• Xenforo forums over the past few months have been seeing spam posts from existing user accounts. Bots hitting forums using lists of emails/passwords leaked elsewhere. We strongly recommend that all users change their password ASAP.

Ideas & Opinions Is it ok for someone with bipolar to go off meds?

Is it ok for someone with bipolar to go off meds? See full text in the body of the original post.

  • Yes

    Votes: 1 7.1%

  • No

    Votes: 13 92.9%

  • Don't know/Not sure/Other

    Votes: 1 7.1%
  • Total voters
    14
may71

may71

mr. may
#1
#1
Is it ok for someone with bipolar, or major depressive disorder, and who has a history of suicide attempts and mental health hospitalizations to go off meds if their doctor does not advise it, and they have no other reasonable plan of treatment?

In other words, can someone just decide that they'll manage somehow without meds, and that will work out just fine without any serious consequences?
 
seabird

seabird

meandering home
SF Supporter
#4
#4
Definitely not safe. If you can, as soon as possible, help them to get back on their medicine. They might be okay for a short while, but the fact that they decided to go off indicates a situation already developing, at least that was my experience with a loved one who was bipolar.

hugs @may71
 
may71

may71

mr. may
#5
#5
What I've witnessed is that it's very common for someone who is bipolar to decide that they don't need meds anymore. It's also predictably disastrous.
seabird said:
the fact that they decided to go off indicates a situation already developing
Click to expand...
That's true. It's like the more they're convinced they're fine without meds, the more certain you can be that something is already very wrong.
 
Aurelia

Aurelia

🔥 A Fire Inside 🔥
SF Supporter
#8
#8
I don't think it's okay. You'd be taking a huge risk in doing so. Maybe under the supervision of a doctor it might be okay to taper or lower the dose, but I don't think it's a good idea to do this on a whim. Also, I tried this in the past and it didn't go very well.
 
Ash600

Ash600

Of dust and shadows
SF Creative
SF Supporter
#9
#9
It certainly is not safe particularly in the circumstances that you have described. Stopping suddenly like this can lead to serious consequences such as intense withdrawal symptoms and and return/or worseding of symptoms.
 
Angie

Angie

Admin
SF Author
SF Supporter
#10
#10
As a person with Bipolar Disorder, I know I can't just stop my medicines.

The trap is, when the medication is working, I feel good, and the longer I feel good, the more I think "I don't need these pills".

Then, a sudden stoppage is disaster, as @Ash600 mentions, you get withdrawal and the added bonus of worsening of symptoms.

@may71 often people stop medication because of undesirable side effects, it might be good to have a conversation about that. Different people react differently to each med and there are oodles of meds to try in most classes.
 
seabird

seabird

meandering home
SF Supporter
#11
#11
may71 said:
I'm sorry you had a similar experience with a loved one.
Click to expand...
Thanks. It was really sad, even though I loved him no matter what, my brother was scary, very difficult, and exquisite, sometimes all in the same day. He died a few years ago. I hope your friend can find a safe path forward.
 
may71

may71

mr. may
#14
#14
Angie said:
@may71 often people stop medication because of undesirable side effects, it might be good to have a conversation about that
Click to expand...
The issue is that her pharmacy is refusing to dispense her medication. She also seems to think that it's all going to be ok though.
 
G

Gard

Well-Known Member
#15
#15
may71 said:
The issue is that her pharmacy is refusing to dispense her medication. She also seems to think that it's all going to be ok though.
Click to expand...
In my country, many medications cannot be obtained without a prescription. In some other countries, no medications can be obtained without a prescription.

I believe she needs a prescription. If there is no prescription, then there is no doctor's supervision. If there is no doctor's supervision, then is there a disease? Sorry for my logic. I would be happy to be more helpful, but this is all I can do.

I marked 2 answers: No and Not sure.
 
may71

may71

mr. may
#16
#16
Gard said:
In my country, many medications cannot be obtained without a prescription
Click to expand...
She has a prescription and she's been getting her prescriptions for a while. She's in the UK, and apparently you can't just go to any pharmacy to get your prescriptions.

Her old pharmacy is 32 miles away, and she doesn't have a means to get there. The new pharmacy that is closer to where she lives is refusing to dispense any of her prescriptions on the grounds that she has overdose risk noted in her medical file. Her prescriptions are already reduced to 7 days at a time, and her doctor has contacted the pharmacy and asked them to dispense the prescription, but they are still refusing.
 
Butterfly

Butterfly

Sim Addict
Admin
SF Author
SF Supporter
#19
#19
may71 said:
I think the GP has already approved the 7 day prescriptions and requested that the pharmacy fill it. They are still refusing despite that.
Click to expand...

It’s up to the prescriber though. Get the GP to pick up the phone and speak to the pharmacy
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Please Donate to Help Keep SF Running

Total amount
$20.00
Goal
$255.00
Donate View
Top