How do I get myself off of medication?

Question

I am a 23 year old guy. A few years ago I was having some pysh problems. And decided to visit a psychtrist. I have went to this doctor now for 4 years. He says I have anxiety and bi-polar. I have told him I wanted to get off some medication he has me on. He ignores the idea. I am currently on valium,lamictial,buspar,strattera,and celexa. Does anyone know how I would start getting off these medications? I know some people will say, its not a good idea or talk to your doctor. But I want a opinion from other people.

Answer 1

WOW Scotty kudos to you for wanting to journey away from you meds. I am pharmacy tech that is bipolar, suffer from anxiety, and am a picker (kinda like a cutter only I pick at my skin). I currently am prescribed Seroquel, Lithium, Klonopin, and Celexa. I currently take Seroquel and Lithium. I took this course in meditation. Corny as it sounds OMG it works. It is offered by John Kabbat Zinn. Check him out. Since then I have quit picking, and dropped the Celexa, my moods are less extreme and I take nothing for anxiety. DON'T DO ANYTHING ABRUPTLY OR WITHOUT CONSULTING A PHYSICIAN. THERE ARE SERIOUS SIDE AFFECTS TO STOPPING YOUR MEDS. Here are some web pages for you to search. Good Luck!!! GMM
www.umassmed.edu/behavmed/faculty/kabat-zinn.cfm
www.priory.com/psych/mindfulness.htm
emory.hr.emory.edu/fsap/mbsr.htm

Answer 2

I agree with most everyone here. Just stopping your meds is bad. If you really want to do it, call around and find a psychiatrist or at least an MD that will help you stop them. Then I recommend you find a counselor who will help you the rest of the way.

If you really must, here's the break down of what you're taking and how I've gotten off them in the past:

-Lamictal can be stopped immediately with little or no problem
-buspar: cut your tablet in half for 5 days, cut that in half fof 5 days, that should be enough to ease you off.
-Celexa: I don't know
-Stratt.. I'm not familiar with that one, but follow the standard 1/2 then 1/2 of a half, and it shouldn't be as bad.
Valium is addictive. not sure how you'd handle that.

I'm not a Doctor, but I know this from experience. If you do quit your medication seek help from a licensed counselor to compensate.

Answer 3

You have to get your BP under control first. If you are overweight, drop a few pounds. Regular cardio work helps. Try to get about 30 minutes a day 3-5 days a week. Start slow, if you have to just do 10-15 minute sessions 2-3 times a day. Ask about a low sodium/salt diet. Avoid saturated fats, hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils. Ask about foods higher in potassium and calcium. Try to eat more fruits and veggies like apples, avocados, bananas, broccoli, grapes, oranges, and oats (oatmeal). Omega 3 rich foods can help, 2-3 times a week (like fish) as can other good fats (walnuts, olive oil). For some people, a table spoon or two of apple cider vinegar in a mug of warm water (sweetened with honey) can help with a lot of issues. Avoid caffeine. Be sure to get good rest, but not too much. A multivitamin supplement might help, as vitamins D, C, E, B (complex), folic acid, and niacin can all help. Watch the niacin though, because some people are sensitive to it (it can cause flushing, increased heart rate, and high blood pressure for them!). When your BP is running good, 120 or 110 over 80 or 70, then talk to your doctor about cutting down on your medication. You don't want to just come off it yourself. Some people are just hard wired to have a higher BP. Medication can help protect you from the damage it can do if you can't control it through diet and lifestyle changes. For stress, exercise can help a lot. Meditation is good too. Try guided mediation or mindfulness meditation. Good luck! _________________________________ EDIT: I would like to point out that dehydration is not likely the cause of your high blood pressure. If it were that simple, hypertension would be easy to eliminate! Many antihypertensive medications actually contain diuretics. By removing excess blood volume (removing extra water in your system) your cardiovascular system becomes a little more efficient and blood pressure is reduced. This doesn't work in all cases of hypertension. Some require that specific metabolic channels in the body be influenced with pharmaceuticals, others respond well to lifestyle or diet changes. The simple truth is that very few cases of hypertension have an identifiable cause. The vast majority of cases require you to work with your medical team to discover what combination of lifestyle changes and medication(s) work to keep your blood pressure in the safe zone. I can say with fair certainty that the other answerer doesn't understand hypertension. We really don't know the mechanisms that cause it. We do many of the mechanisms involved in it and how to manage it however.

Answer 4

what's not a good idea is trying to go off them without any medical supervision - you could have some serious withdrawal symptoms, plus the fact that your moods could be very unstable at that point. If your doctor ignores your question - try another doctor. They can put you on a 'drug vacation', which you usually have to be hospitalized for...they take you off ALL meds, and then slowly re-introduce the ones you absolutely need until they get the dosage right...this usually results in lower dosages, and possible discontinuation of some drugs that weren't actually helping you. Good luck on it, find a doctor that's interesting in helping you and please don't try to go it alone - it's really not safe.

Answer 5

Go see a different doctor because some doctors can be drug-happy, or even a naturapath. I've had depression & anxiety, though not bi-polar, and I've been going heaps better since seeing the naturapath and getting off effexor. More energy, clearer thinking etc. Best wishes.

Answer 6

It does not seem as If you would need All those med's at one time ?
i am bipolar; i made it 4 yrs OFF med. - after being diagnosed with bipolar. You might need some med's, tho; be careful; i read that a great percentage of persons commit suidice -WHO HAVE BI-polar; When i was off med's - i cursed much more; don't curse much at all now; but I sleep far to much; today - about 20 hrs! and i only take 2.5 mg. of Zyprexa! been back on it for bout 3 yrs. I'd not quite as nervous while ON it. but i get tired of needing too much sleep and lost lots of my Drive and ambitions to do things I need to do in life!
I have stopped taking lots of different Prescribed Nerve-med's in my life; I always tapered off as slowly as possible and by One at a time; but I've never been On more than two types of nerve med's at any ONE Time. I've never been on valium, but i took Xanax - in small doses-, yrs. ag; i've been on buspar---along with Prozac - many yrs ago and while on them _ I sleep 12 hrs per day - AFTER being on them for ONE Mo. ! --- be careful and BEst Wishes! I don't know the answer for you and for Me !!!!! The first psychiatrist I ever saw at mental health - told me: " They say a Man Called JESUS - can Help" !

Answer 7

Ok. My brother was in a similar situation, he kept saying he wanted off the meds, that they were making him into another person, so he made the decision with the family's blessing and got off the Valium, and Celebrex. My brother made the best decision of his life by doing that, he's himself, he still takes one medicine, I don't recall its name, but his life has improved so much. My best advice is to do what you think is right, and also watcht the movie Garden State, in the movie the main character is in your exact same situation, my brother and I Love that movie, it speaks for itself:) You are an adult, do what you think its best, you could try off the meds for a month, and if it doesnt work, then go on them again...good luck:)

Answer 8

You should never, under any circumstance, stop taking meds for psychological problems.

I knew a guy who stopped taking his stuff and he ended up in an institution.

It's not a good idea. I'm sure the daily routine sucks, but stick to it.

Answer 9

switch docs. - it does seem that you are on too many meds but abruptly stopping them could have serious consequences - get a copy of your med. records from your current doc (they HAVE to give you these if you request it in writing) and make an appt. to see someone else, I know this is not what you wanted to hear but you will need medical advise to wean you off the meds

Answer 10

You have to wean yourself off them. And slowly let it get out of your system.
Maybe try to switch doctors. If you feel you are ready to handle your problems on your on...Then go for it. Just be smart about it. Dont stop taking them all of a sudden. Thats verry dangerous!
GOod luck.