Dh wants to come off medication

[ChelsSee]

My dh has been on antipsychotic medicine for the past 9 years. He's recently said he wants to come off it as it's affecting his happiness as he don't like the way it makes him feel.

At the end of the day it's his choice but I'm worried about it. I'm worried he will get mentally Ill again and that's scary for me.

I can't really stop him can I? He knows my concerns but still wants to come off them. Says he will be happier and will be better for us all.

Should I try to understand his reasons and just hope nothing bad happens?

Hi @ChelsSee

Thats really difficult because yes it is his choice but I can see why you would be worried. My thoughts would be, can he get some professional help to safely taper the medication and also what is his plan if his symptoms reappear?

I’m currently tapering medication but I feel confident to do this knowing that I had some nutritional deficiencies which hadn’t been addressed before and which affect my mental health (vitamin D, B6 and zinc). Also I’m trying a nutritional approach so I’ve changed my diet quite significantly and that has also helped.

Dh had a Drs appointment Friday and they decided he should gradually lower the dose. He took the lower for the past few days.

Unfortunately, I've noticed change already. He's more short tempered and seems a lot more stressed already and not sleeping as well. Don't know if it's a coincidence but there's nothing changed other than the medication dosage.

I've told him what I've noticed and he said he feels better on the lower dose but will see how things go for a few weeks.

I'm worried he will be like a different person without the medication. I can understand why he doesn't want to take it any more though.

Following, as I am likely to be in the situation in the future.

I would be interested to know how clear is the plan for what to do if psychotic symptoms resurface, is there a written plan? If so, were you involved in developing it? Do YOU have a direct line of communication with his mental health team? How confident are you in getting support from them if needed? Has your DH given prior agreement for you to contact them with concerns, even if he (in the midst of symptoms re-emerging) doesn't want you to ...

If all that is in place, I would be (warily) supportive of tapering the meds. I think it's probably too early to say if the symptoms you have noticed are a readjustment, or something more worrying, although obviously if the disturbed sleep continues this could precipitate more worrying symptoms.

Also have read of many cases where people come off meds and are well for several years before another episode. So I guess you (and I) will never be able to totally relax about this, even if all appears to go well.

can I ask, was he on antipsychotics for a chronic ongoing condition or following an isolated psychotic episode?

If he gets aggressive then he has to carry on using the pills. If he's just not feeling anything, it shouldn't be unpleasant.

I used to know someone who had been taking schizophrenia pills, she came off them and said she's feeling fine. After a minor disagreement though, she put some Fairy in my tea.