was taken off of mine last Friday cold turkey because of my liver function. I just heard today that I am not to take any meds for at least a couple of weeks. It scares the hell out of me.

I am already not sleeping well. Some of it may be situational, but it's not pretty.

That said, I often felt/feel like you do. When meds don't work it is tempting to try it without. But make sure you've talking with all of the people around you, and let them know what you're doing if you choose to do it.

I was only on lamictal 100 mg. I decided on my own to stop taking it. I just was tired of not being able to think clearly and I was really worried that it would cause me to flunk one of my really important exams. I am in engineering so have have to be able to figure stuff out and not just memorize stuff. So I just stopped my medicine. I have been doing ok. I was mostly hyper manic for the first 2 weeks so I was feeling great and getting lots done. It was too bad of manic b/c no one really noticed they just said that I seemed happier which I was but... Now it has been 4 weeks and I am having my first signs of depression. It is not too bad but I still feel blah. The thing is when I started my med it was b/c of the depression and anti depressants made me really manic. During that time I was going through a really rough relationship with my boyfriend which caused a lot of anxiety and depression but now that that relaitonship is over I figured I'd see first hand how much of depression was my situation and how much was my bi-polar. Well I think i'm going to start back on my lamicatal but only 50 mg a day and see if it balances me out at all with out the bad side effects. Btw my doctor high disapproved of just stopping the med but I did it on my own. I'd use caution cause the outcome could be really bad. I was lucky.

I have not taken meds except for trying to restart them twice in a long time.I did continue on with ambien and an occasional klonopin.I am now weaning myself off those as well and will be MED FREE !!!! I am taking melatonin for sleep and am looking into herbal remedies for anxiety when needed .I have been in a mostly "remissive" state for awhile now but I do realize that that could change at ANY time and I have a wonderful support structure in place to help me keep on top of my symptoms.I know I will have to be medicated again that is the way this works ....in cycles. But anytime I can spend productive and med free is good for my body in my eyes.The meds we take are so toxic.WEAN OFF SLOWLY though do not want any trouble there. I also think you have to have someone else who is around you ALOT who can gauge how they think things are going as well this person will see things you may not .

Yes, I have.Results..siezers..depression..hypo-mania.. insomnia..hospitalizations.
Turned down e.c.t.'s.

I am still trying to go med free myself. It is possible for some..me.You may find it is possible if you are true to yourself and go very slow..I did not at first and the multiple withdrawls were..unbearable. with 'discontinuation syndrome'.(withdrawls)

The 'tortus' not the heir, will win every time in this dangerous attempt.

I did it but in the hospital. Still had terrible withdrawals that lasted almost a year, but was the best thing I ever did as you said I started all over again and need lots less meds. Message me if you want S.

every time i stop cold turkey, it always ends up in problems. not to mention having to relive the start up side effects when you start taking them again.

Ive been med free since 1999. I always struggled with remembering to take them so one day I said screw it and stopped. I cant remember what I was taking at the time but I had no issues coming off of it.

My parents always think the way to deal with my manic phases is to start taking meds again, but why cant I funtion normally without chemicals? I do very well without them thank you! My way of dealing with my issues now is communication. I have a great support team, husband, best friend, my mom and of course my Myspace blog! If I cant say it, I type it. I work through my thoughts and feelings and it works! I always know when I will go through my manic phase so I know its coming. I go on high alert and remain very sensitive to my feelings and thoughts throughout them!

Keep talking, keep a journal...if you notice any changes at all then write it down! Becareful though and be honest with yourself. If you feel like you cant handle it without any meds at all seek some kind of help, cause its easy to lose track of reality and not truly notice the problems that could be starting!

Best of luck!

The only meds I have tapered off from are adivan and ambien. I wouldn't taper off from the adderall or lamictal without a doctor's assistance. I am too afaird of withdrawl.

I did this early on in my diagnosis (as most of us probably have during our first hospitalization). I had the assistance of nurses and doctors to help. I did finally get the right combination of drugs but it did not occur quickly. I started the tapering of meds, starting, switching etc. as an inpatient. It took a couple of years before 'my hero - my pdoc" managed to get the medications and dosages correct. I don't advise doing it without medical supervision. I had terrible anxiety/panic attacks and psychotic episodes. I have been stable now for years and love life. Best of luck to you lost.

i have thought about it but never tried.. i hope you find your way to what works for you somehow .. i will be thinking of you my sweet friend.. ((((hugs))))