Bipolar side effects - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

Shoo57 · 04-21-2007, 10:43 PM

My daughter age 23 was told she was bipolar.
After being on meds now for a year she is having memory loss, hair thining and her hands shake.
She is taking Geodon, Lamitcal, and Zoloft
Does anyone else have similiar side effects with their meds
Thank You for your help
Shoo57

tsohl · 04-21-2007, 11:26 PM

Hello Shoo,

Sorry to hear that your daughter is having these problems. The side effects you mention occur with some meds, but not usually with the ones you mention your daughter is on. Hair loss and problems with memory can happen with lithium and depakote, but I haven't heard of it with lamictal. Actually the shakiness is also a symptom with lithium. My son has that on occasion. I believe Zoloft can cause this shakiness, too.

I hope others will post with their experiences, as I haven't been too much help! Sorry.

Tsohl

carolyn77 · 04-22-2007, 06:46 PM

I have been taking Lamictal for almost a year. I have just started taking Geodon. I have had hair loss with depakote. Come to find out that my thyroid was out of wack. I'm no doctor. Just my experience.

Shoo57 · 04-23-2007, 12:16 AM

Thank You Carolyn,
I'm also new to this site, and we are a family new to bipolar. This past year I have developed a new respect for what people go through. I know my daughter really doesn't like taking the pills, but she does admit they do help her sleep, wake up, function. With the meds she is looking forward to going to work this year, which might sound strange to some, but she doesn't do well yet in holding down jobs.
Namaste, Shoo

Shoo57 · 04-23-2007, 12:23 AM

Thank You, any information on this subject to me is great help. Our family is new to bipolar. Before we had a name, our household was generally in chaos. Now we have something to learn so we can be more helpful to our daughter and others we know who deal with this, because I really didn't understand what bipolar really was. Hope your son is doing good.
Namaste Shoo