Coming off meds (bipolar/schizoeffective)

[Ballerina123]

I have Schizoaffective disorder - bipolar type and I'm on olanzapine 15mg and lithium 600mg. I want to come off my meds because I don't like their side effects.

Have you ever done this?
What happened?
Did you do well?
Any advice on staying well?
Any advice in general?


Thanks

[Fire Fly]

Hey lovely,
I know you really want to come of your meds but I don't think it's a good idea right now. :(. You've just gotten out of hospital and finally stable a little bit. You're doing so well and you don't want to jeopardise that. Give it a bit of time... Before making any rash decisions? Xxx

[random.swirls]

I'm coming of my meds because I don't feel like they help however from the little I know about you you haven't been stable and the meds are kind of working.

If you do come off then do it with the support of your dr as they will want to reduce it slowly (which is what I'm doing)

[Aubergine]

Hey Kate.

I've got schizoaffective disorder, but the type with depression. I'm also on 15g of olanzapine, as well as Depakote (1000mg) and venlafaxine (225mg).

I get side effects such as sedation and in increased appetite and weight gain, but for me, they're worth it. I haven't been in hospital for almost two years, whereas before I was in and out of acute wards and secure units.

I tried coming off my medication earlier this year and it wasn't a positive experience. I became really quite unwell, lost my job, self harmed badly enough to need surgery and it was all just a bit of a mess. No medication = a huge pickle.

With medication, I work (now I have a new job), socialise, see family and am very independent. The fact I have to have side effects sucks, and I would prefer to go med free, but for the moment it's just not possible.

Please do discuss this with your MH team. I know if I didn't take my meds, the situation would deteriorate and I would end up having no choice in the matter (MHA etc).

I can really understand you not wanting to take them, but perhaps stability is worth the ill effects.

[shadow-light]

I have Schizoaffective disorder. I am off meds at the moment, came off them with very close monitoring from medical types though and on the condition of doing things like sleeping X amount a night, having a decent diet, getting exercise, etc. and avoiding stress, as a way of controling and managing it. And that several people were made aware of it and have a crisis plan and a list of "signs of an impending episode" so that if things started to go wrong there were people who knew what to do and could get me help

So far it's not gone too badly, though having a mild blip at the moment...


ye, it is possible... but only with support from your psych/GP/whatever and probably with people around you knowing about it.
Basically speak to your MH team and see what they say. If they advise against it though then listen to them do NOT come off them on your own

[sherlock holmes]

I agree with Fire Fly, you've only just come out of hospital. I really don't think it's a good idea to come off your meds. You need to wait until you've been stable for a year at least!

[Ballerina123]

Thanks for all your replies. I know I havnt been sable for very long but I really really want to be medication free. Or at least on the lower maintanance dose. I have been med free before and I was fine for months. I really think I can do it this time.
I'm mood charting and that is really helping and im making positive life style changes like extra exercise and less alcohol.

I will definitly talk to my team about this and see if they will agree to help me.

I go to a bipolar group every month and there is a girl there who is medication free and she was never on meds she learnt to contol he moods by charting her mood daily and making healthy lifestyle changes. I want to be like this girl. She is my insperation.
I know it's possible.