Have you ever increased meds without permission?

[Bimbo Bear]

I'm not saying I'm going to do it, but I'm curious about if anyone else has tried to do this before when they felt their medication really wasn't working. How did that go over? Did you eventually tell your pdoc? This question is open to anyone taking meds, not just anti-psych meds.

[aura]

I've definitely decreased them. I haven't increased, but I've come close a few times (such as when I was getting manic and pdoc wasn't responding to emails).

[Flash]

Yeah, but not so much increasing current meds as adding others. I have three paper grocery sacks full of old meds going back over decade. I tell my pdoc about it. He knows that I'm not the most perfectly compliant person out there. Mostly I only take painkillers, muscle relaxers, and benzos. Stims too, but he's ok with those. The benzos are probably the most problematic, because of my drinking. But I never take more than one pill a day. If it was going to kill me, it would have done so long ago.

[Swamp56]

My last pdoc gave me relatively broad authority over my meds and would give me instructions on how to lower/raise doses if I thought either was necessary between appointments. That isn't to say, though, that all pdocs would be ok with it.

[melissaw72]

I have an overall ok from pdoc to lower or higher doses, as long as I tell him about it.  Usually he agrees (though not every time).  I don't add meds (ie a completely different med than the others that I am on).  That I have to ask for.

I agree with what @Swamp56 said ...

8 hours ago, Swamp56 said:

That isn't to say, though, that all pdocs would be ok with it.

 

 

Edited March 30, 2017 by melissaw72

[Catwoman]

My gdoc isn't too happy with me raising my current dose without consulting him, but I've gone to 175 mg instead of staying on 150 mg. I've been on sertraline for three months and I want to increase to 200 mg because I don't get the feeling that it's working for me. I've been on SSRI's for like 10 years, so I know what I'm doing when I'm increasing dose. But my gdoc isn't a fan of antidepressants anyway and keeps pushing mindfulness meditation...It's probably time to find a good pdoc to discuss this kind of issues...
My counsellor, who worked in psychiatric hospitals, thinks it's OK so he's just advising me not to go too far and be careful. But he's not against it.
 

[HisHarleQuinn]

I wouldn't consider an increase as my once in awhile, really RARE of taking two zolofts at a time instead of one. (I take two a day, and two Lamictal a day as well, I actually was taking lower than I was suppose to. My psych apparently had instructed on my bottles to start with one, and one half of the Zoloft and Lamictal, then one and one half, one, and so on.) Like, if I feel really anxious, I might take one more Zoloft when I take my medicine, or take another one throughout the day plus my perscribed two. I would never increase my own medication higher than that, and I've never done that days, weeks, or months in a row. When I say rare, I mean it. And meds are tricky, they ARE a drug. Increasing your meds isn't safe, no matter what anyone says. Unless your doctor says you can, at certain doses, that's one thing. Just doing it because you want to? no. You could overdose. And you might not be found in time to save you. That's the bad thing. Perscription or not, pills are drugs. Asprin is a drug. Ibproufen is a drug. Allergy medicine is a drug. Dayquil, Nyquil, sleep aides, etc are drugs. That's why there's a dosage instruction on bottles, boxes, packaging, etc so you don't risk ending up in the ER getting your stomach pumped, or worse - six feet under in your grave. Be careful, don't do things you shouldn't. Meds aren't something to joke around about. Increasing your meds can also cause possible side effects that could affect your body/mind long term, or even give you sucidal thoughts/ideations if they are SSRIs and the like. Medication for the mind is a battlefield. Remember that.

[HisHarleQuinn]

Not only that, but if you run out of medication before you're predicted date to, like if you're given a thirty day supply, and you use it before that time frame is up you usually won't get a refill. Maybe if you have some available, yeah. but I've had doctors who wouldn't do that, and if I ran out before then I would be screwed. And if you didn't have refills available, your pharmacy would have to call your doctor, or you would for a refill. And they will say no most likely. And if you run out meds before you're suppose to, they could also assume you're SELLING your meds. Especially if you're on something like Xanax, Hydrocodone, Lithium, Oxycotin, Valium, Adderall, etc. and other common street drugs. If your doctor even suspects you're selling your medication, they may not perscribe to you again at all. These are just things that can happen, some of my and my friends experiences. I had an ex who sold his ADHD meds when he wanted to contribute to the bills we had. I didn't like it because he would end up having to withdrawl for a week or so. Just keep these things in mind.

[melissaw72]

4 hours ago, ladyboss said:

Not only that, but if you run out of medication before you're predicted date to, like if you're given a thirty day supply, and you use it before that time frame is up you usually won't get a refill.

(bold 1) Very true. 

 

[Catwoman]

9 hours ago, ladyboss said:

Not only that, but if you run out of medication before you're predicted date to, like if you're given a thirty day supply, and you use it before that time frame is up you usually won't get a refill. 

Yes, very likely.
I told my counselor (who works at my doctor's office) what I would like to do and promised him consult my doctor next week. I have one refill left, so before picking it up I would like to tell my gdoc.
SSRI's and other psych meds are serious drugs...so I would never advice anyone to take more (of less) without talking to your doctor first.

[notloki]

I've sometimes decreased meds but not increased as then I will run out of meds early. Much better to work with my doc on getting the right dosage. I've been given the OK to adjust the doses of some meds but I would communicate with my doc before an increase over what I am normally given.

[HisHarleQuinn]

Another reason you likely don't get early refills, from personal experience, is because you need to see your doctor regularly. An actual MD, PNP, Psychatrist, whatever your whoever perscribes your meds - usually want you to see them regularly. Depending on what you discussed in regards to regularly, my psych said she would see me in a month, but I have over five refills right now available to me. And if that is given to you, don't ever abuse that kindness. A lot of doctors want to make sure you're adjusting to a new med well, or that you're not experiencing bad side effects, or that you're taking them regularly, etc. It just depends on the situation; and if you're an ex addict they definently keep eyes on that like a pill popper, or seller. My doctor knows one of my meds isn't new, and I guess she trusts me to call if there's a problem. I keep my counseling appts. regularly - usually and talk about my medication there too although he doesn't perscribe, but my PNP does. And I know from years of psych. medication to call especially about self harm/suicidal ideations from meds or in general. If your meds aren't working and you feel you need an increase, and I'm about to sound like a med commercials - TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR. Make an appt. and get in ASAP. If it's not working and you still feel like a smushed panckage on the sidewalk that someone let their dog poo on then call your doctor! Usually, if you explain to the receptionist/person who answers/makes appts. whatever; and tell them the reason for your call and that it's not necessarily just a like "check up" visit, they'll squeeze you in ASAP. I've had doctors who would put me on the call list if someone cancelled. With my therapist if it's a crisis situation, he'll stay as late as 10pm. He has for me before. There are doctors who do that for their clients. Their job is to make sure you are in good health or at least getting there.

[Iceberg]

In over 30 med trials ....the only one I stopped without permission is geodon 

[Gearhead]

I quit Geodon without telling my doc as well. Geodon was awful for me, and after all this time retains the dubious distinction of being the worst med I've ever taken. 

Come to think of it, I also quit lithium, without, I think, tapering off of it. It was a very long time ago and I didn't know any better, and I felt so fucked up at the time I don't even remember if there were withdrawals. 

As to upping doses, no; as noted, how could you without running out and being in worse shape than before? I do have standing permission from my pnurse to suddenly increase my Seroquel IR intake if I start getting hypo, and to call her and let her know.

[Iceberg]

Yes geodon=my worst med 

[jordansonfleek]

Yes, but I always to make sure to tell him

[Flash]

On 3/31/2017 at 2:18 PM, Gearhead said:

I quit Geodon without telling my doc as well. Geodon was awful for me, and after all this time retains the dubious distinction of being the worst med I've ever taken. 

Come to think of it, I also quit lithium, without, I think, tapering off of it. It was a very long time ago and I didn't know any better, and I felt so fucked up at the time I don't even remember if there were withdrawals. 

As to upping doses, no; as noted, how could you without running out and being in worse shape than before? I do have standing permission from my pnurse to suddenly increase my Seroquel IR intake if I start getting hypo, and to call her and let her know.

When I quit lithium, I just quit. I don't think there is a need for a taper. 

[rowan77]

10 hours ago, Flash said:

When I quit lithium, I just quit. I don't think there is a need for a taper. 

It is very important to taper off lithium slowly as coming off it quickly can cause rebound mania.

I had to come off it more quickly than i should have due to kidney damage and i became manic. My pdoc warned me about this and i was tapering under his guidance but i didn't really take it seriously.

Definitely not a good idea to quit lithium cold turkey.

[Flash]

1 hour ago, rowan77 said:

It is very important to taper off lithium slowly as coming off it quickly can cause rebound mania.

I had to come off it more quickly than i should have due to kidney damage and i became manic. My pdoc warned me about this and i was tapering under his guidance but i didn't really take it seriously.

Definitely not a good idea to quit lithium cold turkey.

I don't  know about the very important part, but I think you're right about a chance of there being mania. I think it's an individual thing, though. In my case, I would just take Zyprexa. For someone else, it could be more problematic, I suppose. I forget that I'm blessed with no issues coming off of meds, for the most part. I did taper Abilify and doxepin, but those were the only two. And I knew people who had horrible experiences getting off of Paxil, and I just quit it cold turkey no problem. I didn't know that was a bad idea at the time, but at least I didn't suffer any ill effects.

[rowan77]

I have also been blessed coming off of medications. I think lithium was the only one that i had issues with. Maybe it was because i had been on it 13.5 years.

[mcjimjam]

I have sometimes increased lithium on my own when I felt manic. Doctor didn't seem too worried about that. I've also taken more Concerta than I'm supposed to but didn't tell pdoc about that.