[Yankee06]

Need to get some real deal advice on starting/stopping/starting BP meds (I'm on Lamictol, Depakote, Serequil). What happens if I take them, stop for a while, have to start, stop for awhile, etc. I'm not looking for the "don't stop your meds feed", I want to know what this actually does to me physically with the start stop. I have been on these meds for over 2 years, and have stopped and re-started a few times. I do gradually taper down and when things start to go up/down in my thought process, I gradually go back on so I don't go all the way into a cycle. BP aside, what does doing that do to me on a physical level? Any thoughts.....

[ENDOrphine]

I take Lithium, Wellbutrin, Xanax, and used to take Depakote and Seroquel. I've never really had any physical side effects when I quit taking my meds. I usually quit taking them when I start feeling good, then a week or two after stopping the bipolar meds, I experience severe anxiety and go back on the rollercoaster, you know how it goes. I'm not sure about the validity of this, but my doctor told me about a year ago, that everytime you stop taking your meds when you're not supposed to, it will make you more susceptible to having severe manic episodes in the future. He said something about it damaging neurons in a way that can make you less emotionally stable. Maybe this was a scare tactic to keep me on my meds because it sounds a little suspicious. Maybe it's something to look into.