Stopping my meds

[rogelio63]

I've decided to stop my meds.  My regimen had gone down to lithium 600mg daily and Zoloft 50mg daily.  I want off it all.  I've been taking 300mg of the lithium for a couple of weeks and am totally off the Zoloft,,probably too quickly.  Has anyone any ideas or experiences they want to share?  I seem to be doing okay.  I haven't told anyone about the adjustment.  I do notice that I'm second guessing everything I'm doing now.  Almost micro-assessing everything.  I've thought that my diagnosis was wrong for a while. I guess I'll find out.

[CRSeaside]

We love you here. Stay connected. I experimented like you are now & for me it was great.... Then later worse than ever before. So be careful that's all.
Pay close attention to your moods actions & interactions with work colleagues & your family & friends. Ok?  Ok!  Your friend. Maxy

[rogelio63]

Thanks for your help everyone.  I sooo wanted to be normal and everything just a big mistake.  And by normal, I just mean being able to live without meds.  I haven't been to my doc in a long time.  I haven't been to my therapist in years.  I haven't been to a support group in a couple of years.  I guess I was trying to distance myself and say, " See Rogelio, you're fine."  I

[Crystal413]

I'm sorry things did not work out the way you wanted them to. I have to wonder if you had decreased your meds with your pdoc's help if you would have had the same result. Some meds take a long time to ween off of and your less likely to get side effects and behavior changes when you do it the right way. I hope your feeling better soon.

[rogelio63]

I decided to start taking my meds again.  I was hoping that I would start weaning myself off and prove to myself that I didn't need them.  I hadn't told anyone that I was doing this but a few people noticed I was different, seemed angrier.  I noticed my mind racing. etc,,, So I told my wife today that I had been doing this and she said she noticed that I was different.  I guess I am bipolar.  I was hoping I wasn't.

[breakdance202]

Four years ago I weaned myself off lamictal because I felt better, and the medication was making me flat feeling. Afterwards (did it in a month. Got a pill cutter and weaned that way. This was before there was generic, so the pills were diamond shaped) I told my doctor and she was not happy. First word out of her mouth was why? So...talk to doc or not, but he or she may not be happy. Good luck! (oh, and I'm back on lamictal now. Even higher dose than before. ;o) sigh)

[weaver71]

Hey buddy, I don't have an opinion about taking or stopping meds. When I stopped my meds, I waited for my doctor to say I am doing well and that I should keep doing what I am doing, then I told her I quit taking them. It took about 2 months. Anyway, I was doing a clinical trial on myself, using my therapist as my objective observer and my wife as my personal observer. I told my wife after month, because I didn't want her to worry, but I did want accountability. I think it's important for bipolar, especially going off meds, to have people who know and are willing to be honest and/or help. I am not interested in telling you what kind of treatment to do, but I do encourage you to have accountability and support, whatever that choice. Just my opinion from my experience. I wish I had more support, after I detoxed opiates, well, live and learn. I tend to do everything the hard way, so I never recommend doing what I do, but having support, I believe is a universal, bipolar or not, but especially for bipolar.

[CRSeaside]

Rogelio. I know you are married and have a good job.   IMO switching meds then weaning down is a good alternative.
  Also I found Zyprexa ( we call it ZyFATsa )  it's a fast acting drug. I keep it for emergencies.  Try not ever staying on too long. I gained mucho weight & with the same food as before the drug. I think it messes with metabolism.
  I can't tolerate lithium. I get severe leg cramps. Was on Seaquell at night for 4+ yrs.  it does kick you into outer space though.
     I can't take Lamotrigene either. Instead of Depakote ( which I gained on ) I used another substitute. Forget name now.
      I'm currently off all antidepressants. If interested in my new meds check out my MedHelp journal. Open to friends only. Maxy

[CRSeaside]

I agree Mr Ginger. It's funny. I go thru psychotic breaks with or with out meds.
   Even though I was probably chemically imbalanced all my life, I didn't start meds till my mid 40's.
     For me the most risky is suicide. Then everyone has to step in, and I want to be alone to dream up bad things.
      No one understands a bipolar like a bipolar. That's why this forum & our little clan are so important.

[MrGinger]

Not to be the bearer of bad news so pls just take this as a caution, I stopped depakote and seraquill without the aid of a dr and it set me off into a nasty manic then mixed state. You have to do so with the help of a dr. This was a horrible experience and while now yrs later I can say I'm glad I did it .... I say so simply because the experience made me seek better help. My current status is one without daily medication and it is really nice .... However I'm under the supervision of my dr and therapist ... I also have an emergency supply of fast acting medication.... Saphris that I can use if my sleep starts to get away from me or if I begin to show any symptoms.
I know meds can make you feel like an emotionless drone and make you long to feel feelings again. They make you feel slow and don't allow you to function as quickly as you'd like, but just simply be sure to be safe in your decision to get off of them .... There are plenty of drs out there and you are not stuck with the one you see currently. From experience though even if you think you are stepping down at a rate you can handle, these are some serious meds and stopping too quickly can be just as harmfull and even more harmful than starting too quickly. On a side note my typing is not the best as I'm using an iPad so my apologies ...be safe let a dr know you want off meds and have them assist you

[Bubulous]

Yes, as Crystal said it would be a good idea to let your dr know although he/she may not fully support the idea.  Stopping any med is dangerous as I am sure you know but stopping the two meds that you are planning to stop can be extra dangerous.  For one if you stop the Lithium then realize it was a mistake it will take a while for that medicine to get back up to a therapeutic level again.  Stopping the Zoloft in itself can cause mania or serious depression to become onset.
I am sorry that you are experiencing weight gain because of the meds and there are likely some other side effects that you do not care for.  If I gained 30 pounds on a medicine I would be likely to stop taking it as well but as time has taught me sometimes it is better to change the time you take the meds first like taking them at night if you take them in the morning or vice versa.
Either way please let us know how you are doing as you go through this.  Crystal also said that she is doing it very slowly and that is the best way to do it.  When I stop taking Zoloft it usually takes me a month to taper off so that I do not become manic.
Good luck, hope to hear from you soon.

[Crystal413]

I think it would be a good idea to let someone know what your planning. I do think your pdoc should know too.

I am in the weening off process myself but doing it very slowly.

Good luck to you and stay safe.

[CRSeaside]

I think we all feel that way during treatment.
  I had a wonderful 3 months off meds. Then bam. I fell apart.
  So after hospital I'm back on meds. Some new stuff this time. Reason I went off pretty much same. Didn't fully agree w diagnosis. Thought the pills weren't helping anyway. How's your sleep Rogelio?  That's an important aspect in keeping us healthy. Good to have news from you. Maxy
   I did have some " out of body " experiences when I first went off.

[rogelio63]

I've put on about 30lbs, and I really question as to whether I really need them.  I think my Psych NP is way too free with her prescription pad.  At one time, I was on more meds than anyone I know,,including the people I know here on medhelp.

[Bubulous]

Why are you wanting to stop the meds?