What would happen if I stop my medication?!


Question: What would happen if I stop my medication?
So I recently went into my psychiatrist and he flat out said that he thinks I'm only in there for an excuse to go on disability. I wish I knew that, I'd just stop being depressed and having manic episodes because my bipolar.

Needless to say I am no longer going to see him if he says that, obviously he doesn't think I can get better so I don't believe he has my best interest or health in mind.

So now, I'm on 400 mg of Lamictal, I'm going to stop it. If he says I'm faking it, I'm going to just say screw it and I'm done. What's going to happen to me?

Answers:

Cold turkeying off lamictal can cause seizures and other bad stuff even in healthy people. for your own sake if you have been on it for awhile, cut back to 75% for a month, then 50% for a month, then 25% a month, then off it. Some people tell you to go off the drugs only 10% a month, but I have usually done it faster, since I am never stable.

A small number of docs have this kind of attitude - one doc said it was impossible for someone who had been in graduate school to ever become disabled by bipolar. well, it turns out that guy has a horrible reputation in the area I moved into, but I didn't know it. i have been completely paranoid ever since because I am on disability. A psychiatrist I had later said that some people go into psychiatry so they can sit on the non-crazy side of the desk, so quit worrying about it (which I have not, and it is years later). I remember reading an essay by an MD who got severe depression, and she was accused of malingering, and years later, she is still beating herself up, thinking she should have just tried harder.

It turns out that lamictal may never have been effective for bipolar - the drug companies suppressed the many studies that showed it didn't work, and published the few studies that showed it was effective. But you still can't cold turkey off it.

Get a different psychiatrist, or go see a therapist instead. i have nothing good to say about meds - I tried 25 meds over 15 years and ect too, and nothing helped and most made me worse off. I quit meds a year ago, and have improved somewhat.



My doctor booked me off sick for depression and alcoholism. I was getting better but the Medical Examiner found me 100% healthy. I decided to stop taking Prozac because even though it calms me down and reduces craving for drink and drugs, I wont be able to work efficiently on medication, it is difficult enough without it.



You're going to go back to the way you were before without medication. Or maybe worse. Or maybe he's right and nothing will happen. It all depends. But consult a doctor before you decide to stop.



It's ok if you don't like what your psychiatrist says, they are not always right. I agree actually with your finding that this is not the person for you. I talked to a couple of them in my lifetime, and to tell you the truth, I am truly not impressed. Personally, if you can go to an MSW for the counseling and set up through them to meet with a psychiatrist (a different one) who simply prescribes the medication as agreed to by your MSW, I think you might have better luck. The reason for this is that Psychiatrists are trained as medical doctors and then get a short education in psychology, but not much. On the other hand, an MSW has six years of learning how to counsel and help people, and leaves the medications up to the doctor, with her input. A psychiatrist is mostly well versed in the body and how medications work. An MSW will be more likely to not only see what your challenges and possible diagnosis is, but she will also help you with figuring out how to get better. She will more so listen and understand you, when I find that the Psychiatrists more less judge you, and drug you. Not my cup of tea, and drugs are only helpful in combination with a good therapist in my opinion. You need to be working on yourself to figure out what makes you you and how to change the things that you don't like about yourself and your life, so possibly you won't need the medication at some point in your future. If you do find that you still need it that is fine, but at least you will be gaining more understanding of yourself in the process, something that is comforting.

Perhaps what your Psychiatrist is saying though, you can take as a complement, since he is seeing you somehow as a pretty healthy and normal person. Perhaps the medication is doing it's job, I don't know why he would say that to you. Doesn't seem very understanding to me, and you are the only one who really knows your state of mind, so don't be fooled, you are the expert of you. Your medical personal are people that are paid to help you find a healthier path and to "help" you figure out where you are and who you are.

The best sign of a good match is that you feel that your doctor patient relationship is a good fit. If it doesn't feel right, then it is best to look for someone who does feel right. Don't feel that because he is a doctor, he was right about what he said. Just understand that for some reason, he was not the right one for you, and move on to the person who will understand you and your needs, and help you to get better. If you need disability to get better, so be it.

If you are depressed, you are depressed. If you have manic episodes, perhaps you can find a way to get control over your life so you are happy with your life overall. In the meantime, you need someone who is understanding, not judgmental. Don't be afraid to shove off and move on. Doctors can be wrong, and we all know that they often are. So you are the consumer paying for the product, find someone who works for their money, and gives you what you need, and not what you don't.

About your Lamictal. I looked it up for you and it says that sudden withdrawal can cause seizures. Doctors tend to ween patients off their medication over weeks, slowly lowering the dosage. You can call him and tell him what you told us and see what he says, but don't hurt yourself because of what he said. He's not worth it. You are. At the very least you could call a primary care doctor, and tell him that your psychiatrist thinks you are faking it. What should you do about your medication and he will take it from there if you tell him that you are not planning to see your psychiatrist again. You could also make an appointment with any other medical or psychology professional. There is someone out there who you will be a good match with. Sometimes it takes 6 or 7 tries to find the right one, so don't feel like it is you.
Otherwise, I cannot tell you, since I don't know you, what will happen to you. But please try to find someone who you can talk to that might be able to help you answer that question. Persistence, persistence, persistence, is what I say with all mental and/or health issues. You need to be your own cheerleader sometimes, and your own guide. But finding the right mental health professional is worth it's weight in gold, so keep looking if you haven't found the right one. ;You are looking to find your own peace of mind and happiness and believe me, it is worth the looking, cause once you find the right person to help you along the ride, you are glad that you never stopped looking.

Best of luck honey. Believe in yourself to find what you need to find, and keep looking until you find it. it is worth the ride!



I totally understand you. I was diagnose with bipolar disorder, and been on tuns of medications. NEVER and I repeat NEVER get off your meds without your doctors permission. Especially with a severe manic- depressive condition. It is very important to be consistent with it if you want things to get better.You will go through a with draw and it's only going to make this way worse, especially if your taking Lamictal, it's dangerous if you quit it cold turkey.Mood- stabilizers are suppose to balance the chemicals in your brain that is causing the mood swings. Talk to your doctor and tell him/her exactly the way you feel if this medication isn't working for you try a different one that may work the best. I've been through this type of experience and I'm only 15 so please take this from me. And it's hard to go through this condition, because people who are not educated or experience just don't understand. Don't give up on this , take my advice.

Good Luck:)




The consumer health information on answer-health.com is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions.
The answer content post by the user, if contains the copyright content please contact us, we will immediately remove it.
Copyright © 2007-2011 answer-health.com -   Terms of Use -   Contact us

Health Categories