I am so confused I need advice...

[kaz]

My problem is that I have been on loads of different meds for bi polar and they just haven't worked in my favour apart from lamictal and even that stopped working on its own so my doctor added edronax and I couldn't handle the side effects after a few weeks because I had exchanged depression for...... depression with.... constipation, dry mouth, insomnia, irritability, feeling numb and very confused, couldn't drive and just felt like a zombie and I didn't want to talk to anyone and If my boyfriend asked me a question id get irritated by that!!

I was unable to function before taking the edronax and still couldn't function with it so I stopped taking it and after a few days I started to feel ok.  Now after a week I don't really know how I feel but I don't feel depressed and I am not manic so I am functioning quite well so I don't know what to do as I will see my doctor next week and tell him whats been happening with me but I really don't want to go on any medication thats gong to make me feel like crap!!

could some people tell me about their experiences with meds and side effects and what you might do if you were in my position??
why haven't I gone back to being depressed and suicidal like i felt before starting the new meds and also  whilst i was taking them, I know there is probably going to be some undesirable side effects with most meds but what is acceptable??

[Phyllis]

what is acceptable is what you are willing to tolerate. For instance, I have been on three different anti-depressants because of the low libido issue. After the third anti-depressant I just through my hands up in the air and just lived with the fact that I now have a low libido due to medication. Yes, it sucks, but I am willing to tolerate that then being depressed.

Secondly, if meds don't work for you, have you gone down the homeopathic route? That might be worth looking into.

[high maintenence]

I would love to offer you some advice on this subject, but right now I don't have any because I have quit taking my meds and have been up for 6 days and nights and I am about to crash or die or something of that sort....but I don't want to take my meds because of the same reasons that you said, they make me a zombie....I don't want to go to sleep. I've been sleeping and sedated for months. I don't want to go to sleep I don't want to go to sleep I don't want to go to sleep, but at the same time I feel like hell...........ohohohohohohme

[Paz]

Hi,
 I would see what other meds are out there and give at least two a try....if not, I agree with Phyllis-go the homeopathic route. I just want to say it took a few tries with different meds before they found the mix that works for me. I'm BP1,ultradian cycling with mixed episodes, also PTSD and ADD. It took 18 months before my Shrink figured out what would work, and also what I was willing to take, as I am very selective as to what meds I will put in my body. Use google, it's a great tool for research on meds. I take 4 meds, Lithium,Depakote,Geodon and Valium. The Depakote & Geodon are baby doses, Lithium is my biggest, Valium in the middle.
 Paz.

[clayton]

I am just getting settled into a new antipsychotic--I had a bad reaction to the old one after taking it for several years, so he put me on abilify, which has less EPS than the others. After two weeks, it finally stopped the self-talk and I am getting used to how it affects my mind--some strange thoughts come up with this one! I dont want to change any meds anytime soon anymore!

[high maintenence]

Paz, I'm just tired of trying..after my post, I took my meds and look, it's been days,but I finally awoke and now it's bedtime. I've tried alot of the other stuff and I can't tell what's working and what's not unless I take one at a time. I know for sure that the Seroquel sure makes me sleep and without it there is no end of my energy. Not really mania, but energy, at least for a few days, then manic, then take Seroquel and bye bye for a few...sick of trying and I hate this damn illness

[Phyllis]

Dealing with this illness you can go two ways:
Help yourself; keep up with medicine regime. The meds are not going to work if you keep stopping them and then starting them again. I know Seroquel used to kick my ass - I would get dizzy, my speech would slur, and I would pass out at the drop of a hat. Even though this happened, I still kept taking my meds as prescribed (Those side affects eventually went away). It takes time for these cocktails to work. They don't work instantly. And yes, I have gone off of my meds now and again (Only a couple days until I start going up or down) and I notice the difference. Also, if meds arn't working you need to talk to a Doc. Explain the situation, how you take your meds, and what happens when you do and when you don't.

The other way things can go is Haywire.
If you don't take your meds as Rx'd then you are just inviting a whole world of things to happen. Mania, Depression, illness from withdrawl.

It is up to us to decide which way we want to live. Do we want to control this situation, or do we want the illness to control us?

[high maintenence]

Phyllis, I took the Seroquel for 7months and that is about the same amount of time that I have been "dead". That's how I feel is "dead". I did call my pdoc on Friday. She said the same thing that you did, right after she told me to make it quick because she didn't have time to talk. I don't see her until the middle of May. She did call me in something else for sleep, and increased my Lithium. Maybe that will work. Thank ya'll so much for being here for me.

[francie]

I think it's a real challenge to find the right medications.

I've given many a try, and there were many which helped me tremendously... so i'd suggest keep working with your mental health professional/doctor to find out what is right for you.

And yes, side effects from medications generally pass after a period of time....

Phyllis i can't believe a med made you pass out?  oh boy, i sure hope you didn't get hurt.

~~francie.