Reducing Meds

[Butterfly]

I'm on a lot of medication and they work really well for the most part. I get breakthrough psychosis from time to time but it's not unmanageable. I am really interested in reducing my meds. My psychosis and moods are mostly okay. Is it too soon though?

 

[Raven]

maybe talking to the doctors about the possibilities?
I reduce and quit my meds for a couple of times and I go back frequently after that... I really don't know maybe I wasn't prescribed the right meds.
so have to say please takes caution to consider doing that but I wish you succeed in achieving what you want!

 

[Atreides]

It could never hurt to ask your doctor what they think.

 

[Angie]

No. When you feel good you want off, then you nosedive. Stay on your meds.

 

[Butterfly]

No. When you feel good you want off, then you nosedive. Stay on your meds.

I don't want to come off them completely. I know the consequences of messing around with them. I just wonder if I could stay stable on a slight med reduction x

 

[Autumn1973]

 

[Angie]

Just be careful Lexi

 

[I Love Tomorrow]

This is a good topic/question, because many of us are or have been on meds that don't want to be, or are affected negatively by the side effects or cost. This is my take,

I have been on several meds in my life; some helped, some didn't, and some had bad side effects. The first thing I would say is play it safe and follow your doctors orders. Taking medication helps, but sometimes like I said it can hurt in other ways as I've mentioned above, and start to feel like weight that can actually add other problems. I understand the feeling of why you'd want to reduce them. I talked to some in my life who felt 'burdened' that they were attached to a med for whatever reason, and I've felt similar.

I believe it is possible to not have to take something for the rest of one's life, it depends on the person and situation.

 

[Innocent Forever]

How would reducing it impact the breakthrough psychosis - would it make it worse and harder to manage? What are the risks vs the benefits? What does your psych say?
Sending so much love...

 

[Butterfly]

How would reducing it impact the breakthrough psychosis - would it make it worse and harder to manage? What are the risks vs the benefits? What does your psych say?
Sending so much love...

I am not sure to be honest. When I came out of hospital in 2021 I was on 300mg of clozapine. I now take 350mg as it got increased. I'd like to try 300mg again.

Ideally I'd like to maintain on just lithium but that may never be possible. Who knows.

 

[Innocent Forever]

I am not sure to be honest. When I came out of hospital in 2021 I was on 300mg of clozapine. I now take 350mg as it got increased. I'd like to try 300mg again.

Ideally I'd like to maintain on just lithium but that may never be possible. Who knows.

I hope you can discuss it with your psych. Maybe start by 5mg decreasals? I remember the time before that. I'm also wondering if to you it's worth risking how okay you are now. Whatever you choose to do, we're here for you.

 

[1Lefty]

I don't want to come off them completely. I know the consequences of messing around with them. I just wonder if I could stay stable on a slight med reduction x

I've had that thought. I'm down to two, from 5 or 6, maybe more. I've done my own alterations to my med schedule, but I'm now making a genuine effort to be consistent. I also now have a psych that agrees with me in wanting to minimize my intake of medications, I think I am at a reasonable level, but it took a long time to get here, and it's not ideal.