I'm bipolar, still manic, what do I do?

Question

I have bipolar disorder. I've been manic for about 2 weeks and nothing is breaking it. I have not slept in 8 days, and before that I was only sleeping a couple hours a night. I have tried several "tricks" to get to sleep but nothing has helped. My doctor put me on Seroquel a couple days ago and it's not doing anything for me. How long does it take to work? I'm asking here instead of calling my doc because he's out of town. Thought maybe someone might give me a suggestion or two. I've tried a warm bath, warm milk, and burning a lavender candle, all of which are supposed to help with insomnia. Nothing. I just can't turn my mind off. I just keep thinking over and over about nothing important. Sometimes I just can't stop moving and I go out in the middle of the night with the dog to take her for a walk. I try to do quiet activities but sometimes I just can't stop pacing the floor. What can I do?

FYI, I'm on the following meds: Lamictal (500mg) Eskalith (1200mg) Zyprexa (60mg *not a typo) Seroquel (25mg) Atenolol (25mg) Cogentin (1mg) Ativan (4mg/day) Advair (100/50) and Nexium (40mg).

Answer 1

Sweetheart, please talk to me. I have a disorder just like yours.
How well educated are you on bi-polar disorder. I have had this disorder since 15 years old, I am going on 29. I drink de-caff tea which helps me calm down. I take Tegertol for the mood swings and Risperdal for sleeping well. Please contact some you can trust if these sleeping patterns persist. I understand how you must feel. Please join support groups in the area or see a counselor and go see your doctor asap.
I go to Dr. Ali Ahmed if need to see someone right away.
I hope this information will put your mind more at ease. I pray that you will have some normal sleeping patterns please try to get plenty of rest. When I get time I take naps throughout the day.
It definitely helps me. Talk to a counselor through the Crisis Intervention Center if absolutely nothing else helps counselors are there to help in times of desperate need. Or better yet, pray and Jesus will direct you as what steps you are to take. Walking and exercise is great for the mind. I have to stay of of red 40 products in the stores. Take all-natural vitamins that don't interact with my medications to stay level also. I exercise almost everyday to stay healthy. Be honest with your doctor let him know that the Seroquel is not helping you sleep at night..

Answer 2

Bipolar and Borderline Personality Disorder are very identical and regularly misdiagnosed for every different to start with; they proportion many features i.e. temper swings, nervousness, sucidal ideation, and so on. Depending on how lengthy you may have truthfully had bipolar (now not how lengthy you will have been identified; you might have bipolar for a time earlier than analysis) you could have learnt 'coping suggestions' in your temper swings, those might now be facet and parcel of your persona and might want remedy to 'unlearn' those coping suggestions. Also there may be a few debate over precisely what explanations borderline persona; it has consistently been assumed to be a mental sickness that's 'learnt' whilst younger; while bipolar is an natural and organic sickness stemming from an irregular mind chemistry. However a few researchers think that borderline persona is at the cusp of being a temper sickness. I suppose you must give up traumatic approximately the analysis for now; naturally if the capsules don't seem to be running thus far, you haven't but reached a degree of steadiness. And till that's completed you'll now not understand what your real 'persona' is like; it's unimaginable to understand your persona at the same time you're nonetheless risky: if the meds are running you're now not steady complete give up. You also are most effective 15, your mind hasn't stopped wiring itself but; it's all of the extra pressing that you simply attempt to discover a therapy that works for you, in any other case it can be tougher to regard any persona sickness (and they may be able to arise with bipolar). Just attempt to move with the special mixtures they present, it could take decades and plenty of path and mistake to discover the meds that give you the results you want. All the high-quality xx

Answer 3

Seroquel will calm the mania, but like others have said, it takes a while to kick in. If it gets really bad, you should ask for Zyprexa (olanzapine). I was prescribed this for bipolar mania, and it slapped me back down to earth in a day. Injected, it can work inside 15 minutes, and is used in the ER to calm psychotic patients.

Answer 4

What makes me feel better is stuff that makes me feel comfortable. A blanket that is warm to cuddle in? Or, hot chocolate while sitting down to my favorite t.v. show. I am manic to. I have noticed that it happens only when I am uncomfortable and there is nothing I can do about that situation. But, I can do something for the right here and now. So, to settle myself I do my favorite comfortable things. And keep taking the meds. It take two weeks for them to set in. It will get easier do not worry. :)
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Answer 5

I have bipolar disorder as well. When I get manic I write in a journal and get everything running through my mind out!! It will help to take it from your mind and put it to paper. Also, try music! Turn it up loud enough to distract you from your thoughts. You may want to ask your doctor to give you some sort of sleeping aid. That is what my doctor offered me.

Answer 6

I think the problem is that, as others have said, the drug takes two weeks to act.
I'd suggest getting, with the consent of a doctor, other tranquilizing or sleeping pills to get through these days, such as xanax or valium.
My grandfather uses xanax, and there aren't any negative effects or unwanted consequences, so I'd suggest you check that one. (again, only with the consent of a doctor)
Good luck.

Answer 7

Are you on 800 mgms? Sometimes it takes longer. One thing that is good is that you know you qre in a mental state, problem. Some are this way and dont know it.
Give it time and good luck. You might need to take also something for anxiety because that is also what might be going on. Good Luck
God Bless
liz

Answer 8

ive been on seroqel also, the doctors just need to(experiment with drugs that work.)people dont realize what a serious thing this is. I take trazadone, and an anti-stress medication calledvistril, It works great,I actually sleep.

Answer 9

My wife is bipolar also. We've been together for 45 years so I am very sympathetic to your problem. She tried everything that can be tried for years. She is now on lithium and saroquil and the combo works wonderful for her. Good luck!

Answer 10

Since your doctor is out, you might talk to the pharmacist where you got the prescription. They can tell you about the prescription, how it work, how long it works, etc. Or be able to suggest something else to take.