1

How would you say "I'd like to get off the medication" not using the colloquial phrasal verb "get off"? I.e., something that you'd hear someone well-versed in the English language say.

For example, can someone fill in a word or phrase to complete the following sentence:

I'd like to be ___ medication by next month.

Improve this question
5
  • What is wrong with the words "get" and "off"?
    – Peter Shor
    Jan 16, 2012 at 22:56
  • GEdgar - that's the best so far +1 :)
    – khosrow
    Jan 17, 2012 at 0:06
  • If you just say "discontinue the medication" and not "discontinue taking the medication", it means (at least to me) that the speaker would like to cease the manufacture of the medication.
    – David Schwartz
    Jan 17, 2012 at 11:23
  • @David Schwartz: To me, discontinue in this context is suggestive of "unnaturally careful / pseudo-sophisticated" speech - a bit like when people affect a "telephone voice". So it might occur more often than you'd expect because many/most people are a bit intimidated when talking to doctors. Firstly because they're generally perceived as highly educated, secondly because sometimes they hold the power of life and death over you.
    – FumbleFingers
    Jan 17, 2012 at 15:06
  • Is this a trick question?
    – user22542
    Feb 26, 2019 at 22:18

5 Answers 5

Reset to default
2

Discontinue, drop, cease, quit, among other terms, can be fitted into sentences for the desired effect:

  • I want to discontinue that medication.
  • I want that medication to cease.
  • I want to drop that medication.
  • I want to quit taking that medication.
  • I don't need that medication anymore.

Note, I see that GEdgar already suggested a sentence like the first.

Improve this answer
2

In the UK at least, come off [the] medication has been getting a lot more common recently...

enter image description here

...but I can't say whether the usage applies in America as well. I think it's probably because increasingly the patient is involved in certain "clinical decisions". A cynic might say that's partly to lessen the chances of the doctor being sued if it all goes horribly wrong. Whatever the reason, it means there are more real-world contexts where the patient might say something like this, rather than the doctor saying he'll "Take you off the medication".

Improve this answer
3
  • 1
    Hmm, but in the UK wouldn't most people say "medicine"?
    – slim
    Jan 17, 2012 at 0:12
  • 1
    @slim: I think for longer-term prescriptions (the kind you might speak of "coming off"), medication became the dominant form quite a while back. Although having health professionals in the family I may have a skewed view there. Certainly we still use "medicine" in the metaphoric cliched variants of "Just take your medicine!", but I suspect "Keep taking the medication!" is gaining ground on "Keep taking the tablets!".
    – FumbleFingers
    Jan 17, 2012 at 0:21
  • @Slim: Actually you're right. But the trends suggest I'll be right in a couple of decades. Plus it might be that when doctors are talking to (esp elderly) patients they still use medicine thinking it sounds less "clinical" and intimidating.
    – FumbleFingers
    Jan 17, 2012 at 0:41
1

"I would like to stop taking that medication"

.. or...

"I would like to end my dependency on that medication".

Improve this answer
1
  • Sorry I should have been more clear; I'm after a verb to replace "get off" - i.e., I would like to <leave> from medication"; if there is such a thing.
    – khosrow
    Jan 16, 2012 at 22:54
0

Everybody's reply, although possible to use, meaning the English speaker will understand what you want, isn't correct.

The correct term is Tapering or Weaning.

  • I would like to taper off this medication.

  • I would like to wean myself from this medication.

Improve this answer
0

Wean off the medication?

Gradually reducing the dependency

Improve this answer

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.