Could someone please tell me about the medication I may be prescribed, and about the side effects? I keep reading horror stories about awful weight gain and the feeling of detatchment. Please help!! Im' scared!
2006-10-20 15:45:09 · 10 answers · asked by rocketdog 1 in Health ➔ Mental Health
First, take a deep breath -- you're going to be okay. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder about ten years ago and was diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder four years ago.
I would highly suggest reading everything you can about bipolar disorder. Once you understand it, it will be easier to deal with. You won't be able to control your ups and downs, but at least you'll know why you're feeling the way you are when they happen.
There are some things you should know about bipolar medications. Some do cause weight gain but others actually cause weight loss. It depends exactly what medication you're put on. Not all medications work for all people. I highly suggest you talk to your doctor about Abilify. I've been put on everything from prozac to lithium and the combination that finally worked for me is a combination of Welbutrin, Abilify and Paxil.
It may take a couple of weeks for your medications to start working. You WILL feel better after they do and you WILL be tempted to stop taking them. Whatever you do, don't stop taking the meds. Almost every bipolar person I know has stopped taking their meds because they thought they were better (including me) and it really screws you up. There is no cure for bipolar disorder. Only treatment. Stick with the meds once you find the combination that works for you.
See if there is a bipolar support group in your area. They can be very helpful and you may be surprised to find out that those who are cursed with bipolar are usually blessed with extraordinary creativity and intelligence. Kind of like God said "I'm going to give you these great gifts, but you're going to have to pay for them somehow -- so I'm making you bipolar."
Don't be ashamed of it. Never, ever be ashamed of who you are. You're among good company. Some of the brightest and most famous people in history were bipolar including Virginia Woolf, Axl Rose (maybe not bright, but definitely creative), Linda Hamilton, Sting, Patti Duke, Ben Stiller, Buzz Aldrin, Hans Christian Anderson, Marylin Monroe, Mozart, Napoleon, Issac Newton, Edgar Allen Poe, Plato (according to Aristotle), Francis Ford Coppola, the list goes on and on.
As you can see, being diagnosed bipolar isn't the end of the world. At least you know what it is that's been causing your roller-coaster life. Just make sure you have a good psychiatrist. As long as you do, you won't have a problem with becoming "numb" or "detatched" and you'll start to feel much, much better.
Don't hesitate to email me if you need anything. We bipolar people need to stick together. ;-)
BTW -- do NOT listen to that Kaya person. I bet her I.Q. is less than 120 and I bet your's is somewhere in the range of 130 to 140. She's an idiot.
2006-10-20 16:06:18 · answer #1 · answered by Writer of Truth 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
After working out my answer to you over the past half hour, I went back to look over your previous questions. Seems you belong to the "Disease of the Month Club." Still your recent diagnosis fits the pattern of your past questions. I am taking you on faith.
First< ignore kaya. She is dead wrong. And pay attention to Writer of truth.2nd, don't believe everything you read & hear. Yes the side effects of Bi Polar medication can be rough. However, There are enough of them to be able to do the trial & error thing till your doctor finds a combination that works for you w/ minimal side effects. The worst side effects I have head about concern lithium. Too large a dose will do as you just said, but a correct dose will not. I have a couple friends on a combination of lithium and other meds who have not gained weight, are not detached from people, are not disassociated from themselves or others, and are quite normal most of the time.
And think about this. If you felt peachy keen, you would not have gone in to get your diagnosis to begin with. Relief from the disease is worth some side effects,; at least it's so for me. The meds are not perfect, but I'm so much better off than I was before. Do it, and eventually you will do well. If you don't and your practioner won't listen to you about changing your dosages, change practioners. I have done this.
Good luck to you. I hope you start feeling better. better soon. And remember, fear & worry never solve anything.
2006-10-20 16:01:12 · answer #2 · answered by bob h 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It depends on what type of bipolar disorder you have, and whether you're mostly manic or mostly depressed.
If you're bipolar 1, with mood episodes lasting many months, then you may well start on lithium. Some of the side effects may be yucky. I've put a couple of links at the bottom.
If you're bipolar 2, with much shorter mood swings, then you may be prescribed one of a number of anticonvulsants. Some of these may cause weight gain, others not. I take Lamictal, and that's been weight neutral for me.
If you're mostly depressed, then you may also be prescribed an anti-depressant, and these have a variety of possible side effects. When I was on amitriptyline, I had no side effects apart from a dry mouth for a few weeks.
If you tend to be mostly manic, then you may also be prescribed an anti-psychotic. These do tend to cause weight gain. I take Zyprexa, but I have manged to keep my weight under control through diet and exercise.
You can find out more about the drugs and their side effects at http://www.crazymeds.org and you are welcome to join other bipolars at http://z9.invisionfree.com/Bipolar_Haven
2006-10-21 02:19:57 · answer #3 · answered by Random Bloke 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have just be recently diagnosed what you need to do next is get a second opinion. Bi-Polar disorder is serious illness that can interfere with your ability to interact with the world. Even if you agree with your doctor. Even if your doctor is a kind person. Even if your friends agree. You need at least 3 or 4 independently confirmed diagnostics. This illness can be misdiagnosed by doctors who want short and easy visits.
If you truly have this disease a little bit of weight gain caused by medication will be of no concern compared to the positive mental effects you gain.
Remember that anger, frustration, and sadness are normal human emotions that everyone feels.
2006-10-20 19:03:24 · answer #4 · answered by potential tourist 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The most important factor in your treatment is your doctor.
There are many meds available and many combinations that can relieve your symptoms.
If you have a doctor who will listen to you, he/she will be willing to adjust or change your medications according to how you react to them (weight gain, sleep, irritability, depression/mania or lack of mental sharpness).
There are many books published on Bipolar Disorder and medications details are available online. Be informed—it is a lot of effort but worth it.
Keep a journal on your moods and how you feel when you take your meds. Take it to your doctor every visit…it is hard to remember everything that happened in a week, month.
If your doctor doesn’t listen or take your physical/mental side effects from the meds seriously, find another one.
Don’t stop seeing a doctor, even when you feel well.
Don’t give up. The hardest part of this illness is discovering which meds will work for you.
2006-10-20 16:34:25 · answer #5 · answered by blueoceanrelax 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Listen Rocketdog,
Life's a ***** but let me tell you, bipolar is cool...
Sounds dumb. It's not.
You'll hear people telling you this and that and
in the end, they're plain basket cases themselves!
I'd recommend not spreading the word too much,
though...
Anyway, lithium, paxil, tegretol etc... Well, you got
to take some medication, that's it .
Don't worry, doctors will change your medication
if you don't like it (don't say it's for the weight,
won't work ).
I like valium personally. Works great when I go
manic. As for the lows, I tough'em out...
You'll probably end up with several pills
to choose from. Not too bad, right !
2006-10-20 16:44:30 · answer #6 · answered by Tony W 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes it can be frightful but also a very special gift.
Here are some links to help you survive and find support! :)
God bless you!
www.geodon.com
www.seroquel.com
www.risperdal.com
www.psychcentral.com
http://www.mytherapy.com/features/
http://www.mhsource.com/bipolar/?_requestid=500769
2006-10-20 17:13:37 · answer #7 · answered by Golden Ivy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my son takes seroquel for the bipolar and lexapro for the OCD
2006-10-20 17:19:10 · answer #8 · answered by twoleases 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my friend is bi polar and has ocd she takes abilify,wellbutrin, and celexa and she is doing okay no bad side effects.
2006-10-20 21:01:00 · answer #9 · answered by hapi 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
people!!!!!!!!!!sorry this might not be the answer you want but its the answer you need to hear. the easiest thing to do is say" I give up" and you execpt the "fact" that you are "mentaly ill" whic im sure your not. your just weak you give up too easily you need to fight for yourself. pychologists scared me all my life and lucly i never saw one and id rather die then be told i need help and nopt be able to fight it, i would fight for myself. dont take the pills they wont help, not only screw your body image but your whole life, theres no such thing as mentally ill there is weak.................start fighting for yourself today!!!!!
2006-10-20 15:58:42 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋