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CLOSED // Topic Tuesday // Medication

NikNikSenior Contributor02 Apr 2016, 1:17 pm AEDT

CLOSED // Topic Tuesday // Medication

Managing medication: choosing to stay on or stop meds and how to make your choice and act accordingly with safety

During this Topic Tuesday, some of the issues we will discuss include:

- Reasons for staying on or stopping medication

- How can I start or finish medication?

- Side effects and benefits

Medication can be a tricky topic to discuss. Please read our guidelines before participating in the Topic Tuesday. The main guidelines around medication are:

- Names & dosages of specific medication is against guidelines, however you can refer to families of medication (eg: anti-psychotics, antidepressants etc)

- Medical advice is against guidelines. If a post specifically encourages someone to start/stop/adjust their medication or implies their advice is medical advice, then it will be removed.

If any posts are removed, you will recieve an email with information on why and how you can edit it.

Finally, we all must respect that everyone's experience with medication is different and unique, and it's not an opportunity to push pro or anti medication agendas. The session is to talk about strategies for your own experiences and hear about how others have managed 🙂

This community is an awesome, friendly & respectful place, so I know it's going to be a really wonderful session.

Join us from 7pm AEDT.

3 things you can do now:

1. Register as a member of the forums, which enables you to participate in the session

2. Hit the like button below to receive an email reminder on the night

3. Read our latest blog on the topic

79 replies

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In response to: CLOSED // Topic Tuesday // Medication

Shaz51Senior Contributor19 Apr 2016, 7:06 pm AEST

Re: COMING UP: Topic Tuesday // IN SESSION NOW // Medication

Hello @NikNik, @snoopy, @Former-Member, @MoonGal, @Shimmer, @Karensfred

My husband has MI all his life , his meds has been trial and error for sooo many years , now he has found the antidepressants , and the anti anxiety meds that he is on now are good but with some side effort like putting a on weight

And now he has a lump on his chest which the doctor thinks it is from his meds

In response to: CLOSED // Topic Tuesday // Medication

BillambaSenior Contributor19 Apr 2016, 7:09 pm AEST

Re: COMING UP: Topic Tuesday // IN SESSION NOW // Medication

I have a silly question but if I feel I need to increase my medication do I book an appointment to see my GP or can I book it over the phone?

Prior to moving here I worked with a mental health nurse through the RFDS and I just told her and she sort of sorted it for me so I'm feeling quite lost on how it's normally done?

In response to: CLOSED // Topic Tuesday // Medication

NikNikSenior Contributor19 Apr 2016, 7:09 pm AEST

Re: COMING UP: Topic Tuesday // IN SESSION NOW // Medication

Doing a call out to @Hazelle @dianaprince @Simack @BlueBay @Wings1 @Brand-Newday @kaybee75 @Foucault @janedoe2 @Former-Member @Shaz51 @Former-Member @Melb456 @verity85 @Former-Member @rabbit78 @Akemp1973

Be sure to join us for Topic Tuesday 🙂

In response to: Re: COMING UP: Topic Tuesday // IN SESSION NOW // Medication

Shaz51Senior Contributor19 Apr 2016, 7:11 pm AEST

Re: COMING UP: Topic Tuesday // IN SESSION NOW // Medication

The doctor wants him to wean off the meds slowly but when he took only half he became unwell agin , he wants to stay on them but is worried about the sideafects

In response to: Re: COMING UP: Topic Tuesday // IN SESSION NOW // Medication

BlueBaySenior Contributor19 Apr 2016, 7:12 pm AEST

Re: COMING UP: Topic Tuesday // IN SESSION NOW // Medication

Hi @Billamba

Each time I have had my meds increased by my pyschiatrist. I did phone him once and he said to increase them. So maybe call your GP. It's that sometimes they like to chat with you first; just to see how you are going.

In response to: Re: COMING UP: Topic Tuesday // IN SESSION NOW // Medication

NikNikSenior Contributor19 Apr 2016, 7:12 pm AEST

Topic Tuesday // IN SESSION NOW // Medication

Hi @Shaz51 - welcome to Topic Tuesday.
I do hope your husband is doing okay. I have seen you post about the Dr trips lately.
You're a great support to your husband.

it's great that you're here tonight. I think you'll get some tips and strategies that you work with your husband on.

In response to: CLOSED // Topic Tuesday // Medication

snoopySenior Contributor19 Apr 2016, 7:12 pm AEST

Re: COMING UP: Topic Tuesday // IN SESSION NOW // Medication

Thankyou for sharing your story @BlueBay. Stigma is the very real issue that prevents people staying on their medications when they need them. And that stigma can do a lot of harm and cause a lot of suffering. Mental illness isn’t about being strong enough to endure without intervention (be it medication or therapy), however much stigma would have us dictate sometimes. Thanks again and continue to take care of yourself.

In response to: Re: COMING UP: Topic Tuesday // IN SESSION NOW // Medication

BillambaSenior Contributor19 Apr 2016, 7:17 pm AEST

Re: COMING UP: Topic Tuesday // IN SESSION NOW // Medication

Thanks @BlueBay
I find it so hard to know what to do and still really struggle with the stigma around mental illness and antidepressants so avoid talking about it as much as possible.

In response to: Topic Tuesday // IN SESSION NOW // Medication

Shaz51Senior Contributor19 Apr 2016, 7:18 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // IN SESSION NOW // Medication

Thanks @NikNik and @snoopy

My other question is that my husband takes meds one in the morning and on at night , sometimes he will take another one during the day -- is this ok

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // IN SESSION NOW // Medication

snoopySenior Contributor19 Apr 2016, 7:21 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // IN SESSION NOW // Medication

Hi @shaz. If your husband is struggling with coming off his medications, encourage him to chat with his doctor. It might be the half reduction was too much too quick. Perhaps much slower will prevent such a quick relapse. But this is something to be discussed and monitored by his doctors.

As for his tablet dose and schedule, i would like to be able to offer you an answer or guideance. However only his doctor can safely advise on when is best.

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