I was diagnosed with bi-polar 10 years ago.?

Question

I was put on eskalith, since then I have also taken zoloft,seroquel,and lamictal I still have manic episodes, I would like to be revaluated and get off all these meds how can I do it?

I take these meds so I will not have to sufferwith manic attacks if i am still having these attacks the meds are obviousely not working.before i ever took meds i was a little high strung, after the meds i had panic and fear come on me suddenly.

Answer 1

This is something to speak with your physician about don't listen to half the people in these posts. Sometimes the meds do help though. Because there are chemical embalances in your brain and the right drugs can weigh it out. Speak with a physician or find a new physician if you don't like your current ones answers. Things always get better bud.

Answer 2

Damn.. here's a long answer.. i just know it :)

As always ... different things work differently for different people at different times.. it would be helpful to know what dosages of each are being taken?
as for me.. diagnosed bipolar 1 somewhere around 6-7 years ago.. I tried a few different things before I settled on lamictal (300-400mg)
and seroquel (200-300mg).. sometimes a little more or less depending on moods/symptoms and most recent cycle.. this has worked really well for me..
I also take ativan on an 'as needed' basis when I think I am getting too uncomfortally close to the very scary and occasionally psychotic up spikes I that I have had a couple times.. that is no fun :) .. my manic side has been pretty much under control for a couple years now.. and I have very little for depressive symptoms compared to everything I had before making the transition to this combination for meds..
I don't know much at all about eskalith? Wish I did though.. all I can possibly suggest is that you try a different dosage first.. that is usually a whole lot easier than messing with what your body is used to and the transition to new kinds of meds. Maybe consider ativan when you are getting beyond hypomanic into the really freaky stages uncontrolled mania..
Ativan is a very nasty drug.. but very effective as something to knock a person (bad panic attack or manic) down to something close to normal very quickly. My understanding is that it would not be advisible to use it as any kind of everyday thing.. very addictive and harder to kick for a habit than heroin.. one here and there is all I need.. and it works great.
Personally I can't imagine living my life without the meds.. I will never go back to the idea of throwing everything away again after fighting so hard to regain the trust of friends and family. they went crazy trying to bring out the sanity in me that I never knew I had. And, for bipolar people in general.. I have heard soo many stories of how they thought they would be fine and that they thought that everything was under control.. and a couple months later they were either flying like a space shuttle and muttering like a fool or slashing their arms with shattered bottles and jumping in front of a train. Keep from the temptation to get off of meds. Speak with your doctor to say that you are not happy with how this current blend of meds is not working as expected.. and that you are considering making some changes.. You have to remember and sometimes remind the doctor of the reality of the situation..
Nobody knows you better than you.. and the doctors have to trust that you know what is best for you and go with whatever you say...
After a ten year struggle with the affliction, you have obviously earned the right to be heard.
Stubborn doctors and me don't get along. :)
The same should go for you.. bend them to your way.. or let them go and find a more understanding one..
always remember .. you are not alone in trying to make sense of all of this.
.. Best of luck to you :)

Answer 3

Unfortunately every ones body changes. the same meds might not work the same years later for me its about 6 months to a year. saying you would like to be re-evaluated makes me think your not seeing a Dr on a reg basis. IE touch base bout how meds are doing etc. If u don't like the Dr u have or he isn't helping you find a drug that will help you u can always request a referral from your insurance agency or if ur going to a "group type" center request to see another Dr. If u were truly diagnosed with bi-polar disorder which is hard to determine just doesn't take minute but months. you will have to have meds for the rest of your life. even when your feeling fine that means they are working you don't want to stop when your feeling good cause when your cycle comes and you crash your gonna crash hard believe me i know. i use to say i don't wanna take pills for the rest of my life. when i wound up in the hospital not of my own free will i understood why you need to take them.

hope this helps.

Answer 4

Try a different doctor, and request different medications, or maybe you could research medications on your own to see what may or may not be an option for you.
You should always keep in mind that doctors can RECOMMEND medications for you to take to try to help you but you do not necessarily have to take it if you disagree. They can recommend something else and you can decide whether or not to take those also.
I read a lot about bipoloar disorder because one of my friends was diagnosed maybe seven years ago.
I am no doctor, but I think a better mood stabilizer or a higher dosage might be effective for you.
But you have to understand that there is a chemical imbalance in which some sort of medication or therapy or remedy is required to keep you stable. Either that or alter your lifestyle. In my personal experience with my friend, there was a specific incident that triggered his bipolar disorder. He has to change his lifestyle, not do the things he used to do that got him in this boat in the first place... I don't know whether it is the same for you, but after 3 or 4 years my friend decided to take himself off his medication. He was okay for a while but after 9 months he had a few outrageous episodes and ended up hospitalized and is now back on the medications. (Depakote & Seroquel)
It's possible that once you build up the medication in your system you can take it every OTHER day and not EVERY day so that you are not TOO dependant on it... this is what my friends psychologist says anyway...
Good luck to you.

Oh and diet is a huge thing too... try to limit caffeine drinks and products. No alcohol. No recreational drugs. If you can tolerate fish, it's good to eat it for the Omega-3, it's good brain food. So are banana's and green leafy vegetables. If you're not adverse to organic foods, maybe you could look into that also... sometimes the things that you are eating react negatively with medications. Maybe you could also talk to your doctor about any supplements or teas your may be drinking that may negatively effect the medications. And for my friend, grapefruit juice is a NO NO. Something in the grapefruit.. or the juice....
Read up on the medication(s) you're prescribed, you may be surprised to find that your diet may be negatively reacting with the medications...

Answer 5

Hey I take Lamictal too. The reason we take it is that there is something wrong in the brain. The brain doesn't repair itself much, though it does improve. I have been told I will always need medication for my brain to work right, or for my brain to stop seizuring. I don't know if I'll ever get off. I'm accepting that I have limitations and am just grateful to be alive.
Try other kinds of therapy, neurofeedback helped me. The best therapy for me was, oddly enough, weight training. Try it.

Answer 6

Are you still seeing the same doctor? Sometimes being on the same meds for too long ...they lose their effect..In ur phone book there are numbers you can call...I know in California they have what is called the Mental Health...maybe they have that in ur area...they will help you get back on track and let u see a therapist who can get you the meds you need...goodluck

Answer 7

Hi, I was diagnosed with major bipolar disorder & it gets worse from time to time. I've tried Zoloft, Lexapro & a couple more. Now my doc. has me on Effexor & my husband tells me that he thinks that the meds are making me more angry, then helping me. I know what I have to do, but I'm scared to go through the whole thing over. Anyways, good luck, maybe you & I can chat sometime?

Answer 8

One thing I would suggest trying is changing your diet and eating healthy. There are those that feel that food additives contribute to the disorder or even cause it in some cases. The average person consumes way too many poisons in their diet in the form of additives, pesticides, fertilizers, hormones, and other contaminants. It is a very good idea to eat only organic food if you can, and eliminate milk from your diet. There are those that claim they have eliminated the disorder simply by changing their diet. Eliminating all those poisons from your body would be good for you in many ways.

Answer 9

Sounds like you need different type of meds. The only sensible thing to do in this case is speak to your doctor. It is your right to do so.
Good luck

Answer 10

i agree with the first answer...if u are still manic, u dnt need to taper ff the meds!