Coming off medication

For many people, medication is really beneficial for their mental wellbeing. It can help to alleviate the intensity of distressing thoughts and feelings. Medications prescribed by medical doctors are well controlled and regulated in the UK, and there are clear guidelines on how they should be used. People who choose to continue taking medication for long periods should remain in contact with the person who prescribes it to ensure that everything is going well.

However, it is perfectly reasonable that people would want to be free of medication. Some of the reasons for this are:

• Feeling that medication has done what it was supposed to do and isn’t needed anymore
• Unpleasant side-effects
• Wanting to start a family or wanting to breastfeed
• Stigma
• Wanting to try other ways of managing distress

The general advice is to speak to a doctor or prescriber before stopping medication so that the easiest way of doing so can be explored. There are other important things to think about, such as:

• Having a support network for difficult times
• Being conscious of not using other substances to replace the effects of medication (eg alcohol)
• Getting some knowledge about a healthy lifestyle, including how physical activity and a balanced diet can help
• Preparing an Advance Statement which can include preferences for if coming off doesn’t go well

There are only limited circumstances where a person can be forced to take medication; these are set out in the Mental Health Act. Therefore, anyone should be able to discuss coming off with their doctor/prescriber. Ask for a second opinion if necessary.

It’s important to remember that there are certain medications which shouldn’t be stopped suddenly as this can be dangerous. These include Lithium, Clozapine and benzodiazepines.