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Do I Have to Take Psychiatric Medication For The Rest of My Life?

June 11, 2012 Natalie Jeanne Champagne

Coming to terms with taking psychiatric medication for a mental illness is one of the most difficult parts of mental health recovery.

I have touched on the topic of taking psychiatric medication forever in a previous post but it deserves more attention. It's a complex topic and something we all think about when diagnosed with a mental illness.

My Experience Taking Psychiatric Medication

I really don't like talking about myself a huge deal in this blog. I tend to do this too much in other areas of my life (my poor mother!) but sometimes my experience with specific things makes it real both to myself and to those reading it (I hope).

I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the age of twelve--it wasn't much fun---and taking new medications was frightening. I have tried so many medications I could write a novella and perhaps it would extend to a full novel--I assume this would be an entirely boring book.

It took three years to find medication that worked. I was fifteen before I could enter the world again, sort of clear headed, but still terrified. I wondered: What are these pills doing to my body? Why am I so tired? Is it worth it? Twenty-seven years old now I can state-- with absolute certainty--that it is.

I have changed my medications many times. More times then I can recall. Sometimes they stop working and sometimes they never did work. In the winter months, or when my stress level is high, I slip into depression and things need to be changed around. It is exhausting.

Psychiatric Medication Side-Effects

Have you ever seen those prime-time commercials on psychiatric medication? Example: You're watching some stupid reality show (or the news; sometimes these can seem like similar programs). You get hit with commercials. Hopefully you press mute, usually you do not. A commercial advertising the new Triscuit crackers! Maybe you make a mental note to buy them or to avoid them entirely.

And then...an ad for an antidepressant! These commercials usually include a beautiful person with a lovely purse sized dog. She is smiling and telling you how this medication has changed her life. Great. Good for her!

A few seconds later, once she is done chasing her dog around her beautiful yard, a voice states very quietly and spoken like an auctioneer: This medication may cause weight gain, lethargy, strokes or death. Consult with your health care practitioner if you experience swelling of the limbs, a sudden rash or an inability to move.

Among other things. Fun stuff! Swelling of the limbs? Well, if my serotonin level is higher I guess that's a small price to pay (sort of).

I love these commercials as much as I love decaf coffee--not at all. But side-effects are part of recovery and usually they go away. If they don't you try something else. You keep trying until you find medication that keeps you well and allows you to function. It isn't fun but it's a heck of a lot better than not having medication that can help us recover from mental illness.

The Waiting Game...When Will These Psychiatric Drugs Work?!

Waiting is the worst part. Side-effects usually go away within a few weeks, or months, but waiting to find the right medication has no timeline. You never know if they will work, and if they do work, how long it will take for them to become effective.

Every medication is different; some work relatively quickly and some take months. It varies from person to person. But once you find medication that works you quickly forget how long it took. Being able to live again is more important!

The Reality of Psychiatric Medication

We probably need to take psychiatric medication for the rest of our lives. Ask yourself: "Is this such a bad thing?" "Does the benefit outweigh the risk" More often than not, it does. People get sick, not just people with mental illness, and they take medication to become well again or well for the first time.

The bottom line? Medication is both a blessing and a curse. I try to vote for the former, all things considered.

APA Reference
Jeanne, N. (2012, June 11). Do I Have to Take Psychiatric Medication For The Rest of My Life?, HealthyPlace. Retrieved on 2024, March 28 from https://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/recoveringfrommentalillness/2012/06/i-have-to-take-medication-for-the-rest-of-my-life



Author: Natalie Jeanne Champagne

S
December, 12 2018 at 4:17 pm

Hi. I have ptsd. I've put on a lot of weight ever since I started my meds. I gained like 15 kg. I'm only 19. I started getting fat shamed alot. I started hating my body. It made me sleepy too.i slept for hours.13/14 hours at.once. I stopped taking my meds. I'm from the subcontinent, mental illness is a stigma here. They don't care if you're on the verge of killing yourself. they care if You're skinny because otherwise, who's going to 'marry you', right? My mother has Schizophrenia, my dad divorced her, now she lives with my grandma, as if it wasn't hard enough. I guess I just wanted to share my story with someone who gets it.

Vicky Karastergios
July, 17 2018 at 12:56 pm

I don't want to take medication for the rest of my life. I have been medicated for 22 years. The medication has taken a toll on my body. I have liver problems.

Letitia Febres  
May, 19 2017 at 1:23 am

thanks a lot

Serafina
August, 24 2016 at 10:50 am

So yea listen up Taking medicine the rest of your life is a bit of an understatement. I know exactly how that feels i mean do i really care about anyone?NO HELL NO! the only person i care about is myself and im making progress. Even though im not 100 % better i will somehow get better.

paul
June, 26 2015 at 9:18 pm

My view, Not necessarily, but a medication should not stop suddenly or without discussing it with a doctor. Over time, dosage can be reduced, and with planning a trial off a medication can be tried. People whose illness has gone on for years or who have had repeated episodes of acute problems usually require taking medications for a long period of time in the same way that individuals with diabetes, high blood pressure and asthma do.

Kara
September, 22 2012 at 4:23 pm

My concern is that I am only 20 years old. If I meet the man of my dreams and get married. I want to be able to have the 5 kids that I want. But I cant with the medication I am on. It will cause sever birth defects, I am stuck adopiting cause I cant function off of the stupid meds... REALLY! Is there any hope for those of us who want to get off of these?

cindyaka
June, 11 2012 at 2:57 pm

I am grateful that I have meds that work, even if I have to take them for life. I've been lucky, only had a change in two meds, one stopped working and the other made me drop dead sleepy. They didn't take overly long to kick in either. (So far,so good, right now)

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Natalie Jeanne Champagne
June, 12 2012 at 3:38 pm

Hi, Cindy:
I agree. I feel blessed they work. Not all of us are so lucky.
Thanks so much for your comment,
Natalie

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