Bipolar and no health insurance for meds...any herbal pills?

Question

I have no health insurance and cannot afford to go to a doctor to get prescriptions but am getting into a serious depression. Is there any herbal pill I could take until I can get some insurance? Looked into the Nature Made "Mood Plus" but it says not to take it if bipolar. Please help.

Answer 1

Vitamins and Herbs

"I do not recommend these in lieu of medication. Bipolar disorder is a medical disorder requiring a lifetime of medication. Many people literally gamble with their lives by thinking that vitamins, herbs and nutritional supplements can be taken *instead of* medication. This attitude opens one up to episodes of mania and depression."


That is from a wonderful self-care website that offers ways to maintain your Bipolar Disorder. I encourage you to check it out. I wish you well...

http://www.mhsanctuary.com/bipolar/selfcare.htm

Answer 2

I'm sorry for what you're going through. I too am going through a similar thing. I agree with the person that said you should go see a therapist. I do not have health insurance that covers mental health visits or medicine, so my mental health clinic worked with me to create a fee. I know a lot of clinics do this, they call it a sliding scale fee, or something like that. It's for everyone: when I had health insurance that covered them I paid a lot more, but now I pay $10 a visit, some may pay even less. I get my health insurance through the medicine companies (AztraZeneca being one of them). The program through AztraZeneca is called AZ & Me. I had to prove that I make below the maximum amount of money, there's paperwork that has to be filled out by you and your psychiatrist. They need to give you a prescription to mail in with the application. I was denied with one of the companies the first time, but there is an appeals process and I was accepted the second time. I wish you all the luck. I hope I've helped you a little.

Answer 3

no matter what some new-age hippy tells you homeopathic medicines DO NOT help or heal anything. You need to stay on perscription medications. Maybe you could find a free clinic that would be able to help you out. Maybe contact the health department and see if they have any resources you could use. There has to be some way to get you the medicine you need. Try utilizing every government/state run program you can think of. To have a productive life while being bi-polar it's absolutely necessary that you stay on the meds the doctor perscribed you.

Answer 4

I am unaware of anything herbal for bipolar disorder. However; do you have a department of public health near you?

I was in the same boat you are in and I went to the department of public health and they offer therapy and medication. Woth a shot trying.

Also, if you have a free clinic there you can get meds that way as well. It depends on your income whether or not though.

Answer 5

I would stay away from any herbal medcines until I talked with a healthcare professional. I mean, it takes an average of 6 years for them to accurately diagnose a mental illness. Here are a few quick thoughts (links are in the Source section):

1. Local free clinic/county health clinic
2. Needy Meds (Web site with links to foundations and discount drug providers).
3. National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI): they have chapters in every state and are very helpful in connecting you to healthcare professionals.
4. Mood Garden: Depression and Bipolar support site; good forums and practical advice

Good luck and take care...

Answer 6

Call your local Health Department, they may have programs that can help you out. Also there are some local charities that can help you. We have a local charity here called "The Med Bank" where you can get your drugs for little or no cost. We also have a local Clinic where people can go for free medical appointments. If you finally get a prescription, you can sometimes contact the company that makey the drug you are prescribed and they will provide the meds you need at little to no cost.

Answer 7

Hmm...have you looked into SamE? It's a bit more expensive than St. John's Wort, and less stable, but I found it more effective. Aside from that, I recommend avoiding alcohol and caffiene, getting a bit of exercise (I find that night swims and walks clear the head), and sleeping to impressionist classical music. Nothing too heavy...I like Debussy for sleeping. That's pretty much what I did for the thirty years prior to acquiring Zoloft, and well...I lived that long, so I guess it was fairly successful. Keep in mind, though, that real meds do work better than over-the-counter supplements, and that assistance may be available to you. Check with your local health district. Also, when you get real meds, keep in mind that they work better if you follow the aforementioned lifestyle advise. Clean livin', baby, clean livin'.

Answer 8

TrueHope supplements are know to help people with the bipolar disorder. I want to go on these supplements and then slowly taper off of my medications for Bipolar.

Also JuicePlus is a super product where fruits and vegetables are juiced and put into capsules.

Bipolar disorder is really complicated and you may need to go on meds for this. Your local health department can help you if you are low income.

Answer 9

Go to your local health department or emergency management center, both will provide vouchers for the medication so that it won't cost you a dime at a participating pharmacy. You may also go to www.pparx.org and fill out the forms, then have your physician fill them out and you'll receive a 90 day supply of the medication for free as well as any additional refills that are needed. I've worked in this field so I have other programs information if needed.

Answer 10

MY friend found his self in the same fix he said to go to www.pparx.org and fill out the forms, then have your physician fill them out and you'll receive a 90 day supply of the medication for free as well as any additional refills that are needed.