Feeling Better and Psychiatric Medications

Feeling better is the goal for most people when they start psychiatric medications. Most of us start medications because our symptoms are making it hard to live our lives. Mental health symptoms can make you feel like another person and even feel like there is no hope. The goal is to feel better, but what happens when you feel better? Many start to question whether they needed their medications at all. While this is common it isn’t always a good idea to stop your medications when you start to feel better. 

What Can Happen  

If you are considering stopping your psychotropic medications because you feel better, you aren’t alone. Studies have shown that 34% of people report that they  stopped their medications due to feeling better. While this may be a common practice, it isn’t necessarily advisable. 

Stopping your psychotropic medications because you feel better and have negative consequences. These consequences may include; 

  1. Withdrawal: It can be dangerous to stop psychiatric medications without the advice of a psychiatric professional. Many require that you titrate off, meaning that you gradually taper down the dose. This is often required to decrease the risk or intensity of withdrawal symptoms. Not all medications require this, but many do. It’s always best to consult with your prescriber before you change your dosage or discontinue. 
  2. Your Symptoms Can Come Back:  The reality is that many of us feel better BECAUSE of our medications. If you stop taking them it is highly likely your symptoms will return. There is a possibility that when you are feeling better you may be able to discontinue or reduce your medications, though this isn’t always the case. 
  3. Symptoms May Be Worse Than Before:  Your symptoms may not only return if you stop taking your medications, they may actually increase in frequency and intensity. Again, this is why it’s best to seek medical advice before making any final decisions about your medications. 
  4. It May Be Harder to Treat Your Symptoms Later On:  For some, stopping their medications can make it harder to find remission again in the future should symptoms return. While this isn’t the case for everyone, it is for some individuals. Be sure to discuss this possibility with your provider. 

Finding a Provider You Can Trust

Carolina Counseling Services in Fuquay-Varina, NC believes that you should be able to have these types of conversations with your provider. You have a choice in your psychiatric care. You deserve to make your own decisions and make choices that are best for you. When questioning whether or not to stop your medications, your provider should be someone you can talk to. 

CCS contracts with caring licensed psychiatric professionals. Our contracted providers are in network with most major insurances including Aetna, Aetna State Health Plan, Blue Cross and Blue Shield and MANY more. If you are looking for psychiatric care in Fayetteville, NC call CCS today! We even have online psychiatric appointments available!

Jaime Johnson Fitzpatrick LCMHCS, LCAS is one of the Owners and Vice Presidents of Carolina Counseling Services. She is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist in the State of North Carolina as well as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in State of New York. Jaime is also certified in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and utilizes various other approaches in her practice.