Has anyone had lasting success on bipolar meds?
Friday, June 4th, 2010 at
8:35 am
I am researching my options about bipolar treatment. I am currently seeing a naturopathic doc but wanted to see if people had luck with regular meds. If you’ve had success that lasts, can you please share it with me? Also side effects would be much appreciated as well. Thank you
I would appreciate answers from people with personal experience. Side-liners please
Tagged with: anyone • Bipolar • Lasting • meds • Success
Filed under: Bipolar Treatments
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I’ve never had to take bipolar meds but I knew a few people who did and they always complained about the side effects and seemed to listen to this song all the time:
xanax is a pretty good med. look that one up online. not too many side affects that are bad anyway..
I was diagnosed as bi-polar as a child;they tried damn near everything on the market.I became psychotic on the anti-psychotic Thorazine;I was sent to the state mental hospital to take me off of the Thorazine in a controlled environment so that the psychosis would not become tartive (permanent).
The SSRI’s started coming out in my 20′s so my former psychiatrist called me up so I could try them as each one hit the market.I had terrible problems with ALL of them.
I no longer believe in psych meds.
I believe they are extremely dangerous.
There is a psychiatrist whose books I have become a big fan of;
His name is Peter Breggin.
His book “Talking Back To Ritalin” could’ve been the story of my childhood.It exactly captured the kind of experience I had growing up.
For your own sake don’t EVER use these awful products!!!!
They DO NOT work.
I take Effexor for bipolar, it’s not an SSRI, it balances two neurotransmitters instead of one: serotonin (like SSRI’s) and also norepinephrine. these work for the depression. And there is no weight gain and no negative sexual effects, you may actually drop a few pounds and have a slight increase in sex drive, or at least enjoy it more.
But never take just an antidepressant for bipolar. One must also have a mood stabilizer. An antidepressant alone will make bipolar much worse. Gabapentin works well with Effexor. Again no weight gain, no adverse sexual side effects.
It took 9 years for me to get this combination. My first psychiatrist was very old and was not well studied in bipolar and did not realize the risks of an antidepressant alone. I never did get stable under his care. I ended up in the hospital and a newer, younger psychiatrist took over for me, the above combination works like a dream come true. I made it through a 4 year University with a B average since I’ve been on Effexor and Gabapentin. I’ve also stayed sober for 7.5 years since I started on these meds.
You may need an aid to sleep at night if you’re bipolar. I use Trazodone 50 mg (small dose) when I need it. Good luck to you.
I am bp1. Been diagnosed for 15 years. I have had great periods (long) of stability on meds. Lithium is especially effective for me. Side effects are not great. My hands shake and my balance is off plus monthly blood tests but it is better than the alternative. There are many medications out there now that are effective. I have also found that responsibility helps me. When I don’t have anything that I have to do then I don’t do anything. If I have responsibilities, places to go, a job, taking care of my kids, I do much better. Hope this helps and good luck.