Hello! New here! Did my doctor lie to me? - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

Starbaby77 · 08-07-2008, 07:27 PM

Hello all, I am newly diagnosed BP, and still coming to terms with this diagnosis (meaning I don't quite believe it!). The reason I was diagnosed is because, well, I don't sleep! Haven't quite slept this summer. I wonder how I manage to do this and not die!

The rest of the BP diagnosis doesn't altogther fit, although the spending and and irritibility does match somewhat.

Anyhoo - my question to my new brethren and sistren is this: I have tried:

1. Zyprexa - too much weight gain!
2. Abilify - too much jitters and stopped helping me go to sleep.
3. Lithium.

It is the Lithium I wish to ask you all about. My doctor told me it does not cause weight gain. However, I looked it up on Wikipedia and it said something like obscene weighgain or some sort of word that meant more then average weight gain. It also said it causes acne scarring. O.k. to say this teed me off is an understatement. I called the doctor's assistant and left a none too happy voice message. Don't pee on my leg and tell me its raining.

Can you all tell me if there is a more or less state-of-the-art med for us at the moment? What about the Tegretol or the other one I have heard you all mention that I forget the name of at the moment (I think it starts with an "L" Lectamin?).

I am particulary concerned with weight gain - in otherwords, I ain't gonna go for that. Sorry if that sounds vane - but getting fat is going to depress me and not going to help me with depression. I do need to sleep desparetly. And turning grossly obese with acne scars just doesnt seem like a good trade off.

Anyway, I have never in my life talked in a group of BP peoples, or known I was BP so this is all new to me. I appreciate your help and love and concern. And hope I can give it back to yas!

Hugs, S

sped57 · 08-08-2008, 03:16 AM

lamictal is one mood stabilizer that does not have weight gain. I tried this one, but I was one of the few lucky ones to get the rash and had to stop immediately. I am concerned about weight gain also - I was anorexic and bulimic in the past and still have some of those anxieties about weight. What I have read about litium is that it MAY cause weight gain - your doctor may assume that you would keep this in check because you are concerned about the gain. Tegretol does not have weight gain with it, but it has numerous other side effects. Topomax actually may work towards weight loss, but it also has numerous other side effects and it has not been FDA approved for bipolar. It has been used for this however. I am no doctor and this information is only what I have read. You could ask you doctor about some of these, however. Good Luck.

CarenR · 08-08-2008, 09:43 AM

Welcome to the board....... It is important to find meds you can tolerate and live with. to treat Bipolar.. As we age the Bipolar gets worse if we dont take medications for Bipolar.

hugs, Caren.. bipolar 1..... Zyprexa

Starbaby77 · 08-08-2008, 12:47 PM

Thank you so much! I forgot to say I do take Topomax already. Doesn't do anything for or against weight loss or sleep disorder. Does Lamictal cause sleepiness? This is of prime interest/concern to me as well. I will bring this up to doctor when I get back! Thanks so much!

S

Bunnylover · 08-08-2008, 05:33 PM

I take Lamictal (wonderful for controlling depression, my biggest problem) and Seroquel, for sleep issues and to balance out the slight hypomania Lamictal causes. So far (since March, no weight gain on the combination).

Just make sure your priorities (which are completely up to you to choose, imo) are very clear to your doctor, and try to accept that finding the right med. combo may take awhile.