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.

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sfagrad 10/14/2013

As is the case for most people on here it has taken me a long time to find the right med combo. I have seen the same pdoc for 5 yrs now, he put me on ativan for a few years, I was taking it 4 times a day at one point. I found out that taking an antiaxiety med can affect your motivation. I am not sure it is true but anyway my doc does not listen to me because i went over my med history with him and he still wanted to put me on ativan again! I elected to increase lithium because i was not having anxiety problems. This same doc told me after trying seroquel that this was pretty much the end of the line. I did not think that was right so I looked on the internet and read about ap and read about geodon so I asked him and he put me on it. Very frustrating. Anyway geodon made me manic so I am now on saphris and it has made me feel more like myself. I now see the pa. My point in all this is to never give up because there is always a solution and do not be afraid to look up infomation and talk to your pdoc about your meds. You know your body and you know what has worked. Do not be afraid to question the doc if you feel thhat is not right. Sorry for the long post.

spacekat 10/14/2013

I totally agree! I've been searching for the right combo of meds since I was 14 -- I'm now almost 40. My current pdoc has me on abilify, luvox, wellbutrin (which I can only take in the fall/winter otherwise it makes me manic) and diazepam. So far, so good. I still sometimes feel flat and not like myself and I still hallucinate and am riddled with delusions but it's NOTHING like it used to be. I'm giving this a chance! Thanks for the inspiration!! HUGS!

tommymott 10/14/2013

It's great that you've taken charge of your own treatment. I think that most of the time we know better than the docs.

sfagrad 10/14/2013

Right now i am on lexapro, Welbutrin, lithium and saphris. The wining combo! lol

GinaWonders 10/14/2013

I have to fight and manipulate pdoc's quite often - I am one of hundreds of patients - 5-10 minutes with them, can effect 30-90 days of my life!

mayismerry 10/14/2013

Very positive and hopeful post for those out there still looking for the meds they can live with best.

jraernr 10/14/2013

I'm not sure whats up with my meds. They were working well, then the seizures, headaches and fevers returned. I see the prescribing nurse tomorrow. Grr.

heretic 10/14/2013

Took me years to come up with the right med combo. But meds don't fix my life. The do make it more tolerable tho. I take Wellbutrin, Abilify, Geodon, Buspar and Vistaril. The Vistaril does nothing so I rarely take it but I take the others religiously.

HeatherCliff 10/14/2013

A few years ago, I told my pdoc that I needed to be on a mood stabilizer (along with my anti-depressants). So, he put me on Lamictal.

I read a lot of Bipolar books. That is how I learned that I needed to be on a mood stabilizer also. I don't know why he did not have me on a mood stabilizer before. You see, I have Bipolar Disorder type 2.

I take effexor, wellbutrin, lamictal and ativan. I also had about 9 ECTs in 2006.

worldofblah4 10/14/2013

I have been on meds since 2008. I have done A LOT of research and now I work with my pdoc together to try new meds and avenues. I have been on 36 different meds and hundreds of combinations including 12 ECT sessions... but *so far* this time I seem to have a winning combo (for now) which is zyprexa zydis, lamictal ODT, and adderall. It is good to remember that YOU are the consumer. Because of you the pdoc have business and if you have a hint of a med that might work, they should try it. They work for you basically. That's what I always think anyways. Not sure if that makes sense to anyone...Basically do your research, be a part in your recovery. Don't be afraid to ask questions, and if you think you may want to try something, then ask them. If the pdoc yells at you for it, I would find a different one.

china70 10/15/2013

I understand sometimes these drs don't know best for us. Only we know our own bodies and how these meds will affect us and make us feel.

sfagrad 10/15/2013

Thank you all so much for your response!

Halterbroke 10/15/2013

It took NINE YEARS to get my medications to where they actually help me and aren't just a bunch of crazy side effects (lamictal, effexor, seroquel, and risperdal consta) but it was well worth the wait. I hate to see people new to the diagnosis struggling, keep the faith everyone!

deleted_user 10/15/2013

Yes I too am med compliant and stable. Life is nice if I don't think about it too much.

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