Can you refuse meds in the psych ward?

[StarLight]

It probably depends on your location and the specific facility you're in. The last time I was in psych I was technically able to refuse meds, but they weren't going to let me go until I took them. It didn't matter what I said or did, didn't matter if I appeared to be showing improvement etc; as long as I continued to refuse the meds they just kept claiming I was a danger to myself. In reality my refusal of the meds was actually the exact opposite, it was a move of self preservation because i had been on lots of different ones before, none of which helped, and all of which made things worse.

That particular place then started talking about having me transferred to a '"longer term facility". Eventually I was transferred to another place closer to home, where again I was given the "choice" to take meds (aka if I agreed then I could sign myself in "voluntarily", but if I refused I would be signed against my will anyway.) I agreed to the meds as they were offering me a very low dose of a med I had previously taken that really didn't have any ill effects on me at such a low dose, and then proceeded to just not swallow it and flush it on my next bathroom visit. This may or may not be difficult to get away with depending on where you are. I had previously been at a place where the nurse would basically check every square millimeter of your mouth after giving meds to make sure you'd actually swallowed them.

 

[filthyrottendirty]

No lol

 

[Forgetting5]

Like other people have mentioned, you can refuse but they will consider that not complying with treatment. So you'll be stuck there longer. I'd just take them while there then come off of them when you get out

 

[Rayzieka]

Like with a lot of other posts here I agree in my experience that they will likely not let you go home quickly if you refuse.
From the times I've been, they might check your mouth after giving pills to make sure you actually swallowed them.
It makes it difficult when you don't want the medications for whatever reason.
Another thing I noticed is that subjecting yourself to their boring group therapy sessions and meetings will get you booted out rather quickly.
My first time I stayed in bed for days and was told I was being put on hold due to my attempt to leave upon first arriving...
As soon as I started interacting with the other patients and generally masking my aggression and haterid of life they felt no need to hold me longer. In my opinion the psych ward should be avoided and only used in emergency- whatever that might be for someone else. For me it would be the overwhelming urge to do something harmful where death would not be the outcome and leave me in a bad situation.

 

[celan]

I think it highly depends on the country you live, if you are considered a danger for others, your diagnosis and probably the minds of the psychiatrists working there.
If you are not considered a danger for others, don't make "trouble" and are non-psychotic, it's not likely, at least in europe (I don't know about other places), that they can force you to take something.

I don't mind taking meds at all, I took quite a bit of them. But looking back I shouldn't have taken Risperidon and Clozapine - anyipsychotics in general.

 

[Deltawaves74]

Basically in UK if u are be a voluntary patient u can refuse meds but if u are sectioned u cant

 

[Mentalmick]

I refused to take mirtazapine in the nuthouse and there was jack shit they could do about it. But as Calmbeforethestorm says I was informal at the time, if I was sectioned they may of got the sedative injections out.

 

[KuriGohan&Kamehameha]

If you're sectioned/involuntarily detained, no.

I know a person who was sent to the psych hospital against their will as a child. During that stay, they were forcibly injected with potent antipsychotic cocktails including the good ol Haldol.

Of course, this depends on the country as well. I've heard people in North America have far less freedom in these prisons than Europeans do, and that if you deny medications in their facilities it will be viewed as non-compliance, landing you a longer sentence and a laundry list of more drugs.

 

[deadverysoon]

If you're sectioned/involuntarily detained, no.

I know a person who was sent to the psych hospital against their will as a child. During that stay, they were forcibly injected with potent antipsychotic cocktails including the good ol Haldol.

Of course, this depends on the country as well. I've heard people in North America have far less freedom in these prisons than Europeans do, and that if you deny medications in their facilities it will be viewed as non-compliance, landing you a longer sentence and a laundry list of more drugs.

its fucking crazy... but it is that way...
and it makes everything worse.

what a fucked up world...

 

[Pure]

Sure if you don't want to leave