Is it possible to managing bipolar without meds

[kajama]

Hi well just to say a lil about myself, I was addicted to pain killers for a few years then after quitting, I went crazy to say the least. I spent time in a psyc hospital in march and was diagnois biploar and put on Seroquel 800 mg and Trileptal 600 mg. Meds did help but still have ups and downs. I feel once again my life is being ran by medication. Does anyone have any experience in managing bipolar without meds. Is it possible. of course I will not stop meds until i speak with doctor but I just want to know if anyone else has been able to do it. I hate the side effects of the meds but worst side effects if I quit.

[starbunny]

Mmm, you have to decide what quality of life you are willing to accept without them. For example I know of a friend who feels proud of the fact she is not on medication, however she leads a low quality of life - unable to work, form relationships, use public transport etc, but for her it's a perfectly acceptable trade off.
For me it would not, so I admit defeat and take the meds because I want more out of life, but everyone has their limit of what they will /or not put up with and it's a personal choice. I guess you could try with docs supervision then see if you are happy with that quality of life. Best of luck! :D

[nads101]

I stopped my meds about 4 months ago and sad to say I have become worse than before. Your meds are there to suppress that ups and downs and make you lead a normal life. Don't stop your meds before the "go ahead" from your phychiatrist.

[BP2PROFESSIONAL]

I'm managing my Bipolar without taking meds at the moment, but I've done it with the theory that I take medication as needed as sometimes I do need them and when I do I take them.  But at the moment I don't.  That being said I do a lot of other stuff to naturally control my moods.  Firstly I monitor them regularly using a mood tracker, My number one way to control my moods is through exercise and a lot of it. Swimming works the best for me either up or down it brings me back to centre but I have joined a triathlon club and exercise 5-6 times a week. Also although I don't take Meds, I do take an awful lot of vitamin supplements as well as hormones such as cortisol and melatonin as I have deficiancy in these.  And I do it all and I mean all under the supervision of a psychiatrist, I also see a psychologist regularly and a sports nutritionist as well as my regular GP.

Thats how I do it :0)  Don't even think of trying it without the supervision of a good psychiatrist.

[kajama]

Thanks everyone for your comments, I also have the financial problem with getting my meds, and few times I have to go a few days without until I get the money to get them. during that time I feel horrible, can't sleep, stomache problems and severe depression. My meds were prescribed to me at a psyc hospital. Haven't found a psychiatrist yet only psycologist that can't prescribe. My neurologist is just giving me my meds to help me out until I find a doc. He won't have nothing to do with changing anything. maybe it is just gonna be a way of life for me and I have to deal with it.

[paranoid_cataclysm]

I haven't really been able to be off meds since I had my first full psychotic break - I can't function at all without them.  Before that I managed without them even though I had symptoms of my mental illness.

[ILADVOCATE]

Yes well I've been in treatment about 20 years. Its essential to understand that medication doesn't control people so much as stabilize moods, just like any other form of treatment. If you are having difficulty tolerating what you are on as regards side effects speak to your doctor about available options but definitely don't discontinue anything. Cognitive blunting is one side effect that can be difficult but some medications cause it less than others and if you are experiencing that in anyway that can detract from life so it would be worth discussing with your psychiatrist as well. Any time I had difficulty with medications I asked my psychiatrist about the potential of adjusting or changing the medication or dosage as appropriate. The only time I discontinued medications inappropriately (which was back in 1993) I encountered rebound symptoms which caused me to have to sign myself into the hospital so I was always careful not to do that as the loss of self awareness I encountered over time contributed to that.

[run4you]

I am not okay without meds. I usually swing towards depression, but basically am just all over the place. I still have swings on meds, but when I don't take them it is HORRIBLE.

Xila - I was having the same issues with med costs. I found together rx access (http://www.togetherrxaccess.com/Tx/jsp/home.jsp)  - since I have no prescription insurance (I was freaking out)... it saved me 90% off my lamictal. I think it only saves 40% off most meds, but I was definitely happy when I went to check out... My pdoc charges me the 'cash rate' which is just low enough for me to be able to go every 6 weeks - most places have a different rate if you're not using insurance (or, like ours, the deductible is ridiculously high and you're basically paying cash anyway).. Might wanna ask just to see if they can help. Just in case it helps :)

[Xila31]

All I can say is I've pretty much been on nothing my whole life. I was on lithium but had to stop due to financial reasons. Right now I'm not nothing. I feel aweful all the time. Either I'm having highs which are aggitated and mixed feeling and my brain feels like I'm going to explode, or I'm depressed and I don't want to do anything. I feel sick all the time, like physically sick. I often feel like I truly am "going crazy." It gets bad enough that I panic and get set in a negative repetitive thought cycle. My functioning is fair right now, but I know I could be better.

It is pretty clear I have been bipolar for a long time, but just diagnosed last year for sure. My one wish is to someday be in good treatment and recovery with no financial worries to burden me. But, I'm at a point where I think that may never happen to me. I just turned 31.

That's my experience.