Medication

[Kirstielou09]

Hi ladies how long are you / have been on medication for I'm on olanzapine and I was on 20mg but over the course of 8 1/2 months I'm now on 5mg ? I'm wondering how much longer I'm expected to be on it

[Sarah2015]

Hi Kirstielou09

I'm on a very low dose of Abilify. I've been taking it for five years apart from the break I had to have my second child.

I would recommend that you listen to the advice of your psychiatrist. I stopped taking medication after I suffered from PP and I relapsed ten months later.

[Jenny_at_APP Partner]

Hi kirstielou09,

I was on medication (quetiapine) for 15 months - 12 months at 300mg and then reduced off them over 3 months. I found it quite frustrating at times as I wanted to be off them. I get the impression most people are on medication for at least a year, it will all depend on individual circumstances. It's definitely important to listen to the psychiatrist's advice and when the time comes to come off them, to do it safely following their advice.

Best wishes x

[betty2014]

I was on 10mg of olzanpine back in November 2013 and After a long time of being reduced to 7.5, 5, 2.5 I was finally taken out it in March 2015. My doctor recommend 3 months per level. Hope this helps

[Mims2014]

I was on 20mg of Aripriprizole in March 2015, reduced by 5mg every 3-4 months and was off completely in April 2015. I then couldn't sleep as my brain was so used to it, however after 2 weeks with no sleep, then sleeping pills, after 6 weeks I was sleeping fine again and I'm completely med free now if I were ever on meds again, I wouldn't stop at 5mg, i would cut it in half then half again for a few weeks to taper off better, although my meds are different to yours and mine made me very sleepy , you'll probably be fine

[Ellie_at_APP Partner]

Hi Kirstie

As you can see each person is different, depending on their experience.

I was on Olanzapine for about 1 year to 18 months. Like the others have said I came off with the psychiatrists help by reducing slowly over three to four months. It worked well for me and it is really vital that you follow the psychiatrist advice etc and not come off yourself. As someone has written here some people have relapsed if they've just taken themselves off it too soon, and too quickly, without following the professional advice.

It's really positive that your anti psychotic has been reduced and if you feel you'd like to come off it, and feel you're well enough, I would discuss with your psychiatrist. My experience was the psychiatrist really listened to me and started reducing it and took me off it when I asked if I could. They obviously felt I was well enough to do that as well.

I hope that helps

[DEb12W]

Slow and steady is definitely the way to go. Step by step with time in between so that you can get comfortable at each level. I have had two serious episodes of PP, still on some meds two years on. Only came off completely last time to try for another baby.

I know what it feels like to want be off the meds and all better, but take it slowly so you can be better rather than have setbacks on the way.

[Hannah_at_APP Administrator]

Hi Kirstie,

I too was on olanzapine. The doses for you sound quite similar to what I had too. I stopped it after probably a year, maybe slightly less but took lithium for 3 yrs.

Coming off meds or reducing is something that the medical professionals will want to do fairly steadily and it was what worked for me too. I know I also felt that taking meds was a constant reminder of being ill and I did feel frustrated if the reductions weren't as fast as I'd hoped. But it is best to go steady, you've had a serious illness and it'll take a bit of time for your body and mind to recover.

Hope you're still doing well, it sounds as if you've done brilliantly in less than a year, well done! Take care, xx