Bipolar: Am I on too many medications? Or too much?

Question

I am a 16 year old female diagnosed with bipolar (which has been very prominent for 3 years, but I was just diagnosed in May 2007.)

I want to know if the number and dosage of my medicatons is unusually high. It seems like a lot to me, and I get sick of taking so many, consequently shoving them in my pockets and saving them when my parents give them to me . Here is what I'm getting:

A.M.:

450 mg Lithium
250 mg. Lamictal
? not sure how much Celexa

P.M.
900 mg Lithium
Ambien

Thanks! Also- any other people who dealt with bipolar as an adolescent? How in hell did you manage? It seems so impossible so much. How did you do it?

Answer 1

My son was on lithium and invega. I know u have to get a lithium level in the blood to be effective. I dont see how any one can tell u if u r on too much or too many meds without knowing ur circumstances. What were you diagnosed with. There are four types of bipolar disorder. My son was diagnosed with Bipolar with manic tendencies. He was also prescribed ambien for sleep. He went to college for his final year, dropped out, bought a store, exhausted his life savings, got kicked outta the frat house and started walking home with a draw full of wires while chanting he was going to take over the world. Do you have the manic tendencies? More info please. I DO wanna help.

Answer 2

Not necessarily. It really depends on a number of things. However, the dose of lithium is not that high. Also, younger people tend to decrease their blood levels of medications much quicker. The lithium is an easy thing to check...your psychiatrist should check the level. There is a lot of research on lithium and what is considered a therapeutic blood level (the amount you need in your blood for it to work). If there's too much, that can be detected as well. The Lamictal does not seem like a huge dose, and neurologists prescribe their patients much higher dosages than psychiatrists, and it's safe at much higher doses.

Multiple studies have shown that lithium is probably the most effective medication for bipolar disorder. Though it prevents mania very well, it does not protect from depression quite as well. That's why many people with bipolar disorder are also prescribed an antidepressant...that is your Celexa. The Ambien is for sleep. It works well in many people but is addictive, so I would use it sparingly if possible.

Answer 3

Hon--get one of those little med. boxes to put in your pocket and a larger one for home so you will know what and time you have taken it or missed one. I have to do that. I take 20 pills a day--NO that is not a lot. I take the Lamictal for seizures, which is also used for your problem and others, it is the same dosage, about the lowest of them I think. You can type the names in your search and get tall the info on any you have. I don't have bipolar, but I have severe heart trouble and seizures. Good luck and you are fine. Just keep taking them as the Dr. says and any questions ask the Dr. make a list of questions before you go so you won't forget anything and take notes, I do. Bless you and have a good Christmas==

Answer 4

Your dosage of Lithium seems to follow criteria for bipolar treatment.

Usual maintance dosage of Lamictal is anywhere from 100 to 500 mg.

Ambien is to help you sleep.

Celexa is an antidpressant.

I would question why are you on so many different drugs.... but that being said, everyone is different and your doctor may have had good success in his patients with this combination.

In general you dosage levels are not particularly high accourding to medication recommendation....

Please do not stop taking your meds.... While you might think it's too much or too many, I'm sure your family and friends see a great improvement in you..... It's not worth the frustration of the mood swings to you and your family and friends.

Answer 5

Hi -

I'm almost 29, bipolar type 2, newish diagnosis.....

100mg Lamictal
10mg Lexapro
10mg Xanax as needed
10 or 15mg of Remeron at night

The only way I manage is to stay on my meds. I am lucky that the first combo of meds worked. I was diagnosed with regular ol' depression and tried like, 8 different drug combos til I went to a different doctor and got the proper diagnosis.

I went off my meds due to loosing my job and insurance, only for about 2-3 weeks. I thought I was loosing it.
Hang in there with your meds, if they make you feel funny after giving them 5-6 weeks to kick in, tell your doc and they will adjust them around. It takes allot of people allot of attempts to get the right combo. Your young, you have a long life to live, just make sure you never stop them w/o medical instruction. I have lived with a bipolar mother my whole life. She had a breakdown at least once a year, she had about a 1.5 year long breakdown that required hospitalization about 7 years ago. She has since found the correct meds and has been outbreak free for 7 years. Good luck.

Answer 6

Ask your doctor to fine tune your meds......first of all you should not be on Any anti depressants. Studies have shown recently that anti depressants can make bipolar disorder worst, ( mania in particular).....so get off the Celexa.. I was on Celexa, I got of it. I think your Lithium is a little high as well, gut if you get off the anti depressant, you probably can lower your lithium. Your chances of having a manic episode will decrease without the anti depressant. I `m just speaking from my experiences with medication, ( I`ve taken it all).....

Answer 7

I'd look into another psychologist or psychiatrist's opinion, depending on your body's weight, I'd say that's way to much medication for a 16 yr old. My husband doesn't even come close to the amounts your taking and he's 47 and weighs maybe 200 lbs and is 6'4" tall.

Answer 8

Sweetie, if you are that obsessed with it you will never get better. Just take your medication, stay in therapy, continue to listen to the advice of your doctor, don't attempt self diagnosis, self therapy or waste your time asking complete strangers on Yahoo what they think. They don't know you, don't know your situation and probably have issues of their own if they are here in the first place.

Bst of luck, stay on the meds.

Answer 9

That doesn't look like a lot to me. I'm on plenty too:

Zoloft 100mg
Invega 6mg
Artane 2mg
Lunesta 3mg