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A member asked:

My wife was put on litium and she was ok before these meds, can she just stop taking lithium after she has been on it for a year she was functional before meds, mental hospital says she has bipolar, manic depressant etc, but the meds made her sleep all th

2 doctor answers11 doctors weighed in
Dr. Heidi Fowler
Psychiatry 27 years experience
Hello. : Hello. If a person has bipolar disorder medication might be required for life. However, if she is having significant problems with lithium she should tell her psychiatrist. That way they can explore other options that are better tolerated. I don't recommend that she just stop medication.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Dr. Elizabeth Finley-Belgrad
Child Psychiatry 36 years experience
Talk to prescriber: She will need to work with her prescriber , there are a number of medications that treat bipolar disorder well, and some times it takes a bit of work to identify the best choice for any patient. Just stopping medication is not a good choice, but do let her prescriber know about her Side effects as all meds for this work differentlyand likely a better match is possible
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Last updated Sep 30, 2019

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