Can you refuse meds in the psych ward?

[eighthhouse]

One of my biggest fears is getting found, sent to a psych ward, and then forced to take meds. I've only been in the psych ER before but never on a ward so I don't know what it's like. Do you have the ability to refuse meds? I'm in the US btw & with a record of prior mental illness

 

[BeansOfRequirement]

I think they can do basically whatever they want in the wards. I heard of one young guy getting literal estrogen injections for rebelling. Most likely is that you'll just get some sedatives and shit if you act up, idk. Probably forced to take SSRIs, maybe.

 

[Thegoldenapples]

I'm in the Southern Hemisphere so unsure what it's like up there but i had to take them. One chick refused and she was sedated and ended up being in there for 3 months instead of 2 weeks.

 

[Bootleg Astolfo]

Here they can't force you to take them, i'd say just very strongly oppose any pills until they propose you some ''emergency case pills'', agree to those, never actually take them lol.

 

[eighthhouse]

Here they can't force you to take them, i'd say just very strongly oppose any pills until they propose you some ''emergency case pills'', agree to those, never actually take them lol.

What country if you don't mind my asking?

 

[Bootleg Astolfo]

What country if you don't mind my asking?

Maple Baguette Land

 

[Sherri]

When I was at a psych ward they fed me so many pills, I have no idea what I took, but left me like a zombie, and we were forced to take it. Hope it's different for you.

 

[torimandy]

You can refuse meds, but until you take them you will be in the psych ward. Taking the crap THEY think is best for you is part of the lie you have to tell to get out of the place.

 

[Crusader]

They mix the meds into the food, if you refuse them.

 

[Phoenix]

Yes they'll just give you booty juice instead

 

[Symbiote]

If you are direct with your needs like when I was in the psych ward, I told them that I didn't need medications, I preferred talk therapy over medications. Saying that while medications were okay for some, for me it would zombie me out and I wouldn't be able to talk much.

 

[boydiablo]

You can refuse meds, but until you take them you will be in the psych ward.

That's what I got told as well. If you refuse, they won't let you out. I would "take" them and then discretely spit them out and never got caught, so it might still be possible to avoid meds to some degree if staff won't respect your request

 

[BandAddict]

I think it really depends on the psych ward and how you behave while there. I always took what they gave me at the time, but I knew other people in there that weren't taking anything. Can't speak for others' experiences on here, but I like Symbiote's suggestion.

 

[WornOutLife]

My ex gf used to be in a psych ward here in Argentina.
If she didn't want to take her meds, some security guys came and tied her hands and legs on a bed while the doctors gave her an injection.
Then, she started taking the meds because she didn't want to go though that hell again.
I guess the system always gets what it wants even if they have to force you to do so.

 

[killedbypsychiatry]

I've thought of saying in a Christian scientist or Scientologist ( religions that oppose medication) if there's strong religious freedom laws they'll have to respect that. What I don't know if they'll say I'm being delusional for saying I'm a Christian scientist, maybe they'll make you have proof.

 

[eighthhouse]

I've thought of saying in a Christian scientist or Scientologist ( religions that oppose medication) if there's strong religious freedom laws they'll have to respect that. What I don't know if they'll say I'm being delusional for saying I'm a Christian scientist, maybe they'll make you have proof.

Huh. If I really want to play the long game maybe I should just become a Christian Scientist

 

[noaccount]

My ex gf used to be in a psych ward here in Argentina.
If she didn't want to take her meds, some security guys came and tied her hands and legs on a bed while the doctors gave her an injection.
Then, she started taking the meds because she didn't want to go though that hell again.
I guess the system always gets what it wants even if they have to force you to do so.

America, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and the UK are the same. These are detention centers that exist for the purpose of instilling PTSD in people so they are easier to control.

 

[feast or famine]

Not based on my experience. If they deem that meds are a "necessary" part of your treatment, you won't be able to leave until you take them because you'll be seen as non-compliant.

I also made the rookie mistake of "cheeking" my meds and I was FORCED to stay an additional week so they could see that I was taking them. I usually just recommend people do what they need to do and play their game so you have a better chance at leaving as soon as possible.

 

[untimelydemise]

if yiu have ni capacity and are ill they can im (inject) sedatives abd antipaycorics. if yiu need antidepressants ita up ti u as there only oral form. i mean they csn our them down a feeding tube like vitamins and antidepressants if needed. physical heslth not there choice as your there for mental health and they can only give if on a certain section and is caused by mental health..
this is in uk btw xx

 

[Mentalmick]

I wanted my mirtazapine stopped but they wouldn't so I refused to take it. They couldn't do anything about it.

 

[torimandy]

My ex gf used to be in a psych ward here in Argentina.
If she didn't want to take her meds, some security guys came and tied her hands and legs on a bed while the doctors gave her an injection.
Then, she started taking the meds because she didn't want to go though that hell again.
I guess the system always gets what it wants even if they have to force you to do so.

I have seen them do that with people who are bi polar 2 and all levels of psychotic, but for we suicide attempts they didn't push that hard. It was a condition of getting released though.

 

[WornOutLife]

I have seen them do that with people who are bi polar 2 and all levels of psychotic, but for we suicide attempts they didn't push that hard. It was a condition of getting released though.

Damn, I'm bipolar. I will probably suffer lots in a psych ward. I hope not to go there lol.

 

[booray]

The last time I was in the looney bin, I begged for my anti-depressant and they wouldn't give it to me. They said that "it wasn't indicated."

 

[torimandy]

Damn, I'm bipolar. I will probably suffer lots in a psych ward. I hope not to go there lol.

If you are ever there the key is to try to be upbeat with others and just do as they say and you get out quick. If you fight them it can really suck.

 

[OpheliasFlowers]

I don't know if it makes a difference whether you voluntarily go into the psych ward or are forced to, but when I voluntarily went in they wanted to give me some various meds and I refused them and they didn't make me take them. I wanted out of that (useless) place after a few days and so I told them I was going to seek outpatient treatment and agreed with all their suggestions on what I do etc etc and I got released. But again, I went in voluntarily so I don't know how that changes if they can force you to take meds. I'm in the USA

The last time I was in the looney bin, I begged for my anti-depressant and they wouldn't give it to me. They said that "it wasn't indicated."

This makes me mad because it just underscores my opinion that all these 'professionals' and psych wards are disorganized and no one there actually gives a crap about patients. In my experience, it seems like you'll get 100 different opinions from different doctors on what diagnosis you have and what meds you should take (or shouldn't take), or else you don't get answers at all b/c they say they'll 'get back to you' and then never do and then none of the doctors seem to really look at your history or communicate with other physicians so that they can get the full picture of your history and what you've tried re: treatment. It's all so frustrating. Sorry to sound bitter but this past week I have been dealing with another useless psychiatrist who never returns calls or replies to questions, and I've been asking her for almost 2 mos for a therapist referral (which at our first session she agreed I needed and said she'd 'research' or 'look into' which therapist would be most suitable for me...yet she never gets back to me about it despite my repeatedly asking her about it and telling her I *NEED* a therapist. So why even try anymore? Your experience of begging for your anti-depressant them telling you it wasn't indicated just set me off, sorry. :( I just hate how when people are actually pleading for help these a-holes won't help.

 

[CatabolicSeed]

Every psych ward is different, but in mine, no. They will coerce you into agreeing to take meds (ex. "we'll make you stay longer if you refuse") but they won't/(can't?) force you.

 

[loopylou]

I don't understand these wards. Seemingly you get kept in till you agree you are, non suicidal.
surely they know most people bullshit it to get released?

 

[MrBigSad]

I'd like to think it depends on the severity of the condition as well how it affects you over all. Violent patients in psychiatric hospitals likely have to take medication.

Without mentioning names a friend of mine with schizophrenia has to have mandatory injections as court ordered. I've told him he should ask about getting tablets or if there was an alternative treatment but he seems to have surrendered to it.

I'm sure there are rules against applications of forcing people to take medication, but to me it seems like they may have reasonable justification to do so in some circumstances.

The biggest concern is that evidently prescribing drugs seems to be the go to solution rather than therapy or helping the patient fully understand their condition and the things which can be done to improve it if possible which don't involve mandatory pharmaceutical help.

 

[RayofHope]

In the UK you can refuse meds but if sectioned under the Mental Health Act then they can have legal rights to force you. Also, can be forced if they consider you don't have the mental capacity to consent.

 

[demuic]

I don't understand these wards. Seemingly you get kept in till you agree you are, non suicidal.
surely they know most people bullshit it to get released?

They point is to make you miserable enough that you won't try and CTB again, or at least get caught and end up in a psych ward again.