Reducing Medication

teal · 31-08-2013, 07:32 PM

I'm feeling better now, and that's the most important thing right now. And intend on starting to reduce medication (i'm on a lot of medication right now). However i only have appointment with my psychologist in october and school here starts mid-september. so i'll be a month dealing with the side effects of my medication: loss of concentration, drowsiness, trembling of the hands and difficult in speech. Not to mention "hard time waking up". Which aren't the best conditions for a high school student. So me and my dad were thinking, since the receipts she gave me aren't enough to make it until the appointments date, and due to the facts said before, I would reduce a tiny bit of my medication so i wouldn't have to suffer so much. Decreasing some medication will help me, but i'm just worried if it's a bad thing to do, if it has side effects. And have you ever altered your medication without consent of your doctor or them knowing about it?

Bellatrix · 02-09-2013, 10:35 AM

Don't do it.
If you're going to run out of medication, you'll have to contact your psych anyway - so give her a call and talk through your feelings about medication.

It's dangerous to come of medication without medical supervision as you may get potentially dangerous side effects if you do it too quickly or in the wrong way. You may also get ill again, as you're not able to tell if the medication is keeping you well, or you're actually doing better.

I appreciate it's hard dealing with school when you're on medication that isn't compatible (I have this issue too), but you need to come off them under supervision.

Maybe you could speak to your school about how you're feeling and what sort of side effects you experience. They may be able to give you some extra support and time in school to help you overcome the difficulties.

sherlock holmes · 02-09-2013, 05:47 PM

I alter my medication all the time and tell my psychiatrist after. I'm not advocating it, but my psychiatrist always agrees with my decisions as I have so much insight. If I reduce it, and I get ill, I always increase it again.

But if you feel you want to try a reduction then speak to your psych first, even if you have to get an early appointment. It's dangerous to alter meds without supervision (I know I shouldn't do it).

If you really, really want to alter your meds and don't intend on telling your psych first, at least tell your parents. Tell them about warning signs that mean you're getting ill, so that they can spot if you need to go back to the full dose even if you can't.

teal · 02-09-2013, 07:48 PM

I've told my parents and they agree. It was my dad's idea in the first place. It's just a tiny reduction, nothing big. Just so I don't sound so "zombie-looking". And then when I get the medication back i'd do it like the psychiatrist says. I can't ask for an early appointment, these are free and it takes MONTHS to get an appointment.