I have stopped taking my medications

Hi Molly,

Welcome to the healingwell Bipolar Forum. I was diagnosed with bipolar 4 years ago. I remember feeling the same way you did. All the new meds had me feeling really discombobulated. I too thought that maybe if I stopped all the meds, things would go back to normal for me. I was WRONG! It only made matters worse for me in the long run and I almost landed right back into the hospital.

Now after trial and error of playing with my meds on my own I know better. Leave the medication adjustments to our pdoc! If you're feeling drunk and stupid, you need to tell this to your pdoc. He/she can adjust your meds properly.

Be open and honest with your pdoc about exactly how the meds make you feel. This is part of the process of your relationship with your pdoc. He/she will be adjusting the dosage/trying new meds to find the one that best suits YOU.

I hope you take my advise to heart, from someone who has learned the hard way.

Wishing you wellness.

Molly, I am going to be the voice of motherly reason here....Under no circumstances should you be stopping your meds on your own - it is dangerous to you on SO many levels. A doctor will properly ween you off, change things, work with you...so that you are not at risk.

I am a mother to a BP, and it is critical you develop a good relationship with a pdoc you allow to get to see and know how meds work with your body. Going it without meds is simply a disaster waiting to happen to you. PLEASE...follow Sukay's advise and contact the pdoc immediately and let them work with you closer. Tell them EVERYTHING...hold nothing back. I know it is hard, scary and frustrating....but....if you hang in there and work with the pdoc....you WILL find the right meds and balance...and you will gain some control over your life again. Without them helping you, you will just land yourself in a worse place....learning a HARD lesson others here have already learned.

It took us almost a full year to get the right blend of medication for our son. Since then, we see the pdoc every 6-12 weeks, adjusting here, adjusting there...as needed. We HAD to learn to be patient during this time. We learned to have faith that it would all balance out like it has for so many others. It can and will for you too if you commit to sticking with it and you are working with a really good, caring pdoc who KNOWS their stuff.

My thoughts and good wishes are with you. LFW

Hi Molly,

I got really tired from bp meds too.  The side effects were all too much for me, so I went off all my meds too--first talking with my pdoc before I did so.  I really felt great for awhile, but then the symptoms came back and then my episodes were more severe and longer.  Eventually I had to do something.  I remembered Lamictal was the only one that didn't make me feel like a zombie, so that's what I'm taking now.  I would probably benefit from another stabilizer to add with that mix, but I am trying to make things manageable with just the Lamictal.

My advice to you is 1) Tell your doc everything 2) If your doc supports you trying to not be on the meds, make sure you are seeking counselling or cognitive therapy to help you cope with your symptoms.

Hope you feel better soon, and welcome to HW.