What kind of mood stablizer are out there that will help biplar person?
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Kiki,
Have faith in your psychiatrist. He is a highly trained experienced doctor who will know what you need after you talk to him. There is no magic cure and it is really trial and error. Try to see some of you impatience as part of your bipolar (cos for me it settled down alot after mood stabilisers). I take 1000mg Lithium daily, Lexapro 15mg daily. I also have Seroquel if I feel myself starting to get high (which is also accompanied by agitated/anxiety) but I havent had to take it yet. I have taken Xanax in the past for the severe anxiety but that has settled alot and my psych wont prescribe it for me anymore.
There are lots of other ones out there but they all work differently for different people. I like lithium as it seems to have the least long term side effects. I do not have any side effects from it it at all except shakey hands when I first started it and increased thirst.
It will settle down - truly - have faith that you will get better - I know right now it feels confusing and terrible and scary never knowing how you are going to be but it will settle and life will get much smoother for you. I used to run between a low of 2/10 to a high of 10/10 .now with Lithium I only waiver 4-6/10. I have been surprised at how scared of was of taking it for no reason.
I also agree with the others - you should never take an antidepressant without a mood stabiliser when you are bipolar - it is often a way of diagnosing bipolar - that is how I was diagnosed. I took Lexapro and ended up seriously manic/agitated/anxiety/all over the place.
Can you get an appointment earlier - I know you have put up with this for a while and it must be wearing you out.
Goodluck
I just went through all that and some of it was my lack of hormones, the only anti anxiety drug that helps me is Xanax, I don't take it every day, only when I have panic attacks...I hope you have a good doctor, I was misdiagnosed with bi polar disorder and took meds that made it worse because that's not what was wrong with me...be careful with the meds!! good luck!
You should see if you can get in with your psychiatrist sooner than that. A bipolar person should never be on an anti-depressant without a mood stablizer. The most commonly used one is lithium, but you have to have your blood levels monitored on it. Lamictal is becoming pretty popular. That's what I'm on and it works well. Abilify is an atypical anti-psychotic with mood stablizing properties and could be used in conjunction with either of those to help the agitation and irritability.
yeah i agree that someone bipolar should not be on an antidepressant without a mood stabiliser. Theres a pretty good chance that will send you manic. I use lithium thats what works for me, keeps me from getting too high and too low. Theres also the alternative of the anti epileptic medications such as lamictal, depakote, sodium valproate, tegretol etc. I used epilim for a while which is sodium valproate. it worked quite well but the side effects were too much for me. i put on heaps of weight and my hair started to fall out on its own and i felt like an old man all rigid and stuff.
but i guess its how your body takes to the meds as to the side effects you will get. good luck
I am currently reading a book called Bipolar Disorder for Dummies by Candida Fink, MD - Psychiatrist specializing in bipolar disorder Joe Kraynak.
On page 46 of the books and i quote:
the good news is that effective medicines and therapies are available and researches are constantly developing newer and better treatments to add to the arsenal. Through medication, therapy and support you can look forward to achieving the following goals:-
1. Reduce or eliminate symptoms of mania and depression;
2. Prevent the course of the illness from worsening;
3. Reduce or eliminate stresses that trigger mania or depression;
4. Find fulfilling and rewarding work;
5. Repair damaged relationships and build new, healthy relationships; and
6. Restore your social and financial security.
I must add that Xanax is a good mood stabilizer.
Get yourselves this book, it is a much sort after and full of insight book.
Take Care
Everyone is different. So relying on someone from here is not always your best bet. I take Lithium Carbonate.. Have for over 10 years. Good Luck and be open to try new things. And Take your meds.
Hi Kiki
My name is Sarah and I am also bipolar.
I tried most of the drugs and then settles on lithium because it is the most proven and best researched of all the mood stabilizers, and for me at at least it has the fewest side effects.
Please look at the link below to find out more about lithium - take the lowest dose and soon you will feel a lot better. My experiences withe the SSRI antidepressants were bad - Lexapro, Zoloft etc didn't completely ease the dpression, had bad side effects like weight gain and sexual problems, and made me very short tempered and grumpy - they often drive bipolar people towards mania.
Depakote me me fat and my hair fall out ( very common side effects). The research show Lamictal is good for the depression side of bipolar but not as effective for manic symptoms such as agitation and irritibility.
Also, lithium is very cheap compared to other drugs because it is available as a generic - some places have it for $4 a month!
Something else that helped me was joining my local DBSA (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) support group.
Please don't worry - I know it is hellish now but you will feel better once you get a proper mood stabilizer. I am feeling great now. I did a lot of research and read autobiographies of famous people like Patty Duke who turned their lives around on lithium and that gave me hope.
Congratulations for being proactive and taking care of your health. Concentrate on finding the right psychiatrist as well as the meds and NEVER GIVE UP HOPE. THE RIGHT MEDS WILL MAKE ALL THE difference.
Good luck and I hope you feel better soon. Sarah
HI. First, I think it depends on what type of Bipolar you are. Most people with Bipolar 1 take Lithium or Depakote, whereas most people with Bipolar 2 take Lamictal. Lithium and Depakote help more with the mania which is an issue with Bipolar 1, whereas Lamictal helps more with depression which is characteristic of Bipolar 2.
The main medications used for mood stabilization include:
Lithium
Tegretol
Depakote
Lamictal
And anti-pyschotic meds like: Seroquel, Abilify, Risperdal, Zyprexa, and Geodon.
It will be a matter of working with your doctor to figure out which medication (or combination of meds) is best for you.
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Do you really think millions and millions of people are born mentally ill, but only a few are born physically ill? Give me a break. Mental illness is a scam...a giant, money-making, ego-boosting scam for the 'helpers'. Drugs destroy your brain, but make alot of people alot of money.
Good friends, good food (raw, organic green sprouts, veggies, fruits, nuts, seeds, whole grains), and exercise in the morning or late afternoon sun make you healthy.
Good luck! You're going to need alot of it if you're in 'the system'.
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