Recently I was hospitalized for a breakdown I had. I was diagnosed as manic Depressive. Which translates to BP... I know and believe this. I was on Prozac before going into the hospital. I loved that stuff lol Tehn after coming out I have been on a few different things..First I was on Amitriptylin, then wellbutrin and also Seroquel for racing tgoughts which I had, and continued to stay on Seroquel throughout my med testing. I ended up on Cymbalta... It worked I guess. I felt so good I thought I didnt need anything. I didnt wean myself off like I should have after telling my doc..and ohhhhhhhh man the withdrawal symptoms almost made me wanna go back on them. The seroquel was easy to quit. But now Im living with no meds, Imok most days. I dont have racing thoughts or any manic episodes any longer. I do get some blue days though...some days reallyyy blue but, I am doing it. I have my mom I tell just about everything to. Better than any counselor. I was wondering If anyone else suffered from BD and trying to cope w/o meds??

I am trying without alot of meds. I have been on wellbutrin for about 10 years and am weaning myself off. I do take trazadone to sleep at night and to not have racing thoughts. I also take a xanax about once a week for anxiety. My doctor doesn't like that I don't take my medication. I was on depakote for a year and gained a ton of weight which made me feel worse than ever and I also had no energy whatsover. I am hoping that I do well and don't get too depressed.

Thats cool ya know, weaning off, is better then being totally dependant, I just hate having to depend on a medication to function.

Heh, no meds would be nice...I've tried it several times, though, and it's never worked for me. I've been on meds for almost three years now on different combinations and every time I would get "stable," I'd stop my meds and within two weeks, be back to square one and half the time, the former cocktail of meds wouldn't work anymore! So it was back to trial and error. I finally figured out that I shouldn't try that anymore. >.> But I'm only on two mood stabilisers (Seroquel and Lamictal) and two anxiety meds (Ativan during the day, Klonopin at night) so I'm not complaining too much...Mom's on more (also bp) and I used to be on more...

~~Paige

I'm glad both of you seem to be feeling ok without meds. But please be aware that situation will likely not last. If you truly have bipolar disorder, there is a chemical imbalance in your brain that does not improve or go away as you age.

:wave: Tsohl

Tsohl is right.....and as Paige shares from experience there is more to lose going off the meds compared to what is to be gained being on them. Most people with BP go through the "trying it without meds" routine and sadly either relapse with even worse symptoms of mania/depression and/or end up hospitalized and having to be on stronger meds because the first batch no longer work.

Also, research finds that each time the brain undergoes an episode there is damage to the brain which causes the disorder to progress and even more difficult to treat. Not to mention the time lost in terms of functionality whether it be with school, work, marriage or any other relationships.

So when it comes to meds it is best to look at what life is like with meds vs. what it is like without them.

Good luck ~ Goody:angel: :wave:

Been there done that. I have lived with the ups and downs of BP since 1992 For a while, I couldn't do anything, after a few years, I went back to work. I still go through the various feel great, don't need drugs thing, and I have difficulty finding anything that works long term. I have been on overdose due to doctor error twice, and close to death both of those times. Going cold turkey to get all that stuff out of your system is awful. I am currently on leave from work because when the doc starts tweeking my meds, my entire mental state changes. If you can find the combination that works, there are some good days. The only problem is, they are good for you, but everyone around you doesn't understand why you are acting like you are. Still, this is such a complex affliction, you will still be better off on something than trying to make it on your own. Unfortunately the nature of the beast is the continual cycle of ups and downs. The last drug I have tried is Lexapro. This seems to help, with the addition of klonapin, and provigil. Hang in there. There are many like you who struggle daily. This surely isn't an easy disorder to have. Good luck::angel:

My brother is Bp and I think i might be because I had a depersonalization episode and I have panic attacks and delusions voices with the depersonalization but Im afraid to seek help i dont want to accept this. I was taking b6 for a while and went to a counselor but i think I might soon need to go to the hospital will the drugs they give really help me or make me worse i dont know. I also have agoraphobia today im stuck inside and dont want to move I read peoples posts and everyone seems to take drugs and talk about more drugs but i wonder what is creating this mess why are we messed up what is making us full of anxiety and making people do crazy things we werent born this way whats up?

I have been diagnosed by two seperate doctors with bp 2. I may have a bad time again where I need a mood stabilizer but for the past year, I have been ok. Considering my daughter almost died last year from being in a car wreck and was in ICU for 6 weeks. I think I am doing ok. So far my disorder does not interfere with my job. I also give my husband and kids the freedom to tell me when I am not quite "normal" and I go to my room or sit outside and re-group. My relationships with my parents and siblings suffer due to myself and to their lack of understanding and support. I am very lucky to have supportive husband and children. I do go through very depressive times and I know that I will need medication again. :)

Please stay on your meds. You are not kidding anybody, you are subtly ruining your lifes, chidren's lives, relationship with your spouse. You may think that you are "allright', but everone else can see right away.

Take your meds. You need to do this. Don't "fool" yourself.

You might be feeling "OK" now, but it will hit you, i tried and failed, and right now im stuck becuz i am out of work and no money, either pay the mortgage or pills. if i had the choice i would be on the pills, ive suffered to long before i knew i knew what all i had, and even on the pills, i would never get off the pills willingly again.
the more you dont take your meds and get stabe the worse you will get, i know. all these yrs instead of exceeding i have been degressing. to where i cant even leave the house. my only contact with people is the internet.
i wish you the best in whatever you decide.

I appreciate all of everyones input. I do understand that I will probably have to get back on meds one day and I am on this post to see how others deal with bp and what meds they take. I am not fooling anyone. I know I am different. I just got off of my wellbutrin that I have taken for over 10 years. Wellbutrin is not really for bp anyway. When I was on depakote, my family said that all I did was lay around and was really not well or fun to be around. LizaJudy, why would you say that I am ruining my families' lives? I have two children in college (one is bp) and my youngest is bp and is in high school. They are all doing very well. Tell me what a mood stabilizer can give me. I really am interested in everyones contributions.

I do not live with an unmedicated bi-polar person anymore......
we're divorced......

what does that tell you?
you need medication

Sissy ~ Your two children, you say that they are doing very well....do they take meds??? If they do what would you say to them if they wanted off their meds?? You are setting the example for them on how to manage their BP so it is imperative that you do the right thing. You may feel fine for a while but when you go into another manic episode or deep depression you will be wishing that you didn't go off the meds. It's just a matter of time and with each episode it gets worse and much more difficult to treat. The meds not only stabilize you but also prevent relapses.

If you read many posts here from mothers, sisters, brothers, wives, husbands and friends who have an unmedicated BPer in their lives you will see much pain and suffering not only for the BPer but also for everybody who loves and cares for them. Untreated BP destroys many lives not only your own so it is imperative that you take that seriously into account when considering taking yourself off of meds.

Okay...so the Wellbutrin and Depakote weren't the meds for you but there are so many others to consider. Please think about all that you have to lose if you are BP and remain untreated. Would you tell a diabetic to stop taking their insulin???

Just my 2 cents worth.

((((HUGS)))) ~ Goody:angel: :wave:

Sissy.

Are your children medicated?? If you all our truly bipolar, I really can't imagine how you all live and live well if you are unmedicated. My son would be dead now if it weren't for the mood stabilizers he takes every day, faithfully, without fail.

I think it's great if you all can manage without medication. From everything I know and have experienced, I just don't see how it is possible, and still have a productive, meaningful life.

xxTsohl

Yes, my children take their medications but at the same time, they have rages without it. I don't. I used to when I was alot younger. My daughter has gone off and on her meds and for her she has decided that she wants to take them. I am not setting a bad example because they don't know that I am not taking any meds. I also don't have manic episodes. I get depressed and then more depressed. I still go to work and function with it. I have been reading the posts of people who live with unmedicated bp individuals. My husband just was diagnosed as bp too. He is also add. Believe me that I have been thinking of what meds that I want to try when I start feeling crummy. And I am not dilussional enought to think that it is not going to happen. Anit-depressants don't throw me into a manic state so I am leaning towards trying prozac. I got on this post to learn and share because where I live, people don't really talk about this kind of stuff.:)

Sissy ~ I hope that we haven't offended you....it's just that it is already a big problem that some BPers think that they can do it without meds and even when on meds a high percentage take themselves off of them feeling that they can manage things without them. But that is sooo untrue and it only makes it all the more difficult to treat again wasting many years until they are able to be restabilized and by then many lives have been affected.

I would recommend your looking into Lamictal. It has a WONDERFUL side effect profile, is weight neutral (yippppeee:D ) and addresses the depressive side of BP more than other drugs. IT also has mood stabilizing effects and is known to also prevent relapses. I believe prozac is another antidepressant and as you can see the wellbutrin didn't do anything so going to another I would say would only be counterproductive. BPers need a mood stabiizer and since the Lamictal acts as an antidepressant as well as a mood stabilizer it may be a great med for you!! It also is used in the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder with wonderful results.

I hope this helps....talk to your doctor about your concerns regarding the meds and perhaps together you will come up with one that will help you with minimal side effects.

Good luck ~ Goody:angel:

By the way, my 16 year old is on Lamictal and Seroquel which work wonderfully and my 18 year old just recently started Lamictal.

Oh no, I am not offended. Everyone has an opinion and I think us bp people express ours sometimes pretty strongly. That 's fine by me. I will do some research on lamictal. The weight thing is a big issue. Thanks for the info.

Hi Sissy,

That's great if you feel you don't need anything, and great that you see your children would be worse off if unmedicated. My son needs 3 mood stabilizers to be well, including Lamictal. I agree that it seems to be a wonderful medication for many people. You might find that you feel much better on it.

Gee, we sound like sales reps for the pharmaceutical companies, but nothing could be further from the truth. I felt multi-medications were ridiculous for our son, until I saw how much better he is on his current combination. No depression, no mania; he's free of symptoms and is able to be like he was years ago, pre-BP. Luckily his combo. does not bring along side effects. It did take several years to find this mixture, and he went through 4 pdocs until he found one who really understood pharmaceuticals and their side effects.

We also see the people on this board who really need treatment that simply refuse to believe that anything is wrong, and how damaging this can be, both to the individual and to their relationships. No one likes to take medications, and when someone says "I don't need them; I'm fine without them," it sometimes puts false hope in the minds of those who really do need them.:(

xxTsohl :wave:

i know how you feel about depakote, my doc just up'ed mine and all i can do is sleep, i try and force myself up but its like i am drunk or something.

and im on effexor that makes me tese all the time, and grind my teeth...
i am seeing a new doctor to see if i can try something new all togehter, i hate being on the pills but off them i feel better but then i end up with all the bipolar crap, or more intense.
i have heard of people not being on meds, they had to restructure there life, as far as new jobs and stuff like that..

i think not having my job would help me. but having the job i would more certainly need to be on them.
do you have a routine? thats important too, same bed time, etc...
i do all i can and still have my moments on or off the pills.

good luck

Yes, I have a routine. I go to bed most every night between 9:30-10:30 (even on the weekends). Until you mentioned it, I didn't realize how much of a routine I am in and how important it is to me. I try not to sleep in after 9am either. I feel horrible and sluggish all day if I do. I can fall asleep by myself but I have to take trazadone to stay asleep. I have taken 1/2 a tab for the last 6 years. I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea about me. I know I am sick and I understand how important meds are. I have tried alot of different ones and have gotten very sick. I haven't tried many mood stabilizers yet, but I am scared. I have been sick all of my life (I knew I was different around age 5) and didn't know what was wrong until I was about 27 (now 40). The doctor I went to gave me so much medication that I was almost despondent and hallucinating. He almost killed my dad by overdosing him. Lamictal sounds like a drug that I would like to try. I think it just takes time to get what 's right for each person. What works for my kids, doesn't work for me.