"I have heard positive testimonies from people who have gone off their meds under the supervision of trained medical doctors and have converted to more natural solutions with much success. "

Possibly you have heard that from websites where "natural solutions" are being sold?

I've been here for over 10 years. I've heard the stories of possibly a thousand members with bipolar. I've known 2, maybe 3, who weren't on meds and were reasonably stable. I've known hundreds who went off their meds to varying levels of disaster.

It's a bad idea.

I agree with fish, going off meds nearly killed me(or I should say I almost killed myself). I know different meds act differently in different people. However, I just started taking Rexulti, an antipsychotic, and I am amazed at how good I feel. You may want to ask your Dr. about it and see what they think.

Hello Dlentz. Welcome to DS. Sorry for what brings you here, but glad you are here.

My psycho weirds have proven med resistant, as well. Some have worked for short periods, but . . . Sigh . . . What's a nutjob to do? I'd medicate if I could, but the never ending med shuffle gets to feeling pointless.

My peer support network is my most valuable tool for managing my symptoms without meds. When my symptoms are active, there always seems to be somebody in my peer support network with the reminder, suggestion and/or support I need to get me through. At worst, it helps to feel less alone with ^it^.

Welcome to the group! I'm very sorry to hear about your struggle to find the right meds. Most of us have gone through the same thing, and it's not unusual for it to take years to find a combination that works well.

Like Fish, I've been on DS for over ten years, and I agree that it is very rare for bipolar individuals to find stability just through natural remedies. As a fellow rapid cycler, I've found that only meds can truly stop the roller coaster. Natural remedies (exercise, healthy eating, good sleep routine, strong support system, vitamins/supplements) definitely play a role in good mental health, but I'm afraid that you may find they're not enough.

I'd encourage you to speak with your doctor about changing up your meds if they aren't helping you. Since you're prone to rapid cycling, I'm surprised to see that in addition to Lamictal, you're on two antidepressants (which can often cause rapid cycling) and a stimulant.

If you do try the all-natural route, I wish you the best. We're here to support you, either way.

I'm BiPolar 29 years now. I don't know where one would go to find "positive testamonies" from people who go off their meds, but I would pretty much bet the farm, it's not a website or medical journal article ran or written by an actual accreditied or licensed Psychiatrist. BiPolar Disorder is a Disease, a Mental Disease of the Brain that requires medication to manage it. There is no cure, only treatment...

BiPolars tend to go off meds for 1 of 2 reasons....

We think we can "successfully" go off meds when the meds are actually working, thus we think we don't need them, so we stop using them, in a nasty cycle of self-sabotage. This is usually done by newer diganosed folks, until they come to terms with their diagnosis and the totality of it.

or...

we get frustrated because we can't find meds that work for long term stability...and we give up or start to think the "the myths out there" are really true.

You've been doing this a long time, do you remember what it was like before you started treatment? Before you went to a Pdoc? You weren't on meds then but it was bad enough that you went and sought help. So, logically, take where you are now, take all the meds away....do you think you'll be better?

I'm curious why as a Rapid Cycling BiPolar a Licensed Psychiatrist would put you on Adderal as well as a "Mood Stabilizer & double Anti-Depressant combo", as that combo will be hard enough to balance for rapid cyclers, without Amphetamines on board to jack you up.

Amphetamine based Stimulants like Adderal rarely do much good when your rapid cycling and trying to get on an even keel. You've got medications that are battling each other, and probably not doing that great a job at actually doing what they should to help you be stable.

This isn't a disease that can always be treated to the level that people want or expect, and it can be frustrating as hell. Personally I think your cocktail should be evaluated and if you've had the same Pdoc for a long time and they don't want to change things then I'd get a different opinion.

The only realistic reasons to go off meds, under a Licensed Pdoc's care, would be to to let your brain re-set, get a new baseline and start a new, hopefully more productive, cocktail.

But, that is an undertaking in and of itself, and by far not an easy thing to do...and the intent would be to clear a path for new more productive medications, not stop them completely.

Take care.

I share your feelings about the frustration of going through years and years of taking meds with little to no positive effects. I believe that my meds do not much more than "keep me alive." Over the last 20 years I have been on so many different meds to manage my bipolar 2, and have had very LITTLE success with any of them. I would very much like to get off of my meds and try a more natural regimen to manage my debilitating symptoms. The viewpoints and advice in this thread tend to lean towards that way of thinking as being a "bad idea." An effective course of treatment varies from individual to individual, and if you have a safe and medically assisted way of weaning yourself off of your meds I would encourage you to do research, maybe consult with multiple doctors, both traditional and naturopaths, to determine what course of action might work best for you. I do not have the financial resources to embark on such a alternative solution myself, but if I did, I would not hesitate to seek out alternative treatment methods because of my vast experience with the ineffectiveness of psychiatric medications. If you do decide to explore other treatment options please keep us informed of your progress or experiences in doing so. I, for one, am VERY interested as to what exists out there beyond pharmacological treatment options for those of us suffering so GREATLY from bipolar disorder. I sincerely hope that you find some relief in the not too distant future.

I’m treatment resistant in that the meds alone don’t work very effectively for me either. I have found that TMS treatments work well to supplement my med cocktail. TMS is short for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation therapy. I encourage you to look it up and inquire with your doctor if this might be an alternative for you. I totally understand your frustration and can relate all too well. I also go to a therapist in addition for CBT. Hope this helps. All the best.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/transcranial-magnetic-stimulation/about/pac-20384625

Don't go off your meds. Keep trying to find the Right Doctor. I think we all experience going on and off different meds all the time. No meds are perfect or a cure of a Magic Pill, rather than thinking what meds works best with the least amount of side effects that we can tolerate. They all have side effects. I stumbled on to a combination that is working right now, but who is to say that it will always work, I think not. The only thing I am having a bit of trouble with right now is the generic pill they gave me. It does not work the same as the other generic, but I am dealing with it.

Welcome to the board Deintz……. I don't know of many people that can be off of bipolar meds once diagnosed

I've known of about 3 people on here over the years that took supplements and now at least 2 of the 3 are back on medication

There is a lot of 'physical' with the brain that needs to be controlled as best as possible with our illness

Natural doesn't mean it's safe by any means.... Heroin is natural

I agree that finding coping skills and tools to support medication is usually the best thing for all of us

What is the adderral for if you don't mind me asking?

This is a good board.... I'm glad that you've found us..... Big hug....xo