Bi-polar, does anyone know about bi-polar meds?

Question

i know somone who was diagnosed as being bi-polar last fall and tried taking the meds once for a few days, refuse to take them, does anyone know if the meds make you feel crazy or cause anxiety or weight gain , or alter personality, was wondering how they make you feel and what the side affects are Thanks

Answer 1

The point of the medications are to even your moods out.

1.They usually take anywhere from 7-14 days AT LEAST to start working. So, only taking them for a few days wouldn't help anything.

2. Most people try many different drugs and combination of drugs, before they find the right ones. Usually as they get a good mood stabilizer, they discover another issue, such as anxiety disorder, ocd, adhd...etc, which needs a different medication to stabilize.

3. The majority of drugs used to stabilize Bipolar, have some bad side effects, such as weight gain, hair loss, and sleep issues. Not all the drugs have the same side effects, and they can effect everyone differently. The good has to out way the bad, and as long as the side effect is tolerable, the doctor may not change your meds...

4. Every medication is different! I have been on a few and finally after 9 months have a combo I like. You (your friend) should see a doctor and discuss what the symptoms are. Tell the Dr the pros and cons of the former medication. The patient should also find a good therapists/ support group.

This Disorder is very scary and effects everyone in your life. But, it is possible to function and flourish. Also, not everyone needs medications to control their disorder, all though MOST do.

Answer 2

A friend of mine was diagnosed with this about a year ago and has been on and off of different bi-polar meds. The difficulty with these medications, even more than others, is that different people react differently and dramatically. I know a couple of the meds made my friend really anxious...another friend of mine really enjoyed trying to jump out at him because he would freak out.

Ultimately, most patients with conditions like bi-polar try multiple medications in succession to see what works best for them. My friend has been on multiple meds and some have worked better than others. Also, some of the side effects, such as the anxiety, lessened as time wore on with some of the meds.

If you ever read a package insert (If you want to see one, ask a pharmacist) for any anti-psychotic medication, you will see just about every side-effect under the sun (sometimes ones that are exactly opposite of one another). Finding effective treatment for bi-polar takes time. The last thing you want is a medication that fixes the problem, but creates more and worse side-effects than the problem itself.

Answer 3

My doctor told me that medications like Zyprexa and Seroquil for mood swings cause weight gain most of the time. I was put on a 'weight neutral' anti-psychotic for mood swings. It's called Abilify. It makes me tired so I take it before bed but I haven't had any weight gain. My personality is fine (I think...)

Answer 4

It depends on the medication and the person, and everyone reacts differently to medications.