Bipolar and med free?

[sherlock holmes]

I am sick of taking medication. I've been on one form of med or another for seven years now and I've put on so much weight. The tablets make it hard for me to get up in the morning and I really want to stop taking them.

I have Bipolar 2, how realistic is it that I could manage med free?

I see my psychiatrist tomorrow so I will talk about it with her. At some point in the near future I want to have children so during that period I would have to stop taking my meds anyway.

The only problem is I started to reduce it myself and I've already started feeling wobbly. I wonder if it's a little hurdle I have to overcome then once you're off meds for a while you start to feel better? Has anyone done it?

[sherlock holmes]

Ugh, if I am totally honest I can feel my bipolar worsening. I am getting more mood swings and suicidal thoughts. I think I want to be med free so I can become out of control and crash.

Last time I was unwell my psychiatrist thought it was time to start Lithium. I've been reading up on it. Maybe she is right. The only concern for me is I find it really hard to drink enough water as it is.

[beautiful_seclusion]

You definitely should be monitored while you go off medication. There are people with bipolar 2 who do choose to treat their symptoms without meds, but you have to make sure you can do it and that you are treating your disorder with other things like therapy, healthy lifestyle, and so on. And you very much need to be monitored. I know when I went off meds, two separate times, I felt very manic, and I don't even have symptoms of bipolar when no meds are involved (it was a misdiagnosis and complicated situation). It did go away after a while. So it can be a short term thing, but you really need to be monitored if coming off meds is what you and your doctor decides is best. And it sounds as if you are questioning your motives. Really think if this is best for you or if you are entering a self destructive phase.

[random.swirls]

I've started the process of reducing my meds very slowly in part because I'm getting health issues from them but also because I don't feel they work.

It sounds like your meds do work to a degree so I would be talking to the dr to see if you can minimise the side effects.

[sherlock holmes]

The thing is I start back at uni in October and it really stresses me out to the point I get suicidal. So I kind of need the meds for that... but the meds mean I can't get up in the morning. It sucks.

I really want to have an assessment at the affective disorders unit at the bethlem hospital because I'm not totally sure what I have is bipolar, and they'd be able to tell me for sure. My psych was supposed to refer me last year so I'll mention that tomorrow.

[Ballerina123]

I know a few bipolars who are med free and manage their illness very well. It certainly can be done but you will likely have to make life syle changes (good sleep routine, not too much alcohol, healthy eating, good exercise routine, ect).

As for the lithium. I started on lithium 3 weeks ago and it has really helped with my mood. Lithium made me a bit more thirsty that usual so drinking more wasn't hard because I actually wanted to drink more.

[random.swirls]

Definitely talk to your dr about the referral but also about the tiredness. Can you take your medication earlier to reduce the lethargy?

[sherlock holmes]

Some other people have suggested that Abilify might be a good med as it's activating rather than sedating. I've done some research and it seems to be well tolerated.

I also looked in my diary and noticed just how much weight I gained since starting Sodium Valproate. That is a major reason why I want to stop it. My BMI is already hitting the obese range.

I've not really tried taking my meds earlier, but I think if I did then it'd just sent me to sleep at a really awkward time.

[sherlock holmes]

I'll need to be getting up around 5.30/6am and I don't want to be taking meds and going to sleep at like 7pm. I need about 12 hours sleep on that combination of meds.