The first and most important thing to say here is that you absolutely MUST NOT stop taking your medication without the agreement of your doctor. Though it is ultimately up to you to decide when you are ready to come off your tablets, your doctor must be involved in the decision. That said, if your doctor agrees that you are well enough to come off your medication, it must be done on your terms.

Before you went onto your medication you may well have been feeling terrible. Only you can really know what it was like but the reality is that your medication has probably been a big factor in your recovery. Because of this the thought of managing without your medication can seem scary. You want to be off your medication, you think you'll be OK but you won't know for sure until you go there...

Imagine if you had broken your leg and been on crutches - you wouldn't expect to one day just throw them away and walk again and so you shouldn't try to suddenly do without your medication. It is much better to slowly reduce your dose until you are at a point where you no longer need your tablets, and more importantly, believe that you no longer need them because you have proved to yourself that you are fine. A gradual reduction is likely to be what your doctor will suggest.

If your doctor suggests a reduction programme which feels too fast, there is nothing wrong with you agreeing a more gradual reduction of your dosage. For example, it is normal to reduce your dose over a period of six weeks, i.e. by cutting out one tablet so that you are on one every other day over, say, a fortnight and then reducing your dose further. However, do not be pressured into doing something you are not ready to do. If you want to come off your medication and your doctor agrees you are ready, do it at your own pace.

Here are some tips for managing your reduction:

• Expect to feel edgy and irritable initially - this is a normal reaction and may be due to withdrawal from your medication but can also be psychological - you are bound to feel apprehension at this time
• Do not plan any big changes or stressors - you need calm and predictability during the coming months
• Try taking a vitamin tablet as well as your medication or in place of the medication you have cut out - this way as you reduce your medication you will still be taking a tablet which will help you to feel in control. This is a comforting way to reduce your medication because taking it will have become a habit. By taking a vitamin pill in place of your medication you will continue the 'habit' so your mind won't notice the switch between medication and vitamin pill
• If you have been reducing your dose and are fine after a month this is a really good sign so take heart if you are at that point - well done
• Any 'reactions' to reducing your dose will show up within the first two weeks and may include, headaches, edginess, some sleeplessness, snappiness. This is all normal and only to be expected as you have become used to the safety of being on your medication and coming off of it takes courage - you are bound to feel a bit nervous and apprehensive
• Know that if you are beginning to feel ill again, you will already have your medication in your system and so your doctor will probably tell you to increase your dose once again. If this happens don't lose heart - you know your medication works for you and it may be that you just need a little more time before you are ready to do without your tablets. You will get there.
• Do it on your terms - not because anyone is putting you under pressure. You are the best judge of when you are ready to reduce your dose and, much as you might like to be able to say you are no longer on your medication, you must not force yourself to do something you are not ready to do.
• Be wary of doing anyting which makes you tired, e.g alcohol, late nights, poor diet. Instead make sure you have some early nights, arrange for some time to yourself, eat well, do not give yourself hangovers and TAKE EACH DAY AS IT COMES - if you live in the now there is no need to worry about tomorrow and what may or may not happen