Advice on what med to take - been off for 5 years

[4tunate]

Hi everybody,

I'm BiPolar in denial I think. I was diagnosed 6 years ago. I did meds for a year, gained a million pounds and experienced terrible side effects making me feel even more crazy! I quit everything cold turkey and have been coping on my own (with a little help from the natural foods store - natural lithium and fish oil for the past 6 months) I typically experience Mania/mixed states with a few days of deep depression about every 30 days or so. Things have gotten more difficult and I called the Doctor for help. What meds should I get? I took Depakote and gained lots of weight, I also took Lamictal and Risperdal and the side effects from all were horrible including hearing voices and not being able to sleep. I'm leaning toward asking fro Seroquel...does anyone have any advice or opinions they could share with me? The mania keeps me creative and I need that for my job but right now it's all a bit much to handle!!! Thanks so much!

[Paz]

Hello and welcome to our site!
 I can tell you what I take, and I have had virtually no weight gain[I weigh 115]
 Lithium is my mood stabilizer, Geodon is my atypical antipsychotic, and valium is my benzodiazepine for anxiety and sleep. I too had problems with Seroquel, though it does help other people. It took 18 months for my meds to be right, but I am a difficult case. Have you googled Bipolar meds and looked up side effects? I found this to be most helpful. Discuss some of these meds with your doc and see what they say. Lithium is considered the gold standard for mood stabilization, though it's not prescribed often enough as drug companies make little money off of Lithium.
 Hope this helps, and visit often if you need support.
 Paz.

[clayton]

     Doesnt your doc have his own ideas about what drugs you should take?

[4tunate]

Thank you for the responses. I am with new insurance since the last time I was on meds so the Doctor has changed and is new. I had an appointment with them on Wednesday where I only got to meet with the mental health coach first and she told me that 3 square meals a day, daily exercise and good sleep would help tremendously...I agree, if only it were that easy! Then they scheduled another appointment for me tomorrow to meet with the doc who would "most likely" want to perscribe Depakote. Yeah, been there done that so I wanted to do some research on my own and see if I could recommend something for him to perscribe. The more I Google and read the more confused I get and the more I am feeling like maybe I should just grin and bear it and keep tryin to get through this on my own - the side effects and strings of meds are frightening. I assume that Geodon is the lesser of the evils as it doesn't appear to create the weight gain issue. I've had 4 kids and am a bit sensitive about lookin like a giant soccer mom so I would prefer not to gain weight. I am having a hard enough time shedding those extra pounds from baby number 4 (and final) and he is 2 so you can tell how that's goin : )

I'm in West Michigan and am absolutely astounded by the lack of support and resources in my area. It's definitely a bit frustrating. With all of the amazing scientific advancements I'm quite suprised that there isn't a better med alternative than what I'm finding...well, it is what it is I suppose. I do credit the mania with much of my professional success and am thankful that I can typically harness the creativity but the rest of the BP stuff I could do without and I could really use a good nights rest : ) I appreciate that there are boards like this out there and it's really nice to be around people that understand what I'm going through because as much as my family and friends try to be supportive, they can only comprehend so much ya know?

[Paz]

When you read the side effects of all drugs they are frightening. I can tell you that lithium has been used for 50 years, and it is sucessful. You just get really thirsty, but drinking water is good for you! They also know every side effect that Lithium has, since it is an old school drug. I feel safe taking it, and my doc reassured me about Geodon...it has the fewest side effects[in trials] of any atypical antipsychotic.
 Valium is old school too, and they know all the side effects.
  Don't be afraid of meds, they usually help more than they harm.
  Good luck at the doc.
  Peace,
  Paz.

[Phyllis]

I hope you find the right cocktail of meds to help you. I am on seroquel and it works just fine for me, but I know for others it hasn't. That is the problem with answering your question. Some drugs work for some and not for others. I am also on Abilify, Lamictal, Wellbutrin XL, and Ativan as needed. I need a sleeping pill and need to call the doc and see if they will call one in for me, but right now I am taking melatonin to help with the sleep, but last night it didn't work for shit.

[KATE336]

man. if you are concerned about weight gain, seroquel is notorious for it. if you tell your doctor everything you have said here, your concerns and past side effects, surely they can come up with a new plan for you.

I sometimes think maybe the lower doses of seroquel are not so bad. I took it for a while in the hospital and then used my remainder for sleep with the ok from my doctor. It was 300 mg. I take Restoril now. At first I thought it didn't work because I was still up til 6 am. My case manager suggested I take it around 7 pm. And if I want to, I can fall asleep at midnight or so. But usually get into a good movie or book, so I am up til around 1 or 2 which is waay better than 6!

I have also taken kolonopin before which I think is supposed to have a similar effect or at least purpose as seroquel, aside from a sleep aid, but for things like hyperanxiety...never felt a thing on it---but a guy that was staying with me sure wolfed them down. I didn't really realize until he left and I found the empty bottle. Then I got a call from this other girl who let him stay with her---he had taken all of hers and she needed them pretty badly!

But. Bacl to the point. I gained around 10 lbs on Seroquel...lost it all within a few weeks of quitting it. But again, maybe it was the high dose. I would definitly be tired but made my way to the kitchen like my teeth were magnets going straight for the fridge. I could have resisted, as perhaps it was not the pill itself but my voracious appetite. But it was like I did not CARE. I wanted that food! I SALIVATED!

[francie]

i tend to agree when i comes to giving med recommendations -- what works for me won't necessarily work for my neighbor.. i've taken lithium, depakote, depakote ER, seroquel, abilify, lamictal, risperdal, and a plethora of anti-depressants.  i do not believe abilify and lamictal are notorious for gaining weight.  I did not gain with either one. 

I used to live in southwestern michigan and my regular doctor and therapist worked together when it came to medications, we were pretty successful back in those days.

i'd also recommend working with your doc, and letting him know about your concerns.

take care too!  ~~carolynn

[Phyllis]

Yup, seroquel is notorious for making you hungry and gaining weight. I usually crave carbs but other people crave chocolate. I am on a low dose, 100 mg.

[KATE336]

i had to give that shit the boot. lol. they made me take it in the hospital. 300 mg three times a day. they sent me home with a full bottle. i swear, i would take it and feel like i was on ecstasy. that extreme. i mused i would make a zillion dollars off it, but thought better of it. i started taking bp seriously and regularly see a doc  now. i was taking it for sleep for a while but couldn't put up with the side effects anymore. i like stimulation more than sedation. which is why i am hyped all night. i tend to drag it in the morning. always used coffee. but since i am laying low now, been trying to go natural. if i am tired, i sleep in. can't do it forever...and taking lighter stuff at night.

[k]

 :)ok 2 more cents if you can take it. i too have taken every drug known to man  - lol. just came off seroquel and it worked wonders for sleep and mania and stability and also for 50lbs and i have always exercised and usually have been slim to med my whole life - not any more. but the second i stopped it the cravings - especially those night cravings where like someone just said it felt like being drawn by a magnet to the frig. sometimes i woke up with food still in my mouth not even knowing i put it there. that's why i stopped. HOwever, one knew thing i haven't seen mentioned is that there are at least 2 new time release versions of atypical antipsychotic which are suppose to help with the side effects;  Invega which is really risperidal and seroquel has one also now which is farely new.  i'm trying Invega but so far at low dose does nothing for sleep or hypomania but does slow thoughts from 10th gear to 9th gear and doesn't cause drowiness or total lack of creativity. too much info. Invega and seroquel time release. good luck i know it can be scary.
k

[GarryV]

I also am having a problem with meds too, I've been diagnosed for 10 years and due to a over medicating problem by my old doc. now I'm starting all over again with new doc. and meds . I now take lithium and buspar but still not feeling good still having swings I'm mostly manic and can't sleep 90% of the time but am also like you now afraid of meds. but trying to work through it so I can feel better.
I use to take lithium, lamictal, zyprexa, buspar, and gabitril. doc. made to many changes in meds in a 2 month time frame now we were not sure which change made me sick. (vomiting and other few like symptoms)

so try to do like me and ask doc. and others bp's like us for help and try not to be afraid it will happen.