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Coming Off Psychiatric Drugs

Disclaimer:

This publication is based on a Mind UK publication and the original version may be found here: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/a-z-mental-health/

Thank you to Mind UK for sharing their valuable content with us. Content included in Mental Health A-Z is made available free of charge and does not form part of any commercial activity. The adaptation has been done independently by Mind HK and is intended for general information purposes only.

Is coming off my medication right for me? 

You may take psychiatric drugs for a variety of conditions. You may only need them for relatively short periods, but your diagnosis and symptoms may mean that you are expected to take them for a long time – perhaps indefinitely. 

Many people who have come off their medication, even after taking it for a long time, find that in fact they can manage well and often feel better without it. 

If you are taking psychiatric drugs and feel that you no longer need them (or do not wish to take them for a long time) you may want to see if you can manage just as well, or get on better, without them. 

“I have chosen to come off medication several times and been forced to come off it many times as well.”

Some reasons why you might want to come off medication 

  • it has done its job, and I no longer need it 
  • I have found other ways of coping with my mental health problem 
  • it is not helpful – I have been told my condition is ‘treatment- resistant’ 
  • it has unpleasant side effects which make it hard to tolerate 
  • it is affecting my physical health 
  • it makes me lose touch with my feelings 
  • it reduces my energy and enthusiasm, which affects my relationships and my ability to work 
  • I would like to start a family and am afraid the drugs may affect my baby while I’m pregnant or breastfeeding. 

Alternatively, you may find your medications helpful and feel that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. 

Some reasons why people have decided to stay on medication 

  • Since I found a drug that suits me, I have been getting my life back together 
  • I feel I benefit from taking the drug and so it’s worth putting up with the side effects 
  • my doctors think I should continue with it, and I value their advice 
  • I have tried to come off in the past and found it difficult to cope 
  • my family would be really worried if I stopped taking it 
  • I need to stay well for my baby 
  • I think I still need it at the moment, but might consider coming off at another time. 

Weighing up the advantages & disadvantages of coming off

It’s very important to think about the decision to come off medication and whether it is right for you. 

You might find it helpful to use a decision chart, like this example: 

Advantages Disadvantages
Coming off medication 
  • I will be able to drive again 
  • I will have more energy 
  • I want to lose the weight I’ve gained 
  • I might have another breakdown 
  • my partner will be angry with me 
Staying on medication 
  • I’m quite stable at the moment – why rock the boat? 
  • I don’t want to risk the withdrawal effects 
  • I don’t want to risk a relapse 
  • I don’t feel truly myself 
  • my sex life is affected 
  • it makes me very sleepy all the time

If you decide to try coming off your medication, it’s very important to: 

  • get support, preferably from others who have come off successfully or from a professional who understands the process 
  • find out the possible risks and how to minimise them 
  • come off gradually, over a period of time. 

“If you have been told that you must not stop your medication, even though you would like to try, see the Mind resource Your right to refuse medication. You can also ask for a second opinion, if you feel that would be helpful – you may need to talk to your GP about this.”

“My current doctor is great, and has always said that it is up to me if I take the medication or not, which makes me feel a lot better about it as I feel more in control.”

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What is iACT Service?

Improving Access to Community Therapies (iACT®) is one of the services from Mind HK. Trained Wellbeing Practitioners will offer initial assessment and early intervention for people dealing with mild to moderate symptoms of depression, anxiety, or other emotional difficulties.

 

The service includes 6-8 sessions of low-intensity psychological support, the flexibility of the service allows individuals to receive free and timely support when needed.

If you’re aged between 18 – 65 and are facing some emotional challenges, we would like to invite you to take an online assessment for us to gain a better understanding of your current emotional struggle.

 

If you’re eligible, we’ll get you connected with a Wellbeing Practitioner within two weeks to sort out the next steps.

The service runs for about 3 months and includes 6-8 support sessions, tailored to your needs.

 

We encourage you to attend all sessions and actively practice the tips and exercises provided by your Wellbeing Practitioner.

We take your privacy seriously. Your chats with the Wellbeing Practitioner are confidential.

 

We won’t share any of your info unless you’ve provided consent or if there are risks detected.

This programme isn’t suitable for people facing emergencies, major setbacks, or those diagnosed with serious or complex mental health conditions.

 

If you’re having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, this programme might not meet your needs, so please seek help right away. You can check out Mind HK’s “Find Help Now” page for immediate information and services.

Most of our Wellbeing Practitioners have backgrounds in psychology or counselling and are passionate about mental health. They’ve gone through about 140 hours of intensive training and completed at least 120 hours of supervised clinical practice over 9 months to ensure the quality of service.

 

They’re trained by accredited local experts in the mental health field, including clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists, counsellors, and psychiatrists. Plus, we regularly check how effective our services are. All service outputs and performances are subject to consistent monitoring.

Who is suitable for participating in this programme?

This programme welcomes anyone between the ages of 18 and 65 who may be feeling lost or facing emotional difficulties. Please note that this programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions.

This programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions, but suitable for those who experience mild to severe moderate anxiety, mild to moderate depression, or other emotional challenges. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

After signing up, our Wellbeing Practitioner will contact you within two weeks to schedule a convenient time for a 45-minute conversation, either via video or phone call, according to your preference. During the conversation, the Wellbeing Practitioner will understand your current situation and help you gain a better understanding of your emotional state based on the questionnaire you filled out during application. Additionally, they will provide recommendations for appropriate community resources based on your needs, helping you take an important first step in taking care of your mental health.

Although the intervention procedure is mostly standardised, Wellbeing Practitioners will work flexibly with clients to address individual presenting problems and unique characteristics.

Our Wellbeing Practitioners are trained to support people who experience mild to moderate mental health difficulties primarily. This programme is not suitable for the situations mentioned above. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

Your conversations with the Wellbeing Practitioner are absolutely confidential. Any information about you will not be shared with anyone without your consent unless you or others are at immediate risk or the Wellbeing Practitioner has reason to believe that you may be in imminent danger.
Supervisors will monitor trainees’ development throughout the placement to ensure that they are meeting the required level of competency to pass the training course at the end of the placement.

Yes, it is necessary to book an appointment in advance by filling out the form. Additionally, you can select one of the five stores yourself. We will allocate clients to different Wellbeing Practitioners based on their chosen location.

Before having the conversation, we will ask you to fill out a basic questionnaire for preliminary screening assessment. This screening process aims to ensure that the training received by the Wellbeing Practitioners is sufficient to meet the needs of the individuals receiving the service. If it is determined after the screening assessment that the service is not suitable for you, Mind HK will provide alternative recommendations to ensure your safety and support.

For adults who are suitable for this service, all Wellbeing Practitioners have received training on how to identify and respond to safety and risk issues. If you have any concerns about the support process, the Wellbeing Practitioners have appropriate measures in place and will develop response plans based on the urgency of the situation. They can also access support from clinical practitioners from Mind HK or participating organisations.

What private training does Mind HK provide?

Mind HK provides 4 themes of mental health training, including: Supporting Self, Supporting Others, Family Wellbeing and DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion).

 

Check out the brochure here for more information.

Mind HK provides a wide range of standardised mental health training, which can be tailored to different circumstances. Chat with our team to explore more! 

Our trainers come from a diverse, accredited pool of clinically experienced professionals. Check out our trainers’ biographies here.

Yes, the Mental Health First Aid class of Mind HK is internationally accredited by the MHFA International. The content and certification is delivered by trainers certified from the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong. You can find out our trainers accreditation here.

We are here to support your mental health education journey! Reach out to us and chat with our team.

Is coming off my medication right for me?

Is coming off my medication right for me? 

You may take psychiatric drugs for a variety of conditions. You may only need them for relatively short periods, but your diagnosis and symptoms may mean that you are expected to take them for a long time – perhaps indefinitely. 

Many people who have come off their medication, even after taking it for a long time, find that in fact they can manage well and often feel better without it. 

If you are taking psychiatric drugs and feel that you no longer need them (or do not wish to take them for a long time) you may want to see if you can manage just as well, or get on better, without them. 

“I have chosen to come off medication several times and been forced to come off it many times as well.”

Some reasons why you might want to come off medication 

  • it has done its job, and I no longer need it 
  • I have found other ways of coping with my mental health problem 
  • it is not helpful – I have been told my condition is 'treatment- resistant' 
  • it has unpleasant side effects which make it hard to tolerate 
  • it is affecting my physical health 
  • it makes me lose touch with my feelings 
  • it reduces my energy and enthusiasm, which affects my relationships and my ability to work 
  • I would like to start a family and am afraid the drugs may affect my baby while I’m pregnant or breastfeeding. 

Alternatively, you may find your medications helpful and feel that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. 

Some reasons why people have decided to stay on medication 

  • Since I found a drug that suits me, I have been getting my life back together 
  • I feel I benefit from taking the drug and so it’s worth putting up with the side effects 
  • my doctors think I should continue with it, and I value their advice 
  • I have tried to come off in the past and found it difficult to cope 
  • my family would be really worried if I stopped taking it 
  • I need to stay well for my baby 
  • I think I still need it at the moment, but might consider coming off at another time. 

Weighing up the advantages & disadvantages of coming off

It’s very important to think about the decision to come off medication and whether it is right for you. 

You might find it helpful to use a decision chart, like this example: 

Advantages Disadvantages
Coming off medication 
  • I will be able to drive again 
  • I will have more energy 
  • I want to lose the weight I've gained 
  • I might have another breakdown 
  • my partner will be angry with me 
Staying on medication 
  • I’m quite stable at the moment – why rock the boat? 
  • I don’t want to risk the withdrawal effects 
  • I don't want to risk a relapse 
  • I don’t feel truly myself 
  • my sex life is affected 
  • it makes me very sleepy all the time

If you decide to try coming off your medication, it's very important to: 

  • get support, preferably from others who have come off successfully or from a professional who understands the process 
  • find out the possible risks and how to minimise them 
  • come off gradually, over a period of time. 

“If you have been told that you must not stop your medication, even though you would like to try, see the Mind resource Your right to refuse medication. You can also ask for a second opinion, if you feel that would be helpful – you may need to talk to your GP about this.”

“My current doctor is great, and has always said that it is up to me if I take the medication or not, which makes me feel a lot better about it as I feel more in control.”