Poll- Do you believe that a person can completely get off bipolar meds for life?

Question

True, diagnosed patents that respond well to medication.

Do you believe it is possible to completely get off that medication?

Do you believe it is necessary to get off medication?

***When answering, mention if you are bipolar (or another m.i., know someone with one, or are just opinionated)

Answer 1

okay

Answer 2

I'm not bipolar, but I know others who are bipolar.  I have major depression and ADD/ADHD diagnoses.  Life is better and more manageable with my medication.  Many people with major depression have recurring bouts of it; personally, I've had 2 major depressive episodes - one at 20 yrs of age and another just recently at age 31.

My advice and response to this poll - No.  Stay on your medication.

Answer 3

I have Bipolar Disorder type I with psychosis.

And NO, never ever get off your meds.  This condition is with you for life.

Trust me, if you do get off your meds, your condition might take over you and cause you to do things that may wreak your life.

I have gone to a Mental Health Hospital, and I could have gone to jail, I got lucky I didn't.  I did lose my job, relationship, and my health, but staying on the medications has helped me get my life back together.

Edit:  For those recommending to get off the meds and stay off the meds.  Don't follow that advice, it's a tragedy waiting to happen.  If anyone feels like a zombie, which I did with certain medications, talk to the psychiatrist to try and find the best medication plan.

Lithium is awful, Seroquel sucks.  Lamictal has been the best medication I've ever been in, actually I don't notice any side effects, but you have to be really careful.  It doesn't come without risks, but it definitely has made my life better.

Edit:  While it is not impossible to live a good life without the medication, it is not recommended, you never know how you are going to react to certain situations that can spark an episode.  Also, there are those who's condition is not as bad, but better safe than sorry.

And yes, exercise, diet, and relaxation helps a lot.  Lifestyle changes are a must, but you can't rely on just that.  Do as much as possible to keep it under control.

Answer 4

there are several people in my family that are bi-polar, and yes, they need to stay on their medication for life. the reason they are bi-polar is because their brains don't produce enough of a certain chemical. that has to be corrected with their medication. this is not a disease that can ever be cured, but it can be controlled with medication, and the people can lead happy and productive lives.

Answer 5

I have a relative that is on meds and when she went off gradually she was wonderful so long as she was on the Alkaline diet and she wasn't exposed to too much stress...

Holistic Doctor can help wean those patients who can get off medications to get off medication...  

She used chamomile tea and other herbs to relax.  She became alive and opinionated instead of passive and zombie like as she weaned herself off....  She also lost much of the extra weight that she had... If she went off meds too quickly, she had bad dreams...  A no, no but other people get a lot worse when weaning off.

If she did not stabilize her diet while off the meds, she would do things that seem very risky for normal people and start staying awake for days again.  Again, holistic doctor will tell you that you need to balance the diet, stress and exercise.

The issues underlying bi-polar seem to be somewhat controlled with proper diet and exercise and a good place to focus the energy when it comes so that when things slow down, the patient can see that they used the energy for good and feel good about that.  Doing crazy risky things during the manic stage brings guilt during the down stage...

If someone can get off the medications to improve health (weight and alertness,) then they should get off the medication.  Chemical imbalance may be caused by lack of nutrients needed to manufacture "chemicals" needed.  A patient might consider a holistic doctor...  unfortunately, few insurance companies pay for these kinds of doctors so many patients are winging it on their own.

Don't wing it...  Get with a holistic doctor

Also don't listen to people who say that it's impossible to go off...  You might just be that person to be able to do it...  Popping pills your whole life might be easier than changing your lifestyle... but __________.  you fill in the blank!

Answer 6

yes you can . My son was diagnosed bipolar and many other things,, and he isnt on anything now . they turned him into a zombie with medication .To me it was sickening . when all it was is a child with alot of energy and a bad temper. They are dong alot of over medicating of children and adults now . Read up on the medication you are on also . some of them are very dangerous and will kill you .. . so please be careful And as far as bipolar seek more than one opinion on that . My son is no longer on any of the drugs he is 17 and stays busy at work . still has a temper . but so do i . that done mean i am bipolar just means i have a temper .  

Answer 7

I am 28 y/o and bipolar.  I have tried several times to get off my meds because my husband and I would like to try to have a baby.  After the last time, I can honestly say that I will never go off them again.  Each time, it's gets harder and harder to get the meds back to where they should be.  My experience has also been that each time I wean off, my relapse is worse as well.  For me personally, I don't think I can ever get off my meds, nor do I want to try.  (We're now looking at adoption or a surrogate).  

Answer 8

I have rapid cycling bipolar, and I need to stay on meds for the rest of my life.  If I go off my meds, it will be REALLY bad!

I think for something like BP, you need to be medicated or you will hurt yourself or someone else.

JMO!

Answer 9

my teen was diagnosed with bipolar although i am sure she was misdiagnosed

i also know two people who have had it for many years

yes i believe it is possible

there are confirmed testimonials on curezone.com - read their bipolar success stories

take care

Answer 10

I am bipolar level 1 rapid cycler.  I was diagnosed 6 years ago. My father was never one to just want to TRUST one opinion especially since my uncle is a child psychiatrist (and so is my cousin)... so I went to a total of 3 different psychiatrists to get 3 seperate opinions before I dove into taking so many different medications.  All 3 psychiatrist (who do not know each other) all concluded with the same diagnoses.

I KNOW for a FACT that I cannot get off my medication for an extended period of time.

TRUST ME... I tried.  When I was attending college I decided that I felt "ok" enough to stop taking my meds which is a common problem that some people who have bipolar make.  I ended up taking a medical withdraw from college that semester and if I didn't, I would have failed 4 out of my 5 classes.

I HATE living life always carrying pills around with me to take them 3 times a day, but I HAVE to in order to function. Bipolar is something that it very hard to explain to someone who is not bipolar and does not understand the chemical imbalance which is in your brain and just makes you snap or a totally different person. There are a lot of people that think bipolar is something that is made up.. and people who are bipolar are "crazy" but you would be supprised that there are a lot of productive members of society who are bipolar.

There is a website that I LOVE which helped me through SOOO many tough times when I felt like I was alone in the world with my emotions and feelings.  Please see the attached link which is a support system for people who are bipolar and also for people who know someone who is bipolar.

List of famous people who are bipolar:

Buzz Aldrin, astronaut

Lionel Aldridge

Hans Christian Andersen

Ned Beatty

Robert Boorstin, assistant to Pres. Clinton,

Arthur Benson, writer

William Blake (1757-1827), poet

Ralph Blakelock, artist

Napoleon Bonaparte

Tadeusz Borowski

Art Buchwald

Tim Burton, movie director

Drew Carey, actor

Jim Carrey, actor

d**k Cavett

C.E. Chaffin, writer, poet

Agatha Christie

Winston Churchill

John Clare, poet

Rosemary Clooney

Francis Ford Coppola

Patricia Cornwell, writer

Richard Dadd

John Daly

John Davidson

Edward Dayes

Ray Davies

Emily Dickinson

Kitty Dukakis

Patty Duke

Thomas Eagleton

T S Eliot

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Robert Evans

Carrie Fisher

Edward FitzGerald

Robert Frost

F Scott Fitzgerald

Larry Flynt

Connie Francis, actor, musician

Sigmund Freud, physician

Cary Grant, actor

Kaye Gibbons, writer

Shecky Greene, comedian, actor

Linda Hamilton, actor

Kristin Hersh, musician

Victor Hugo, Poet

Alfred Lord Tennyson

Jack London, author

Robert Lowell, poet

Marilyn Monroe, actress

Mozart, composer

Jay Marvin, radio personality, writer

Kevin McDonald, comedian, actor

Kristy McNichol, actor

Dimitri Mihalas, scientist

Kate Millett, writer, artist

Spike Milligan, comic actor, writer

John Mulheren, financier (U.S.)

Robert Munsch, writer

Ilie Nastase, athlete (tennis), politician

Isaac Newton, scientist

Margo Orum, writer

Nicola Pagett, actor

J C Penney

Plato, philosopher, according to Aristotle

Edgar Allen Poe, author

Jimmie Piersall, athlete, sports announcer

Charley Pride, musician

Mac Rebennack (Dr. John), musician

Jeannie C. Riley, musician

Phil Graham, owner, Washington Post

Graham Greene, writer

Peter Gregg, team owner, race car driver

Abbie Hoffman, writer, political activist

Lynn Rivers, U.S. Congress

Francesco Scavullo, artist, photographer

Lori Schiller, writer, educator

Frances Sherwood, writer

Scott Simmie, writer, journalist

Alonzo Spellman, athlete (football)

Muffin Spencer-Devlin, athlete (pro golf)

Gordon Sumner (Sting), musician, composer

St Francis

St John

St Theresa

Rod Steiger, film maker

Robert Louis Stevenson

Liz Taylor, actor

J.M.W. Turner

Mark Twain, author

Alfred, Lord Tennyson, poet

Ted Turner, entrepreneur, media giant

Jean-Claude Van Damme, athlete, actor

Vincent van Gogh

Mark Vonnegut, doctor, writer

Sol Wachtler, judge, writer

Tom Waits, musician, composer

Walt Whitman, poet

Tennessee Williams, author

Brian Wilson, musician (Beach Boys), composer

Jonathan Winters, comedian, actor, writer, artist

Luther Wright, athlete (basketball)

Margot Kidder, actor

Robert E Lee, soldier

Bill Liechtenstein, producer (TV & radio)

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), US President

Daniel Johnston, musician

Samuel Johnson, poet

Burgess Meredith, 1908-1997, actor, director

Answer 11

I'm not bi-polar, my sister is, I suffer from mild depression.  It is a disease....do diabetics stop insulin.....if so, THEY DIE.

STAY ON THE MEDS!!!!!

woof

Answer 12

yeah totally

Answer 13

I've been diagnosed as a psychotic depressive. I'm on an anti psychotic and an anti depressant. I would like to live a life without out meds, but one time I "accidently" went off my meds and ended up back in the hospital . My suggestion for anyone is to stay on their meds for as long as possible. I do know of a bipolar person who is off meds, but has terrible mood swings and her partner has to deal with it. It's best to stay on the meds epesically if they are helping.