Thinking about stopping my medication

[Jord 28]

After countless months of depression *over half a year now* it feels like I've finally come to my wits end with the medication called seroquel XR. I'm as depressed as ever, as anxious as ever, and feel more worthless than I ever have my entire life. I've lost so much of young adult life to this monster of a disorder and I'm afraid I'm going to lose my entire life to it. I've been trying differenty things to he3lp and the only thing that really seems to is jogging and exercise.. Unfortuantly in the down periods where my body has to rest and recovery for a few days I'm depressed.

I'm not really sure what to do here...I'm frankly afraid to be the doctors guena pig for much longer. I want results and I want them now, especially with me physically putting forth an effort to get better and the medication seemingly doing nothing to give me even a slight boost. The only med that does anything is the lithium. So I'll stay on that. I'm just so confused...Everyone told me bipolar disorder is so easy to recover from, you'll live a normal life3 still/ I don't have a normal life. I live in a dark, dark place that feels like what I'd imagine hell to feel like. I just want to regain a semblance of the person I once was. To have hopes and dreams again...Not some crazy freak who can't hold down a job, relationship, or anything that resembles a meaningful life.

I don't know what to do anymore. As anyone whose been depressed knows each depression period can sometimes feel like the worst. And Idk, this one feels like it's endless to me. I just would like to have a life again... as easy as everyone makes it sound. The truth is hasn't been easy at all this far and I doubt it may ever be that easy. I want to feel like someone again. I haven't felt like that in over three years now. I'd give everything to be half the person I used to be.

[Gilly 1086]

I do think for some Bipolar can be managed the natural way, maybe you are one of those people. If you do choose to go off the meds just make sure you do it carefully and with the care and support of your doctor and psych jord.

[b00ts 16]

Maybe ask about Lamictal?

It has one of the strongest antidepressant meds in the bipolar repetoire and is often used for major depression for folks who don't respond to SSRI. I've been on Lamictal for awhile now you know, and other than swinging into periodic manias my depression is totally gone.

[shaun 6]

I recently read some shocking statistics about the effects of anti-depressants. Did you know that anti-depressants actually increase the risk of s****de? Considering whether to come off the meds is totally understandable given the side effects you are experiencing, I would be off the drugs already.

[Esperahol 0]

I recently read some shocking statistics about the effects of anti-depressants. Did you know that anti-depressants actually increase the risk of s****de? Considering whether to come off the meds is totally understandable given the side effects you are experiencing, I would be off the drugs already.

Even the commerical make mention of how you could be jacking yourself up worse with the medication meant to help you. That said it is worth a try and you can always stop it should sympthoms worsen.

[shaun 6]

Even the commerical make mention of how you could be jacking yourself up worse with the medication meant to help you. That said it is worth a try and you can always stop it should sympthoms worsen.

True, my friend has had a positive experience with anti-depressants. He is going through a difficult time with a court case over access rights to his son and the anti-depressants have enabled him to cope. The only problem is that he has tried coming off the drugs and he didn't cope well, I think he is now dependent on the drugs to feel normal.

[ManiaInMichigan 0]

It's never easy. I've struggled for years to bring this bipolar even remotely under control. I've lost two great jobs in the process. I was diagnosed seven years ago and feel like I've only gotten some control back in the last two years. It's a lifelong journey.

Be careful coming off meds. The rebound can be worse than the original state. Only do it with Doctor's advice. I agree Seroquel sucks. Like was said earlier - try Lamictal. It's worked good for me. Remember, the solution may be a combination of a few drugs.

[KTH 0]

I’ve have my BP tweaked countless times over the few decades.  I was on Serequel only briefly, but it was what I needed at the time.  All meds for BP are like that; there is no right and wrong.

If serequel isn’t working for you, talk to your doctor and come up with a game plan.  Sometimes lithium, as a adjunctive med for depression, works quite well.