I have bipolar disorder..what drugs should I ask doctor for?

Question

I was diagnosed with post partum which aggravated the bipolar...I took Zoloft 100mg..and I almost killed myself..I have been to the doctor..I am going back..just wanted to familiarize myself with the other drugs out there..I ruined my life once because of the "wrong" antidepressant..I didn't get out of bed for a week, lost my job, lost my car, lost my home, made my children homeless..I am not taking this lightly, just wanted advice from other bipolar people so if you don't have anything nice to say...don't comment.

Answer 1

I was on Tegretol and I was very close to leaving this world if it hadn't been for loved ones and professionals. Now I'm on 1500mg Lithium, 1500mg, Depakote, 300mg XL Welbutrin and a Multivitamin and it's still tough at times but the suicidal thoughts are gone and I just feel a lot clearer. Plus the temper is under control a lot better than before. The other think I do is keep a journal and you can make it real simple. List at the top thins like: Hyper; Irritable/Temper; Racing Thoughts; Hypersexual; Depressed; Manic; Cognitive Distortions (Paranoia); Hallucinations (Seeing Things); Suicidal Ideation; Self-Harm Urges; and Hours of Sleep Last Night. Then answer each of these question for each day using a number scale. My scale is a 0 to 10: 0 is not a problem, 2 is kind of a problem, 4 is yes it is a problem, 6 is that it's becoming an uncomfortable problem, 8 is that its becoming an unbearable problem and 10 is just plain HELP ME!!!!. Then have someone you trust or loves and cares for you read that every morning or night (whenever you fill it out) and this will help give a guage of whether you need to get to the doctor for a med change or even go into psych lockdown for your own safety. I also keep a written dialouge of the days events, frustrations, goals, etc. Good luck and you can get through this.

Answer 2

The medication you doctor prescribes for you will depend on your diagnosis (Bipolar I or II) and the symptoms you describe (i.e. most recent episode hypomanic, depressed, mixed, etc.) The doctor will then make a determination about which medications will be most helpful. Some examples of medications are Seroquel, Tegretol, Abilify, Lithobid, or Depakote. But talk to your doctor about what might work for you. Make sure that you let you doctor know if the medications are having a positive or negative impact so they can be monitored and adjusted properly.

Answer 3

First...how do you know you have bipolar disorder? If a doctor diagnosed you, then he/she should have prescribed something at that time. Dont try to diagnose yourself! Go to the doctor and tell him or her all your symptoms. Let the doctor make the call! You might think you have bipolar, but upon hearing about your symptoms the doctor may think its something else. You definitely want to be treated for the right thing!

Second, you should let the doctor decide what medication is best for you. All the prescription drug commercials on television really tick me off. They try to market drugs directly to the people, and tell people to ask the doctor about their particular brand. Its crap really. Your doctor is an educated medical professional who knows all about different medications for conditions...the drawbacks, side effects, what is best for you personally. Let the doctor decide whats best for you, its what you're paying him for!

Finally, if you're at least curious about the medications available for bipolar disorder go to this website:

http://bipolar.about.com/cs/menu_meds/l/bl_medsAZ.htm

It lists all the medications for the disorder in alphabetical order, and has links for each of them. There are TONS, so I know you're not going to want to go through all of them! But once your doctor prescribes something you could always go back to that website, click on the drug, and find out more about it.

Answer 4

I have bi-polar II which means I am a manic. There are several things they give out now, but I take lithium and it works good for me. Usually they also give you an inti-depressant which I have the problem with as they make you tired. Right now I am trying child doses of pixel to accompany the lithium. There is also counseling and I study as much as I can about it because you have cycles,the more you know about how your moods are the better off you will be.

Answer 5

That's a tough question to answer. Not to many drugs actually work to cure bipolar disorder... you can ask you Doctor about Lithium... or if you want to go an alternitive route my bro in-law tried mistle toe, although it can be poisonous in large doses, you would have to seek out a good herbologist store for advice on that!

Answer 6

ask for the cheapeast one first if you don't have insurance but if you do then ask for the newest one. The one thing you have to remember is that the newest drug for bi-polar dosen't work for everyone nor does the cheapeast you have to find out what medicine is right for you because everyones chemistry is different so the newest or the most popular isn't always the ones that work for everybody. just like anti-depressants not everyone can do well on zoloft but cymbalta might be better chemistry wise. so you might have to go through several before you have that answer unfortunately! good luck!

Answer 7

Wow i do no longer comprehend what Jeff has been doing yet he's slightly youthful for unlawful drugs. besides, i do no longer think of they are going to do drug tests. that truly has no longer something to do with it. once you're underage the confidentiality does circulate as much as the mothers and fathers. And interior the united kingdom I have no theory yet, I doubt he would be drug examined. I surely have been to psychologists many situations and not in any respect had my blood drawn. they are going to ask and then Jeff can ask him approximately how private it is while he solutions.

Answer 8

I used to take deakote,which worked well,but I gained weight.
I get toxic on lithium at non theraputic levels.I is a wonderful drug for many.
Now i take celexa and abilify.I usually feel great.
Hint make a chart of your moods.Then the doctor can see where you are at. I also know when it is a bump in the road or if I am in trouble.
I don't know where my chart came from but here is the scale.

0Normal mood
-1subdued mood,slightly less energy
-2Quite slowed down, everything is an effort but can get work done.
-3Very slowed down,overwhelmed,intence effort to get work done.
-4Unable to do daily work, broods, tense, desperate, suicidal
-5Can't function at all, no appetite,unable to get out of bed.Need to be in hospital.
+1more energy and active than usual
+2Full of pep ,but not out of control, somewhat less sleep
+3Extremly active, difficult to slow down, less sleep.
+4Frantically busy;thinking and judgemnett may be irrsponsible.
+5Constantly active, frezied.Requizers hopitalization.Poor judgement.
I look for warning patterns as well as positive impact. I hope this helps you find some peace.

Answer 9

Let you doctor decide that with you, not all drugs are right for everyone with bipolar. And once your on them and you start feeling better, dont stop taking them. Thats the biggest mistake many people with psych. disorders do, they start feeling better and think they no longer need meds, then you will have worse depression. Good luck.

Answer 10

You don't ask for drugs, he'll give them to you. He might have to experience with different drugs. Not every drug is tailored to a person. Try the one he suggests and if there's no difference, you just need to try another one. I know someone who actually goes to the hospital for a day when he gets a new drug, just to make sure it's working ok. He's got a family and therefore its his choice and the doctor agreed to it.
Good Luck to you
Here goes that idiot Jessie Katso again, I think moron is his favoured word.