Coming off of medication?

[bubbles]

This is a question that was sent into the Sussex Voice.

Dear Listener,

I'ts nearly time for my annual review with the doctor about my medication. Compared to three or four years ago I have improved so much, doing lots more things, getting out and about. The voices have lessened and are now in the background. Should I try to lower my dose and try to come off medication altogether?

[Joel]

I think you should definately think very carefully about coming off your medication altogether. By all means lower it but dont come off your meds all together. If you had another breakdown it would not be good. I only said this because I once changed drugs and it caused me to have another breakdown.

[Chris]

Whatever you do i think you should do it under the supervision of your doctor. messing around with your own medication without professional help could be dangerous.

[Joel]

Obviously I agree with Chris 100%. You should only lower your medication under the supervision of your psychiatrist

[sara]

It's good to hear how well your recovery is going. I agree that it's important to talk to your doctor about coming off the meds and not go it alone. Sometimes though, doctors try to help people reduce their meds too quickly. You need to take it very gradually - if you've been on meds for two years, allow yourself two years to come off the meds. And notice how you're feeling so you don't come off too quick. It might be that a personal recovery plan could help you with stayiong well and looking out for early warning signs of relapse - we are pilotting one version of the personal recovery plan here in East Sussex.

[sara]

Lou wrote this in reply to another thread about living without medication and linked to MIND website. I've copied it below:

"I know of many people who have come off medication and after years. One friend of mine was on several antipsychotics at maximum dosage for 12 years and he managed to get off them. It wasn't easy, but he did it. Another friend was on them for many more years than him and she managed too, but it took her about 5-7 years to get off them completely, she had to taper the dosages down carefully to really small amounts.
Psychiatrists are often not supportive of people getting off meds completely, so if they don't support you - do it without them with as much support as you can find elsewhere. I moderate on another site, here's some drugs info from there;
Psychiatric Drugs info

Antidepressants;
http://www.mind.org.uk/osb/itemdetails.cfm/ID/133

Antipsychotics;
http://www.mind.org.uk/osb/itemdetails.cfm/ID/136

Minor tranquillisers;
http://www.mind.org.uk/osb/itemdetails.cfm/ID/137

Lithium;
http://www.mind.org.uk/osb/itemdetails.cfm/ID/135

Sleeping pills;
http://www.mind.org.uk/osb/itemdetails.cfm/ID/131

Getting off psychiatric drugs
This is a summary of the booklet quoted directly from their website;

“Summary: Many people want to come off psychiatric medication. This booklet looks at why these medicines are prescribed, the possible effects of coming off them, the best way to withdraw successfully, and how to tell the difference between withdrawal and relapse.

Tackles key questions for anyone considering coming off, including:
can I refuse medication?
why do people have withdrawal problems?
how well will I cope with coming off?
what sort of support should I look for?
what can I do to help myself?
what about relatives and friends?”

http://www.mind.org.uk/osb/itemdetails.cfm/ID/658

Books on coming off medication

Antidepressants;
http://www.mind.org.uk/osb/itemdetails.cfm/ID/686

All psychiatric drugs;
http://www.mind.org.uk/osb/itemdetails.cfm/ID/412

Mind’s research report into people’s experiences of coming off drugs;

http://www.mind.org.uk/osb/itemdetails.cfm/ID/609

Online and telephone help;

http://www.ukppg.org.uk/helpline.html
http://www.nmhct.nhs.uk/pharmacy/HELPLINE.HTM

http://www.shropsych.org/criticalpsy...psychiatry.htm


Contact your local Mind association and user/survivor group for details of local drug withdrawal support groups for antidepressants/antipsychotics"

[Diana]

see what your doctor thinks. Be careful and take your time. My relative once tried to come off meds and had a relapse - but think that was against her doctors advice.
Good luck!