bipolar/depression question?

Question

Hi, i recently posted about my situation but here I go again. I previously had depression and took Paxil-& loved it.But my dad passed away a yr ago, & I have had major anxiety. went to a psych., she put me on depakote.I didnt really like her- so I went to another one and she put me on seroquel. Anyhow, both of these medications make me SO out of it-my head is blurry, & I feel foggy.I told my doc, she said to wait until next week- she put me on lorezapam until them for anxiety-but she wanted me to flush my body of all the other drugs. My Q is-do all the mood stabilizers make your brain foggy and such? (BTW, i feel SO much better & it's only been two days since i didnt take seroquel and depakote).She thinks the SSRIs are causing the anxiety (she said in some ppl that happens)..but I imagine by the time I get into see her next wk on wed--i will be totally depressed (because I do have depression). pls only answer if u have advice, no "ask your doctor"--thats obvious-i want personal exp.

errr.. i wasnt sleeping with the paxil and had anxiety-- but if i didnt take paxil, id be majorly depressed.. i HATE the mood stabilizers!! anyhow, i have an appt next wk but i wanted to know peoples personal experience!! thanks!

ONCE AGAIN, IF U HAVE SMART *** ANSWERS ABOUT GOD AND/OR HOW PSYCHIATRISTS DON'T HELP-- DO NOT ANSWER ME. i don't need the tom cruises of the world responding to me... People have chemical imbalances and medications help with creating the correct balance... This question is for people who KNOW and/or have dealt with this first hand- and have used medications.

Answer 1

unfortunatly i think one of the main treatments for bi polar is the medication youve described unfortunatly, it is required to balance the brain chemistry i think, i may be wrong, but i think most bi polar people need medication and or anti psychotics, if your experiencing depression with psychosis..i wish you good luck anyhow

Answer 2

I am early stages of Parkinson's, have chronic degenerative osteo arthritis,and am a Type II diabetic suffering from depression.

My Doctor & I have tried a number of "chemical cocktails" to treat the depresion including Zoloft, and a few others I can not even remember,

What I am on now seems to work fairly well. its a combination of:

Wellbutrin
Topomax
Cymbalta
Buspar
Seroquel***

*** I use the seroquel at night to "Slow my brain down" so I can sleep for 2 - 4 hours every night. if the Sleep Apnea isn't kept at bay by my Bi-pap machine.
.
Even so, there are still some days when I wake up and I know that the depression is back - I don't know why - maybe it's becuae of the vicodin or the oxy-cotin, that I take every day for the chronic pain, and the 10 other prescriptions that address the parkinsons and arthritis and myrid brorken bones I sustained from a bad motorvyvle accident some time ago..

Answer 3

My sister had similar problems dealing with medication and depression. The solution, believe it or not, was that she finally found the right medication through painful trial and error. She also found an injectable kind that eliminated the need for her to take the pills daily. The advantage of the injectable is that it last two weeks, is administered by someone other than herself, precluding the possibility that she will find a reason or other not to take it.

Also, despite what you may have heard, ECT ("shock treatment') was extraordinarily effective when she was having some major problems.

Answer 4

My Axis I is schizo affective disorder...schizophrenia and manic depression combined in one illness. I started out with Halidol and Cogentin...moved to Resperidol...and finally to Zyprexa.
Meds take anywhere between 6 weeks and 12 to totally saturate your body chemistry. Unfortunately all these drugs have side effects...and each drug affects each person differently.
Even as I began the drug regimen...I knew that I was going to find a way without the use of drugs. Dialectic Behavioral Therapy is the treatment that saved my life...quite literally. I have been meds free for the last five years...no overnights in a locked ward...or any need to be committed...and the quality of my life is improving day by day.
Some tips for you while you are waiting for the meds to saturate your system...
No drinking...no caffeine...no soda...cut your sugar intake by fifty percent or more if you can...no milk or cheese...no salt pepper mustard or ketchup...never take your meds on an empty stomach...and try to eat no cooked foods as your first meal of the day. Fruits and veggies...raw preferably...juiced is fine...to start your day. These things help your body acclimatise itself...reduce the anxiety...and free the body to assimilate the meds and further reduce your anxiety so one day soon you can get back to your Paxil.
I tell you about my being medication free to demonstrate the effectiveness of DBT...the therapy I described above...and I shared with you my diet for that is what helped me when I was on meds. I am sorry about your dad dude...that's too bad...my condolences. Here's hoping something I wrote will help you.
Peace and blessings.

Answer 5

Amber, the sad answer is that while they may take away your depression or anxiety, they alter your mind. The medications all seem to be like dealing with a two year old - distract you from what is depressing you, but they make you less alert and worst of all, less like "yourself." So it's a toss up - you sacrifice some alertness, some acuity, for having less depression or anxiety.

Why not go back to Paxil????

Answer 6

There are far too many people out there believing that they are ill. This is a lie. My advise is found in God's written Word, the Bible.

Philippians 4:4-9.

Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable_if anything is excellent or praiseworthy_think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me_put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Paul

Answer 7

I take seroquel 1x a day TO SLEEP does that answer ur question hun? Id never take it during the day. I hope u feel better and I am sorry,you are depressed. It is a terrible feeling . Find a Dr. that works for u.

Answer 8

If you are bi-polar I'm surprised you are not on lithium. You also might benefit through either zoloft and/or paxil. Zoloft is good for depression but has to be taken on a regular basis. Lithium is also used to treat bi-polar. My ex-husband is bi-polar and so is my daughter. They both take lithium.

Answer 9

dude,just so u kno, there is no PROOF that ppl with these "mental illnessess" hav chemical imbalances...

the fact is ppl will tell u u hav any amount of illnessess so they can sell u drugs..a mental illness is basically a disease with NO physical symptoms...

i hav the symptoms of bi-polar disorder,depression,schizophrenia, thought-disorder,dissociative personality disorder, among with many others.there are no psychiatrists that i can go to here in jamaica, yet i hav found a way to deal with these things by myself....

it is simply mind over matter...


marijuana has been a major "medicine" for me when i had no one to talk to about my "illnessess" and the fact that my parents dont understand about these types of things. it definately helped with my depression, and i didnt have to go to a doctor and be told what is wrong with me..its ALL mind over matter.

Answer 10

I found some good information on depression as well as treatment to cure it etc here http://xrl.us/u3ww. Seems to have some good advice and should help you.