I want to get off this drug, I'd talk to my psychiatrist about it, but I think she's pretty pissed off at me. I was thinking lowering 300mg's every 3 days?
I want to come off of it because the tremors, and I don't think it does anything for me, I still have mood swings, I'm not bipolar, so I don't even knnow why I'm on this stuff. I've reached the point where I'm sick of the meds, and I want to safely take myself off them.
Health For More » Mental Health
I want to take myself off Lithium Carbonate, what is the best way to taper down?
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Posted 2 years ago #
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It is potentially dangerous to do this.
may I ask why you want to stop taking it?
Many people are feeling better, after taking medication, and decide they don't need it anymore.
But it is precisely the medicine that is making them feel better. i don't know if this is what is going on with you.
I don't think that a doctor is so much 'pissed off' at you. She is a health provider and wants you to be healthy and happy--and probably foresees that going off the medication is not a good idea.Posted 2 years ago # -
It seems too rapid to me, and what are you going to do when the symptoms reappear? I suggest that you re-post this question in the bipolar chat sites, and forums, via 8m.com, below. A previous answer follows: Take the quiz, at http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/public/bipolardisorder/howtotell/self-testing.cfm if unsure, and if the results are positive, ensure you get an expert diagnosis from a mental health professional, not doctors, who are much better dealing with physical ailments, and don't diagnose complex disorders like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and borderline personality disorder often enough to develop any real expertise. Bipolar disorder usually involves major mood swings, which occur without apparent cause, and often over many months, or a matter of years, rather than days, as with most people (unless rapid cycling). If you decide to use allopathy, (modern Western medicine) I recommend trying Lithium Carbonate, or Lithium Citrate (regular tests are necessary, for these) before trying the other mood stabilisers, but if you aren't good at taking medications regularly, drinking adequate water, and keeping up your salt intake, or don't like the side effects, something else, such as Lamictal may suit you better. Check out "lithium" at http://www.drugs.com & http://crazymeds.us/ and always research medications first, (read, and keep the labels/information sheets) so you will be aware of the risks, and on the lookout for side effects. If I wasn't bipolar type 1, and wasn't overly troubled by hallucinations, or serious delusional states, I know I'd first try the orthomolecular, and Omega 3 fish oil supplements, vitamins, minerals; herbal remedies, and a mostly raw food diet, for around 6 months, to see if they were sufficient.
Even if not, they can be maintained, as complementary treatments, which may enable a reduction in the medication(s) ultimately required, with their risks, and side effects. Check out http://www.nutritional-healing.com.au/content/condition.php?category=neuro&condition=Bipolar+Disorder Note: St. John's wort has been known to trigger mania, or hypomania, as have antidepressants, and the two should never be combined, due to the risk of serotonin syndrome. I'd aso eat in accordance with my "nutritional type". Enter that term in the searchbar at http://www.mercola.com (book), or a 20 question quiz is via http://www.naturalhealthcoach.com/tools If not considerably improved, after several months, consult your primary mental health care provider; you may be one of those who need medications to prevent this progressive illness from getting even worse. If bipolar type 1, an antipsychotic medication may also be needed. Everyone should take the Omega 3 supplements, or preferably "krill oil" for its other health benefits: use the searchbar at Mercola.com . Some people refuse medication, using supplements, and a selective, mostly raw food diet (I do not recommended trying this, if bipolar 1, unless you aren't overly troubled by hallucinations, or delusional states, and have a mind disciplined enough to recognise them, and act sensibly). Don't use medications and supplements together, without medical advice, except for Omega 3, which is safe.
Maintaining the treatments for the depressive phase (if not using, or using minimal mood stabilisers) may well reduce the impact of the depressive phase, when it recurs. Considerably more is on the main bipolar page, at: http://your-mental-health.8m.com/blank_2.html BOOKS: Break the Bipolar Cycle: A Day-by-Day Guide to Living with Bipolar Disorder by Elizabeth Brondolo and Xavier Amador, & Bipolar Disorder: The Ultimate Guide by Sarah Owen and Amanda Saunders, & Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Bipolar Disorder, Second Edition by Monica Ramirez Basco Ph.D. and A. John Rush M.D., and the other best ones, from your bookstore, or www.amazon.com
Posted 2 years ago #
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