Experiences of Attempting to Discontinue Antipsychotic Medication

Antipsychotic medications (AMs) are widely prescribed to people who experience psychosis and mania. Adverse effects are common and can have an unwanted impact on daily functioning that for some may outweigh the benefits of... [ view full abstract ]

Antipsychotic medications (AMs) are widely prescribed to people who experience psychosis and mania. Adverse effects are common and can have an unwanted impact on daily functioning that for some may outweigh the benefits of symptom reduction. People taking AMs frequently attempt to discontinue the medication. Very few studies have explored the subjective experience of attempting discontinuation, how people implement advice to withdraw gradually, or how people describe their outcomes. Most focus on understanding the decision-making process rather than exploring people’s personal efforts to manage or the impact of the withdrawal method they choose to use. As part of a larger doctoral study, an online, anonymous survey exploring experiences of AM was completed by 144 adults living in New Zealand, 105 of whom had made at least one attempt to discontinue and answered a series of questions exploring how they managed their most recent attempt and what the outcome of that attempt was. Content analysis was used to explore the range of experiences and Pearson's Chi Square was used to test the differences between those who successfully stopped and those who resumed AMs. Approximately half the group thought they had support for their attempt, and around half described successfully stopping. Half the group believed they followed a gradual withdrawal method, but only a third met objective criteria for gradual withdrawal. Having support, and following a gradual withdrawal method were significantly associated with both successfully stopping AMs and having no current use at the time of completing the survey. Perceptions of support, and withdrawal method appear to play a role in the outcomes of those who attempt to stop taking AMs. Many people may be attempting discontinuation without the support and information required to make their attempt as safely as possible.