I know that a lot of people with Bipolar do not take their meds because they enjoy the mania so much. I'm actually worried to take meds...I'm not on any right now but I have tried them in the past and didn't feel satisfied with the results. I'm just wondering if there are other people who are Bipolar who do NOT take meds and if so, why not? Out of the people who ARE on meds, what do you take and are you glad you are on meds?
I'm on meds, and I'll be happy to volunteer. I'm BP II by the way, so I suffer from recurrent depression, and rarely hypomania. I've never had a full manic episode that I know of. My meds are:
Lithium 900mg/day
Neurontin 2400mg/day (I think)
Wellbutrin SR 200mg/day
Strattera 40mg/day (for ADD, not BP)
Plus a couple other things for unrelated maladies (hypothyroid, blood pressure)
I also take 8000mg of Flax Seed Oil per day.
Lithium was the thing that really allowed me to start rebuilding my life and my marriage - I had pretty well mucked up my family life by then.
I dislike the fact that I get some mild tremors with the lithium, but its not as bad as it used to be. However the tremors are a small price to pay for feeling better.
Was v interested in your post. I have recently come off meds - was on lithium and mirtazipine. Found the side effects difficult - extreme drowsiness, weight gain, lethargy and my brain seemed to funtion much more slowly. I'd resigned myself to the fact that I wouldn't be able to go back to teaching because my memory was quite poor and I certainly wasn't up to my previous 'firecracker' standard. Looked into other ways of coping. Was tested for vit. deficiencies and toxicity and then followed dietary and supplement advice from a nutritionist. Have been seeing a homeopath - the idea is that something in your past - physical, emotional or mental has created the problem - they treat the 'trauma' and that, in turn, alleviates the symptoms (mood swings). Lots and lots of therapy to release old pent up emotions etc and some very deep and meaningful soul searching. This has been going on over the last six years - I was unkowingly treating myself long before I was diagnosed. I've only been completely med free for three weeks. It's not long enough to know whether or not it's long term, I guess you'd need a couple of stable years before you could say that. It's expensive and can be very time consuming, but at the moment I feel very 'well'. I'd say look into all possibilities and try not to discount the meds completely - I needed them for a year and a half to keep me stable enough to cope with all the other stuff I was dealing with. Try and keep an open mind and be very honest with yourself about what's working and what isn't. All of the 'complementary' therapies (including therapy) kind of open up old wounds, and that can make things worse for a while - you'd need to be sure you're strong enough to cope with that and that you have support in place in case things get too much. My docs got to a stage where they let me have a 'supply' of tranqs at home to use at my discretion - it helps to have a safety net.
I do believe it's possible for some people to treat this without continuous medication, but I don't think it would suit everybody and it is a very long, slow process (not to mention costly).
Oh my goodness, an essay! Sorry it's so long. Post back if you want more details, but please don't rush into anything and let as many people as possible know what is going on in your life - this isn't something you can do by yourself.
I am on meds. I guess I'm not really sure why at this point. At first is was because, if you feel sick, doc gives you pills and you feel better, period. That had been my history with sprained appendages, infections, blood pressure, and lately hypothyroid/chronic fatigue. The hypothyroid was the first experience I had had with on meds for months and no improvement. But eventually I did see results and felt better (better is relative, my blood test had read normal for sometime despite the fact that I didn't feel "better". But when I did feel "better" I was 10x "better" overnight. In hindsight it appears to have been my first manic episode). So when my mania has destroyed half my acquaintances/almost friends, bank account, backyard, endangered my job I sought treatment. Was given pills. And thought okay take pills and feel better. From the thyroid incident I was fully aware it might take a while. But I wasn't ready for the constant changing of meds, multiple side effects, literally having to fall out of bed in the morning and fling myself down the stairs just to get out of the house and to work . . . 3 hours late. A year later, I'm still having problems, adjusting meds, and changing doctors. I am starting to wonder why I mess with meds at all. They take up all of my (previously) disposable income and don't always seem to be doing much, but I guess I stick with them because I'm more afraid of staying awake for weeks on end destroying my bank account, destroying my house, endangering my job, and maybe getting arrested this time around.
__________________
In haven't failed! I've accomplished much. I just found a lot ways that don't work . . . yet.
I couldn't function without the meds. I did function for a while on one AD, but I was also going to an accupuncturist and chiropractor regularly, went to therapy and pampered myself a lot. Now the $$ aren't there, and my mood swings are worse, so I've resigned myself to drugs for the rest of my life. I resisted for a long time, but I'm better off IMHO. Instability was fine when I was young and free, but now I've got family obligations that require consistency.
My regimen - 300mg lamictal, 150mg wellbutrin, 20mg celexa. In addition, I take four omega-3 capsules because I figure they might help.
i am an example of a bipolar person taht was disgusted with the whole med syndrome, i was on 8 different meds and i am more manic(thank god, makes me a little weird but hey, its cool. i went off all meds and tried belive it or not, a diet pill that has no side effects, non addicting, and easy to get.
"BONTRIL" I AM A HAPPY CAMPER NOW FOR 4 YEARS NOW, NOT ONE PROBLEM, CHECK IT OUT., THANKS KIMBER LEE
I am not rushing to go get more meds that is for sure...even though I may need them.
I think that another problem I have with meds is the weight gain and tiredness. On Effexor, I went from a size 3 to a size 7 in a matter of months.
On Prozac, I might as well have been a zombie walking around with 0 personality. I felt like I was just floating through life. Not happy, not sad, not anything! No opinion...just there.
The last med I took was Effexor (150mg) but (and I know this is stupid) I quit taking it all of the sudden. I couldn't get in with my doc to give me a refill so she pretty much screwed me on that. I ended up feeling like I was having electicity bolted through me for a few weeks. It would start in my head and go down to my toes and make my arm jerk for no reason! It was terrible and makes me leary of going the med route again. Also, after I stopped taking Effexor I went back to a size 3.
I guess I just need to look at what is most important to me?
i was on depakote.. i took myself off of them because they
weren't helping me at all.. ever since i did that i never had
an out burst of anger like i did when i was on them
i was on depakote.. i took myself off of them because they
weren't helping me at all.. ever since i did that i never had
an out burst of anger like i did when i was on them
r u sure that anger wasn't because you're an oni?
sorry i couldn't resist, hope i didn't offend.
__________________
In haven't failed! I've accomplished much. I just found a lot ways that don't work . . . yet.
I was never on a series of meds, I had Zyprexa and I believe it was only 10mg. They were going to adjust it as needed, but I never let it get that far. The first week I felt like a complete zombie. Everything moved slow, sounded weird, and I felt like I was high the whole time I was awake. I had no emotion towards anything whatsoever, you could have insulted me in the worst way possible and I would've just you gave you the "thumbs up" notion. I stopped taking them and instantly developed a twitch in my thumb and eyelash, that lasted about 2 months. That was months ago and it hasn't happened since.
I guess I would rather make the "episode" mistakes and be able to "feel" the consequences, instead of being a vegetable towards everything.
I don't take meds because I feel they interfere with who I'm meant to be. If I notice I seem to be going way high up (body buzzing, no sleep needed) I might take a little Depacote or Seroquel, but in general I feel as though I'm meant to go this route and learn from it. More power to you and just be conscious!!!
Hey,
Im 18 and have been diagnosed with bipolar since I was 14 and I only took meds for about 1 yr since then. My dad took me off of it when I was 15 cause he didnt want me to be on anything that controlled me the rest of my life. ( I just think he didnt want to accept that nothing to was wrong with me.) But Im going to get back on my meds soon cause I have a 1yr old and I dont want him to see the mania. and i Know this is awfull but until I read ur email i didnt realize this but people "who are bipolar dont take meds cause of enjoying the mania high " and I realized that is me, that is me, as awfull as it is that is me. How do i stop enjoying the highs and the madness.?? Cause Im tired of it i want to live happy. I dont want to be like this anymore. Im about to get back on my meds, but i dont think this something that meds cant cotrol. I just am so tired of being angry. and mad .
searchingforbipolar
I am Type I Bipolar.
And my med (lithium for 20 yrs) is the only thing that has kept me from spending the rest of my life in a psych ward.
Bipolar is a Disorder of the brain just like diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas.
I can't imagine telling someone that insulin "controls" a diabetics life and they should get off it. Why should a Bipolar go off meds just because their disorder creates a high rather than a diabetic coma?
That's it for me. I always get way too disturbed (more than usual) about why people would even consider living their life standing in the middle of a highway rather than doing all they can to ensure their safety.
I am Type I Bipolar.
And my med (lithium for 20 yrs) is the only thing that has kept me from spending the rest of my life in a psych ward.
Bipolar is a Disorder of the brain just like diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas.
I can't imagine telling someone that insulin "controls" a diabetics life and they should get off it. Why should a Bipolar go off meds just because their disorder creates a high rather than a diabetic coma?
That's it for me. I always get way too disturbed (more than usual) about why people would even consider living their life standing in the middle of a highway rather than doing all they can to ensure their safety.
ruth there's no such thing as type I bi-polar disorder
who ever said that is wrong
Hi-
No such thing as Bipolar Disorder, Type 1,-well someone in my medical records messed up somewhere. Although I am now dx'd Bp w/psychotic features-I was first diagnosed with Type 1 BP(more extremes in mania, than depression). There is also a BP 2,3, and possibly others...
Yea I am also bipolar type 1 and with differant types comes differant feelings and diferant ways of life..... just like there is differant types of diabetes...... type a diabetes usually runs in children and type b usually runs in older people.......acually learned that in class the other day...... I have mixed feelings right now on the med thing......... I think it's because there really not affecting me anymore although i don't feel like there helping me i still take them cause if i stop them cold turkey.....(which is not a good experiance) I could have a seizure and that scares me so i make it a point not to miss a dose although it takes everything in me to take them cause i know that they don't help.....
inuyasha40 I am at a loss on why you would make a statement that "there is no such thing as Type I Bipolar Disorder". Are you saying that Bipolar Disorder doesn't exist at all like the Scientology folks believe? Or in denial? Or that all the medical reference books are lying?
What gives?
That is a very hard choice Blndbtrfly, and many of us had to wrestle with it at one time or another. But you are right, meds can take away the high, the good feeling in life and yourself. It is a high, and its enjoyable.
There are the side effects of the medications to consider, like weight gain, foggyhead, headaches and twitching. There is the pain of trying differnt medication to find the right combonation. Sometimes they don't help at all, or possibly make things worse, yikes..
There is also some that say taking the medication takes away their creative side of themselves, corking down a well that was always available to them to draw upon. Messing with the way they talk and write.
At best, the medication tones everything down, hopefully without messing you up to much.
So why in the world would anyone consider medication? Why not just wing it as you have been?
Because what we do often doesn't effect us so much, as those who we love and touch. We basicly put them through hell, we are walking dynamite and we blow up allot, not always in anger, sometimes in reckless spending spree or blow off our jobs. When we go up and down we take them with us, whether they want to go or not. Like a three barbed hook, we twist and catch them and bring them down, they notice it, but they love us and try to cope. After a while they get used to it, and soon don't notice it anymore, they write it off as this is just the way he or her is.
So yea, if you want to still be you and feel good, and feel the top of your game at least every once in a while, you can. But weigh the cost in the ones you love, and look into their eye's and then wonder if your willing to pay that price. When I saw my young son's hurt looking back at me, after a tyraid, it made me think
Medication is not the do all of cures, but its what we got for now. But there are other things people try, some work some don't. The only thing that fails every time is winging it. If you think you can control it because you decide to, lend me your secret, because as hard as I try I can't seem to control my brain chemicals from changing as I sleep
I am on Lithium and wellbutrin, and I am very calm and level now. I don't get those tingling high's anymore, but I still can feel happy. The differnce is something has to make me happy, where as I didn't have control, I was happy and that was it. Like a drug. I cycle fast, so I am a bit differnt than most, but I still believe its all on the same scale. Some are at this end, and some at that.
They say that the biggest sign of a BP person, is the fear of medication and what they may loose. Most people are afraid what a medication will do to them, only us BP worry that we will loose our high that we enjoy.
My two pennies on the subject.
Last edited by JustDave4now; 08-08-2005 at 06:17 PM.
