Bipolar Disorder Support Group
Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.
I've been beating around the bush with writing a strictly-meds sort of post for a while, so I'm going to do that now.
When I see the MD on the 2...2nd? [I'll withhold it for now, but are you allowed to talk about the clinic you go to by name or the company?] I'm going to inquire about Depakote and Gabapentin. [They're about the only psych meds specific to my condition I've not been tried on that I have faith in.]
Maybe this is me generalizing, but both Gabapentin and Depakote seem to be sort of broad-spectrum drugs that can control a number of symptoms, plus the anxiolytic properties, and investigational studies somewhat seem to point towards both of these things controlling pain.
I'm not clear on the exact pharmacologic mechanism of action but I'm looking into it. [Gabapentin is I believe a GABA analog, the chemical that regulates anxiety, Depakote I don't know about, I have looked into it and it's complicated as hell]
So I see the doc the 22nd I believe. I was on Abilify + Seroquel before, which worked well, but I'm uninsured and this is a government-run non-profit place so I doubt I'll be getting put back on Abilify lol. I'm thinking what they're going to do is either Depakote, lamictal or tegretol, maybe lithium. Lithium I'm willing to try, you know how I feel about Depakote, Lamictal and Tegretol I'm leery of because I haven't heard of people having a lot of success with those and the side effects are horrendous.
I'm paranoid of anything that's black-boxed or tends to cause extra-pyramidal effects, mostly the first-gen antipsychs.
Honestly I'm nervous. I'm hopeful though because right now other than trace amounts of Seroquel, I'm basically unmedicated. I don't think it can really get worse than this as far as my brain chemicals running amok and messing up my head.
What stuff has worked for you? Holistic methods are also welcome.
When I see the MD on the 2...2nd? [I'll withhold it for now, but are you allowed to talk about the clinic you go to by name or the company?] I'm going to inquire about Depakote and Gabapentin. [They're about the only psych meds specific to my condition I've not been tried on that I have faith in.]
Maybe this is me generalizing, but both Gabapentin and Depakote seem to be sort of broad-spectrum drugs that can control a number of symptoms, plus the anxiolytic properties, and investigational studies somewhat seem to point towards both of these things controlling pain.
I'm not clear on the exact pharmacologic mechanism of action but I'm looking into it. [Gabapentin is I believe a GABA analog, the chemical that regulates anxiety, Depakote I don't know about, I have looked into it and it's complicated as hell]
So I see the doc the 22nd I believe. I was on Abilify + Seroquel before, which worked well, but I'm uninsured and this is a government-run non-profit place so I doubt I'll be getting put back on Abilify lol. I'm thinking what they're going to do is either Depakote, lamictal or tegretol, maybe lithium. Lithium I'm willing to try, you know how I feel about Depakote, Lamictal and Tegretol I'm leery of because I haven't heard of people having a lot of success with those and the side effects are horrendous.
I'm paranoid of anything that's black-boxed or tends to cause extra-pyramidal effects, mostly the first-gen antipsychs.
Honestly I'm nervous. I'm hopeful though because right now other than trace amounts of Seroquel, I'm basically unmedicated. I don't think it can really get worse than this as far as my brain chemicals running amok and messing up my head.
What stuff has worked for you? Holistic methods are also welcome.
My muh's threatening to kick me out if I don't take my "bipolar meds", pretty much what my Pdoc prescribes, at the moment Abilify. Her stance is that I either need a job and to not self-harm or I need to medicate myself to that place.
It did that to me before as I recall but I was that way for so long that I didn't notice. Looking back it may've even caused my stupors, where I'd just sit sort of catatonically and not have a thought to think or a word to say for sometimes an hour or more. I didn't laugh much. I don't want to go back to that place.
It's done the same "Abilify blocked-off feelings" thing once or twice, but sometimes I go numb before a depression episode and it's seemed to occur just like that. So, maybe not.
Antidepressants are horrible for bipolar, lol, but if your doctor put you on them as an adjunct then please give them a chance. Be very careful though. Paxil and Strattera both made me sadistic and homicidal, and Paxil did this to me at a very young age, early high-school, which, I was a violent child, then.
Strattera just made me very mean-spirited and combative. I had a short fuse on that.
I've heard other BP'ers say the same thing many times, however.... It may work for you and I hope it does.