Help, yes. cure, no. You really should get on and stay on a mood stabilizer.

well, i was prescriped depakote. however, i'm terrified to take it because my sister was on it, and she had HORRIBLE side effects. all the mood stabilizers i know of seem to be very 'hardcore' drugs, and i'm not entirely sure that i need that...
but perhaps i'm just in denial??
i dont know anymore!!

I hate Depakote as well. I like lamictal, but lithium is great and there are others.

how would bipolar meds make me feel different from my anti-depressant? On paxil, I am extremely happy all the time.
but i heard with something like depakote, you just feel completely dumb, and you can gain a TON of weight...

Took me years to get the right Med Combo and not have Suicidal thoughts...have patient and work with your Doc.

You are 18,you are smart,you are young,you have time to learn.
I suggest that you find as much info on BP ,as you can.Google Bipolar..the Mayo clinic has good info on the subject.That way when you have questians ,you won't feel so powerless against this brain disorder.Get your facts and info..then as your questians come up about certain things...DS is here to help clarify some things for you.
It takes team efort to get a handle on this situation.Your family,some friends,and this site will help a lot.

Welcome to the "tribe" of bipolarers.(The term Tribe ,was used earlier to describe us...I thought it was a good discription)

thank you.

Oh hunny you don't have split personality, it's mood swings that are severe. Feeling paralized is so normal for us. Keep going on as we try to, thats why we are all able to be here.
Best Wishes and no fears

BP meds change every aspect of your life completely. Sometimes for the best, sometimes not. The catch being that you don't know which they will do until you start trying them.

As someone who has suffered with feeling as though I had multiple personality disorder for the last 21 years, I say try the meds.

A little advice on meds:

Research them yourself on line.

Give each one at least six weeks before you decide if it is working or not.

Be your own doctor when it comes to asking for blood tests if you take lithium. It was a miracle drug for me, but proper testing is needed to maintain therapuetic levels.

Understand that every drug has side effects. You have to decide if the ones you are dealing with outweigh the change in how you feel.

If in doubt, ASK! Post questions on here, on the advice board, doctors, nurses, someone on here who you noticed is taking similar drugs. Do not allow ignorance to keep you from feeling better.

Meds can completely change you life around. I went from crazy 'I can conquer the world' mania to 'This is how I am going to die' depression all the time. Then came a diagnosis and meds. My life is leagues different than I ever thought it could be. I am a real person now, not a host of symptoms I couldn't control. Good luck. And if need be, ask me. I have a TON of websites for research.
Jade

I started on Trileptal... It made me comatosed... (sp?) I'm now on Lamictal and love it but sometimes it seems like my emotions can get stronger than the meds can take... But for 5 months I have been dealing with minor emotional problems...Instead of the major swings I had before.

Basically what the meds do is they either prevent or help with the re-uptake or connections of nerons in our brains.

One thing they have found is that BiPolar is like a Siezure disorder where you get "STUCK" in one process or another.

That is why so many of our meds are also used in seizure PT's.

Lamictal and depakote are two sush drugs.

Lithium for those who can take it can be a wonder drug it has been heavily used since the 70's and started being widely used in the 60's.

You may want to read "AN UNQUIET MIND" by Dr Kay Jamison I read the book in 1997? there abouts anyways it will give you a better look into the life of the disease.

I hope this helps BTW ALL Drugs are listed in the USP and often the drug has a website explaining what the drug does why they THINK it works and Most of the side effects and give you tools to help you learn how to better manage with the condition.

I wish this stuff was around 10 years ago!!!!

Peace Love and Light
-B