Okay, so I'm going to ask what kind of Dr. you see and who Diagnosed you? Its not a normal course of Treatment for BiPolar Disorder to be treated with only 1 medication, it takes a combination of different kinds Psych meds to treat the different sides and symptoms of BiPolar.

Do you see a Psychiatrist and is that who Diagnosed you and RX'd this medication?

Yes I’m pretty sure it was a psychiatrist, and she set it up that way because this is the first time I am taking any kind of psych med, I have another appt in a couple weeks and she will be adding more to the mix.

While I agree with Kat to a degree I'm aware that with many things there have been trends in treatments, especially in the US. That comment is not based particularly on what treatments should be, or the latest research, it's based on 10 years of reading people's treatment and outcomes - and as this board used to be alot more active that's probably high hundreds if not thousands of members.

In the past people were treated with perhaps just lithium or valproate (some a combination of both). Then some were put on just lamotrigine.

Then there was a trend to put people on an atypical anti-psychotic plus an antidepressant, and now it seems that some regard some of the anti-psychotics as mood stabilizers (a few years back I saw ads for abilify for the treatment of depression) as one stop mood stabilizers.

It's really unfortuante that one thing DS killed when they revamped the site was that most members had listed their meds and how successful they thought they were which meant there was a treatment section where you could look at the efficacy of meds based on thousands of people's experiences.

Psychiatrists sometimes have their favouirite medications and some, having spent time with their patient, have a real nose for telling what will work for an individual.

My advice would be to take the stuff and if it works, great, if not then discuss with your doctor so together you come up with something that works for you.

Thank you for the reply’s, I am just afraid of taking medication, but I know I have to for recovery and to stabilize my moods, I just don’t want to be a zombie or mess up my brain connections

I think usually people are started with one medication just so if there are side effects it's evident what med is causing them and other medication may be added later

I agree to give the medication a good shot and discuss any side effects that you're having

We need a medication to treat bipolar disorder ..... That's how it's treated along with a other tools to help you find stability

Welcome to the board..... I'm glad that you found us!......xo

Welcome! Meds saved my life- no joke. Try it. If it doesn’t work, try something else. I started with one and have taken everything under the sun. I have found a combination that works for me, but everyone is different. Having a strong support system, a reputable pdoc, good meds, and great therapist seems to work for me. Good luck on your journey. Prayers for strength and peace.

Unfortunately medication is the only way to treat BiPolar. You take the medication, the meds can take a few weeks to work in your system and get to a proper therapeutic level so you see results. I was a little surprised to see that your Pdoc started you on Risperadol. I would imagine at your next appointment your Pdoc will add the next med to your cocktail.

Have you gotten set up with a Therapist yet? That's the 2nd half of Treatment and just as important as medication. Hopefully once you get that underway things will start calming down for you.

Take care,
Kat

Amen, Kat. Great advice.. :-)

I'm pretty new to the diagnosis myself, October '17. My psych dr started me out on just one med and added more as we went.

I've never taken risperdal but everyone responds to each medication differently. It's not uncommon to try lots of different ones or combinations of many different ones before you find what works for you. Pretty much never will the first thing you try be what you stay on long term. So give it a chance and if you cant tolerate the side effects, let your dr know.

I was also very wary of these medicines. It took me a while to accept it but when I look back on the alternatives (depression or mania) I'd much rather just take the meds.

Welcome, and I hope you are doing well.

Bipolar messes up your brain connections - google "bipolar kindling theory". And bipolar can certainly mess up your life - suicide rate is something like 10-20 times the average, then there is your career, your relationships. Untreated it generally get worse and therefore the dasmage to your life increases.

Thank you everyone for the support!
I am also breast feeding my 15 month old son, my dr said I have to wean him off, which I am, but it’s going to take a month or so. I haven’t taken my medication yet, but does anyone know if it’s safe while I wean my son?

You should not take any Psych meds until you've stopped breast feeding. Any meds you take, your baby takes through your breast milk.

These medications are very strong. Risperadol is an Anti-Psychotic. Double check with your Pediatrician, but these are not medications that are safe for a toddler. You may need to go ahead and get your 15 month old switched to a bottle and milk or toddler formula. At 15 months he's at an age where they're generally trying a sippy cup, so it shouldn't take a month to wean him.

Take care.
Kat

If the doctor didn't even check if you were pregnant or nursing you need another doctor.