Caution for Stopping Psychiatric Medication Abruptly – All you need to know about Relapse

Why people decide to stop taking medicines? Do they know it can cause more harm than benefit?

Well the answer according to the study conducted by Dr. Banov, lies in the thought of people that they might feel better by stopping medicines and thinks they don’t need them anymore. Their family might be pressuring them to stop when they read some nasty feedback or side effect of the medicine.  Many a times, people stop taking medicines when they are experiencing a major change in life like change of job, divorce, changing house, etc. According to psychologists, this is the worst time to stop taking medicines.

There are many other mental health conditions which need the medicines to be taken perpetually. There would be a disaster if they are stopped in between.

Depending on the type of medicine, stopping them suddenly can create many reactions which can range from mild to moderate during early days of discontinuation to even life threatening seizures in some cases in the later phases when the disease relapses with much more severity.

Remember – You should always consult your doctor before stopping any medicine. Do not ever attempt to do it you’re your own thoughts and decision.

Stopping medication is not a quick process

Safe and slow process of drug discontinuation lasts for more than many weeks or months rather than many days. Drugs like antidepressants, takes weeks to show their results; similarly their withdrawal is also spread over several weeks.

Causes and Trigger of Relapses

The environmental cues like people, places, sights and sounds experienced by an addict are among the primary triggers of any kind of relapses which happens to a person.

First we need to understand the triggers. These can be a person, a place, events, or unresolved psychiatric issues, such as depression. While undergoing a treatment for drug addiction, doctors tell the patients to stay away from triggers such as old friends who are still on drugs, stressful situations, etc.

Does relapse to drug abuse mean treatment has failed?

Relapse rates for people with addiction and other substance abuse disorders are similar to rates for other medical illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, etc. Treatment of these chronic diseases has many changes in behavior and personality. When relapse occurs, it cannot be concluded that the treatment has failed. It just suggests that the treatment needs to be reinstated or adjusted, rather than suggesting the failure of treatment.