I'm on lithium carbonate meds, and I've been on them since August 2010 so not that long ago, but I stopped taking them 3 weeks ago. I'm seeing my consultant in a week or something and I'm gonna ask to get taken off them. Will she say anything about the fact I stopped taking them a few weeks ago? Because she got a bit pissed off at me last time because my dad told her that I've went on late night walks and once got taken home by the police and she was going on about how I'm putting myself at risk, etc etc etc. So she booked the next appointment sooner.
I want to lose weight, and one of the side-effects of these meds is weight gain and increased thirst, and that's not good. I've just accepted that I have screwed up ways of thinking and tendencies to get low and suicidal every now and again, regardless of whether I'm on meds or not. I don't want to waste anymore NHS time or money seeing as I've realised the only way to make myself better is to make changes to my lifestyle.
So if I tell them this, will she get concerned or something? Can she somehow force me to stay on meds? I'm going to be 100% honest.
She can't force you to stay on meds. Nobody can unless you are on a section three or a community treatment order (another section). To be honest she is probably not going to be very impressed or pleased you have stopped taking them but then why should she be? She is trying to help and you are not following her treatment plan. I think you already know that though. I understand how unpleasant some of the side effects can be but really you should have consulted her or your GP and seen what they thought before gradually reducing them and probably putting you on something else.
No, apart from putting you on a section 3, but that's the last resort if she really believed you needed the meds to stay safe. That said, you should seriously think about following her treatment plan for you, and trust her judgements, and discuss any issues with her before you make any decisions to suddenly stop taking meds.
I stopped my meds a lot in the past because I thought I didn't need tablets. I was always warned what they thought could happen but ultimately it was up to me to take them. The only times I have been forced to take medicine was when on a section 3 and that was because my psychosis was putting my life in danger. It's really up to you whether you take the medicine or not, you have to take responsibility for your own treatment. Sometimes you have to sacrifice things as well in order to stay mentally well. Maybe you could talk about an alternative to the lithium. A lot of the side effects wear of with time. When I first took olanzapine I ate loads but now it doesn't effect my appetite at all.
sticks and stones may break your bones but words can tear your heart out.
Your psych can't do anything unless you're deemed a risk. I've read about lithium in my pharmacology textbooks and I know that it can cause water retention, sodium depletion etc. Can you ask to be put on a different mood stabiliser? There are quite a few out there which are better for side-effects and some which I believe are weight-neutral. If you want me to research any particular medicaiton for you, I can
PM me if you want a PDF copy of the ICD-10or the Mental Health Act 1983/2007. I ALSO HAVE THE DSM-V BOOK and am a pharmacology student.
I have a visual impairment / neurological problems so I need people to type in clear text and no funny fonts. Also excuse any typos, my vision blocks things out.
I have autism and have problems communicating, PMs included.
Just becasue I type well doesn't mean I speak well. I am only part time verbal.
I think she might be concerned to want to come off the meds. You shouldn't really stop taking any medication with a doctor permission. But please be honest with how you feel. Hope you're okay. <3
She cant force you to take the meds, unless, like said, you are on a section 3. I think you just need to be open and honest with her and hopefully come up with a solution together,,
Well, I'm not on a Section 3 nor a CTO, I figured she can't 'force' anything. I don't really need the meds. They were just a trial run. I just think the hassle is too much and I don't really get any benefit. I don't need any of them at all. I think I might take a complete discharge from them all.. give up the place to someone more in need and deserving of Help. I think.. I just want to be alone. With no appointments and stuff.
It's up to me to recover from the feelings. With enough self-motivation and support, I can.
Even though it was accidental that I ended up getting professional help, I just don't think this is my route. Sure I get really depressed sometimes, sometimes even suicidal, but that's up to me to sort out.
It very much depends on how you are off the Lithium, if you are going on late night walks due to increased energy and hyper manic symptoms then yes you need to be on it and she may Section you on a 3 for 'treating a diagnosed condition'.
Its never good to stop medication without any guidance and this sort of non-compliance can add to reasoning to use a section for treatment for a lot of psychiatrists.
By now, 3 weeks, if you have no symptoms she may decide it is okay to leave you off it if there is no signs of mania building, ie, less sleep and lessened appetite. My partner has recently come off Lithium and since there is no symptoms of mania or hyper mania her consultant has just decided to leave it as it is, and be more vigilant to signs of mania via close monitoring/ her CPN.
I am really pleased and have a lot of respect for you if you intend to tell her the truth and be honest about how you are feeling. Believe me, if you need it, it is SO much better to be on it, and try and find ways to get round the side effects Lithium brings.
To put it logically, if you need it, in terms of weight gain, you will gain a lot less [staying on Lithium and keeping the levels stable] than if you are not on it and get sectioned for mania because the treatment for mania in hospitals is high doses of anti-psychotics, [which have a much higher incidence for weight gain] whilst they wait for the Lithium levels to slowly build up to a therapeutic level. I hope you can see the reasoning that if you do need this med, in terms of weight gain it is better to stay on it, rather than stop start. I have seen first hand through my partner who used to stop start her meds that she gained way more weight from the anti-psychotics they had to use to control her whilst she was acutely manic.
Please be careful with what you do. MissAnonymous gave good advice. Can you arrange a meeting with your psych about this?
PM me if you want a PDF copy of the ICD-10or the Mental Health Act 1983/2007. I ALSO HAVE THE DSM-V BOOK and am a pharmacology student.
I have a visual impairment / neurological problems so I need people to type in clear text and no funny fonts. Also excuse any typos, my vision blocks things out.
I have autism and have problems communicating, PMs included.
Just becasue I type well doesn't mean I speak well. I am only part time verbal.
Sorry, late reply to this thread and all that. I'm not diagnosed with bipolar disorder and I don't think I've ever had proper mania. Unpredictable mood swings, sure, but never mania. I have no diagnosis actually I don't think, though I get referred to as having a Mood Disorder. I've been going out on late night walks since 2009 where I sometimes used to get drunk and carry a knife with me for "protection" and to harm myself because I needed to get out. But nowadays, I just grab my phone, my music and cigarettes and go and sit somewhere that's quite visible/safe but not somewhere which will attract awkward attention, but anyways I do this for about 30 mins before returning home. They (the professionals) don't know that first bit, though, and they can't know. It sounds worse than it is.
I've never even been medically sectioned before. Only by the police once and as a voluntarily patient over a weekend. Anyways, I've been taken off them for a trial period of two weeks and have to see them again in yet another week. I don't think I'm any different without the meds, so I think I am gonna get taken off them soon as I don't need them. Will I stop seeing a psychiatrist when I'm taken off them?
Oh and thanks for the responses, people. Concern is appreciated.
