Have Bipolar Disorder, meds dont seem to work? Doomed forever?

Question

Therapy either. I keep hearing how degenerative the disorder is with myelin sheath problems and correllation with older age dementia. Any other suggestions beside exercise blah blah blah. I play hockey, eat right, take my meds at same time and still have killer anxiety and depression followed by a 180 degree spin to extreme anger and irritablility. Had it for 15 years, hospitalized twice for over a year, drug cocktail (xanax wellbutrin seroquel and lamictal) and it came back when I quit drinking. I was a boozer, and got off the meds. 5 yrs sober....

Didnt know I could add details, first post. For clarity I was not taking meds while drinking...I stopped meds at 16, diagnosed and hospitalized from 13-14, started meds again at 24 (3 yrs ago, 5 sober)

Already did the support group, group therapy, cognitive behavoral therapy even researched it myself in the School of medicine

It just sucks walking around in a fog all the time. All the meds do that, ive tried all of them (except efflexor(??)

Answer 1

You're not doomed. It's a very treatable disorder. There are many different kinds of meds available. Some work for some people while others work for other people. It's most likely you just haven't found the right medication for you. Work with your doctor in experimenting with different drugs or combinations of drugs. I've also read several studies that suggest many cases of bipolar and other mood disorders may be due to a defiency of omega-3 fatty acids. With our modern diet our intake of these healthy fats are decreasing and mood disorders appear to be increasing. The best sources of omega-3's are fatty fish like salmon, flaxseeds and walnuts. It's worth a try. They've also been shown to reduce risk of heart disease, cancer and inflammatory conditions. Congrats on the 5 years of sobriety. Keep it up and good luck.

Answer 2

I had Borderline Personality Disorder from age 16 until about 45. I was para suicidal and self harming throughout. I suffered mostly depression with agitated mixed states. There is a great overlap of this condition with Bipolar. Thanks to this fact I was misdiagnosed by a doctor for over 8 years as being Bipolar I. I too must have been on practically every drug on the market. I could not handle anti-depressants as they made me manic. Eventually I ended up on 8 drugs at once and over 20 pills a day. It finally reached a level of life threatening toxicity. I underwent 25 sessions of ECT. After that my meds were dropped back to two/ 3 1/2 pills a day - mostly for mild depression and insomnia. I have been in remission now for 6 years. In spite of the downside of being over medicated, I can guarantee that without meds and ECT I would not be here today. Throughout those years there were periods of time when the right combination or cocktail kept me stable. The thing that worked best for me was intensive talking therapy (3 x's a week) along with a low dose of Trazadone. I still occasionally begin to lapse into depression but I find that a short course of the lowest dosage of Lamictal brings me up again. Medications may have side effects and everyone responds differently (after all no two of us are the same) however, they do save lives and allow people to function normally.

Answer 3

The Lamictal is an anticonvulsant that works strongly in the depression area, therefore I would get off the Wellbutrin. Seroquel is useless for what sounds like rapid cycling Bipolar II (which is what you sound like to me) as you have my exact symptoms. The anxiety is usually a separate problem from the Bipolar disorder. Xanax is more for panic attacks and you might do better on Klonopin which is just as addictive as Xanax but lasts longer and doesn't give you that jolt of anxiety when it wears off. Wellbutrin and antidepressants are not for you. The Lamitical, as I said is stronger in the depression category than treating mania. Your anger and irritability is hypomania and not the mania of Bipolar I. Staying off the booze is an excellent idea. Email me if you'd like. More bipolars are on the wrong shiite and after 15 years, you shouldn't be having these problems. The docs need to get up to speed on the fact that antidepressants can do more harm than good for Bipolar II's. Therapy is a waste of money as bipolar disorder is organic and well documented studies show that we don't benefit from therapy.

Answer 4

Statistics have proven time and time again that

"Mindfulness Meditation" helps one with Bipolar a Great deal. It helps one see things as they truly are. It also improves cognitive thinking, memory, concentration, and tolerance. Mindfulness Mediation practiced only 15 min. a day, produces patience, improves ones Will-Power and Self-Control.
It gives many many self coping survival skills as well. A very good author that teaches the simplicity of Mindfulness Meditation is
Jon Kabat-Zinn PhD. It produces results and it will work for you.
You might also find the book, "Working With
Anger" by Thubten Chodron quite helpful as well. If one struggles with anger, impatience, stress and withdrawl - this book is Very
Helpful.

Always choose to be kind and forgiving toward yourself. This will also help you to Succeed

R.N. - with Masters Degree.

Answer 5

This is a very good blog, a beginner’s guide to abnormal psychology.
Short, clear and simple; and you can even post your question and contact the author regarding particular subject you are interested in, for FREE

http://sensitive-psychoworld.blogspot.com/

Answer 6

My sister (she is as well) says to change meds. I say it could be you enviroment. What is going on at home, who you live with or possibly your support group. Maybe you need a change all together. I feel for you. I know this disease very well and would not wish it on anybody. If you don't have a support group when feeling down, get one! U R N MY PRAYERS

Answer 7

wow that medication with liquir is bad, it might have made the drugs not work correctly. there are so many new drugs like effextor that will help instead of taking all the other meds. check with your doctor and tell him last time you were drinking, this time you will not drink.