Thinking of Med Change*Advice please* - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

shining_star · 10-08-2005, 05:51 PM

Hi

Looking for people to give advice on the medications i wish to change too

I have been diagnosed with Bipolar disorder for some time now and have last year being on some meds which left me comatosed and a living corpse really... it was hard for my b/f, my son & family to see me this way. The psychiatrist and counsellors - were reluctant to change - i fought and one. I really get the impression that these specialist prefer a patient like this cos "it's easier for them to manage" and because they feel your less likely to self-harm...I really strongly disagree...to date i'm taking:-

Venlafaxine {Efexor} 112.5mg/p day - at night
Quetiapine {Seroquel} 50mg/p day - at night

Benefits: I am no longer comatosed; I can function during the day; Really bad days are less frequent though still happen.
Cons: I don't feel really fabulous; I don't like I feel as energetic as i did before taking any meds...that troubles me because i prefer feeling really viberant and I Don't

I would say I'm on the fine line to depression, I would say I feel FLAT for the most part.

This coming week I have another appt with my psychiatrist and I am going to see if I can change my meds. I have done my homework - researching antidepressants and mood stabilers to see if my "flatness" was waunting a change. I was hoping to ask him to change me over to these:

Bupropion {Wellbutrin}
Lithium

Can I have some input from those who have taken these...I beleive that these meds will make me feel happier

and less depressed, Is that true?????
love,
Shining_Star

shining_star · 10-09-2005, 01:12 AM

Please can someone reply to me. I visit my psychiatrist in 3 days and would appreciate some help. I find it difficult enough with these appt's haven't had to ask for a complete change like this in a while .....i need help please

Toby706 · 10-09-2005, 07:13 AM

Shining Star-

I have lived with this illness for 10 years now and the one med remains constant in my regimen-Lithium. I have never taken Effexor or buproprion, never many antidepressants actually, as I suffer more from mania/psychosis than depression. I did have Seroquel restarted last week at 50 mg/night and I sleep better already. I guess since I have no pharmaceutical background it would be wrong of me to tell you what to do about your meds, that should be between you and doc. I do know many on this board have been helped by Lithium-it is the "cornerstone" of my med therapy.

shining_star · 10-09-2005, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toby706

Shining Star-

I have lived with this illness for 10 years now and the one med remains constant in my regimen-Lithium. I have never taken Effexor or buproprion, never many antidepressants actually, as I suffer more from mania/psychosis than depression. I did have Seroquel restarted last week at 50 mg/night and I sleep better already. I guess since I have no pharmaceutical background it would be wrong of me to tell you what to do about your meds, that should be between you and doc. I do know many on this board have been helped by Lithium-it is the "cornerstone" of my med therapy.

thankyou toby i appreciate your input. I wasn't after pharmacuetical advice more advice to those taking these meds that really know if they are good or not. And you confirmed my long hours of homework with lithium, "the cornerstone"...I reckon it could be good for me too.

We shouldn't have feel "second-hand" should we?? We have the right to feeling great also - that's my dilema - sometimes it's hard for me to make my psychiatrist see that. It isn't like I can't express myself, but he just mumbles and goes on about the risks of lithium while i'm say "what about the benefits"....but thankyou for your help and answering my post.

klawk316 · 10-10-2005, 10:31 AM

Hi,

For eight years I took Lithium. I always have had the mania before the depression, but the depressions lasting much longer then the mania. My understanding is that the Lithium is best for mania and it worked for me. No mania, no depression, but left me a little flat with weight gain, small hand tremors, and lowered thyroid (treated with synthroid) . After eight years I went off all drugs for two years, but began very bad mood swings. My pdoc put me on 250mg of Lamictal which worked very well for one year, but now I am breaking through. My understanding of Lamictal is that it helps more with the depression then the mania, and has done great things for people suffering more with depression. But I still need help more with the mania so the depressions will stop. The pdoc wants to supplement the Lamictal with an anti-psychotic medication that will cause weight gain, which I can not tolerate. I've done some study on Topamax (a side effect--- weight loss), which also helps with the mania. So, I am going to speak to pdoc about a cocktail of either Lithium (smaller dose then first time around) with help with mania with the Topamax, or Lamictal and Topamax. Anti depressants always made me swing. I will never consider taking them again. I suggest you find another doctor who will work with you. Good Luck, K....