I quit taking my medications..?

Question

Good evening all,

ok.. i have had anxiety and depression issues since i was around 14 ( i am 25 now). i was recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder and they put me on a regime of medications. that was around 3 months ago. i stopped taking my medications a week ago tomorrow, and i know that i can handle this with the help of the Lord and without being so doped up that i can't even tend to my 3 year old. the thing is, i am having some pretty severe withdrawl symptoms and i am trying to get thru this in a sober state of mind. i don't feel that my diagnosis was correct, and i don't see any sense in taking medications that i don't think are making this better.

i have been on lexapro for 2 and a half years, and i am pretty sure that the withdrawl is stemming from that medication. ( i also stopped taking my invega, lamictal and xanax) is there any way to find hope and get a hold on these feelings ( ie: crying compulsively, brain zaps, dizziness, blurred vision, suicidal and self hating thoughts, nausea, chills, headaches) i need to get thru this, i am leaning on the Lord to see this out. any advice would help.

pls don't put me down, or make fun of my relationship with Christ. i don't even know if i have a real question, i suppose i am just looking for a way to vent.

Answer 1

my mother quit most of her medications, and its the best thing shes done.

of course she still gets help cuz sometimes u just need it but she goes to a nuetreopath.

well its a doctor that uses organic suppliments and techniques.

Answer 2

You probably should talk with your doc. about a way to discontinue your meds more gradually.  I just switched meds and before I was able to start the new one (cymbalta) I had to gradually cut down over the course of a couple weeks down to none the Zoloft I was taking.

No guarantees that your body wont go through ANY withdrawls, but you really shocked your system by cutting it all off at once!  And I would also hope your doc, or even a new one, could help you find a happy medium between too anxious and doped up!  Being a parent of a toddler myself, I know your state of mind is important and YOU need to feel good in order to be able to tend to your child.

Keep praying, perhaps your church even has a support group you could join.  You certainly aren't alone!  But don't give up on medical intervention either.  The right regimen could really help.

Good luck to you, and God Bless

Answer 3

i don't think you should stop taking your medication.

i too take invega (and prozac) and couldn't LIVE without them.

they keep me stable... and i don't think you're going to be unless you get back on yours!!

good luck though. :]

Answer 4

I learned the hard way about stopping my meds for almost a year and I had so many up and downs I could not count them. I also heard more voices then I could handle. It is not valuable for us not to take our meds. I felt like I could not control anything. Nor did I care about what mattered most to me. You know God did make different people and that I feel the different is unique but I also figure that he would not want us to suffer either.

Answer 5

START TAKING THEM AGAIN! Please don't do something stupid because you think god can help you. Come on now! See your doctor ASAP AND START THE MEDS AGAIN!

Answer 6

I am a born again and love Jesus with all my heart so please don't misunderstand what I am about to say - I'm not trying to confuse you but if you had cancer would you not take chemo because of your relationship with Jesus? If you feel you have been wrongly diagnosed by all means get a 2nd opinion - maybe you are diagnosed wrong, but stopping psych meds cold turkey is a very dangerous thing. You should gradually cut back under a doctor's supervision. And please keep in mind that the number one problem with people diagnosed with bipolar is that they start feeling good and decide that they don't need their meds anymore and just stop taking them. If you don't like the way the medicine makes you feel talk it over with your doctor and see if he can adjust it. You aren't any less of a Christian just because you have mental issues - I take Lexapro and I lean on Christ daily to get me through - I also take the medication I need to be okay.

Answer 7

Please don't stop taking your medications without telling your doctor first.  Your doctor may agree with stopping them but NOT cold turkey, especially the lexapro.  

Answer 8

Well, I'm disappointed that your medications weren't working for you. I'm on the EXACT same combination and they seem fine for me, but everyone is different. And it wasn't too long ago that I was without medication so I know exactly how you feel. And I hope that you've discussed getting off the medications with a psychiatrist - even if they don't agree they will still help you through it.

Get a therapists, they work wonders. And keep up your good faith - most people don't believe so but it really does help. Whenever you're feeling down just remember that you are doing this for your child and that you'll do anything for her/him even when it's hard. Make sure you take enough time for yourself, it's important that you're rested and thinking as clearly as possible - even if that means getting away from everything for awhile. Nausea/chills/headaches can be fixed with some pepto and advil. But blurred vision/dizziness/brain zaps will have to go away on there own.

Above all, just hang in there! It'll be tough but well worth it.

Answer 9

I was on lexapro and came of it gradually by halving pills and all. I think the Lord expects us to stand on our own two feet eventually . I think this is a good move on your part. Just keep trusting in the Lord and he will carry you through this. In the mean time get some charcoal pills will help get the drug out of your system faster. God Bless you and I will pray for you.