Bipolar Meds

[Rustnot]

Does anyone here manage their bipolar without meds?

I am really struggling to know whether my medication is working. I want to stop taking them because I don't want to be taking these meds long term if I don't need to. I have started skipping days and it has made me feel odd but I have no idea if it's having any effect on my mood. I know that taking it on and off isn't the same as stopping completely cold turkey. I also know that I shouldn't change anything without discussing it with my care coordinator and doctor. I also wonder if not wanting to take my meds is indicative of something else, so I'm aware that maybe I'm not in a good place, but if anyone has any experiences of managing bipolar without meds I'd be really interested in hearing about them.

I would really get in touch with the professionals you deal with before making any changes, or let them know your plans / what you're doing already so that they can help find the best way together for you in partnership.

It can often be a feature of the condition they you feel you have a better handle on what to do and start making adjustments accordingly but it can all go very wrong very quickly. ( Speaking as a daughter of someone with bipolar and I have also had an ex with bipolar) It can be the case that you don't know how wrong things are going because you lose insight into your experiences after a while / start feeling enjoyably elated.

Please try speaking to your GP and someone you trust about the best way forward.

That's not to say I don't believe some people with Bipolar can find a good way forward off medication but I think you have to do this carefully.

Managing bipolar without meds is possible but really hard work! You have to know your triggers, track your moods, track your sleep, exercise etc. There are self management courses you can do (I think GP or psychiatrist can refer you) that would help you. If you do decide to do it I would recommend doing all the work around understanding your triggers, having plans in place etc first before coming off any medication. I tried to do it but got a bit complacent (and also started to doubt my diagnosis) and have decided to go back on meds recently as I started rapid cycling. Some people manage without meds most of the time then have some temporary medication to hand for if they start going up or down.

@Rose5678 thank you. I will ask my care coordinator about self management courses. I would like to be in position where I can manage with just occasional medication. I really don't know if that's realistic.

How did you realise you were rapid cycling? Did you manage to stay off your meds for long?

I had a couple of short hypomanic episodes (both followed by a short low) and then a longer high followed by low. These happened in the space of less than two months. I only really realised what had been happening once I had the longer low and could see in hindsight.

I was off medication for about a year. I had stopped doing all the self management stuff properly for the last half of that though so I don’t know if the episodes would have happened if I’d been more vigilant. I have met people who do manage without meds and just have them as a back up, but you do have to be so ‘on it’ with tracking everything and put a lot of work in. I guess it would depend on how your condition manifests too? Some people have long stretches between episodes whereas others are up and down more frequently, so that would factor into how you manage it too.

I’ve been off my meds for just over a year now due to pregnancy and breastfeeding and I’m actually doing really well. But it involves a lot of self awareness and team work from my husband.