~*~BiPolar Folks~*~

[EzraDuncan]

What meds have worked best for you guys? I've been trying to research but the info is all over the place.

[Houston Heather]

Ibuprofen can make your stomach bleed, especially if you take it on an empty stomach.

DJ, pretty much any cold medicine with decongestant makes me manic. Tylenol and Ibuprofen make me get toxic from the lithium. I have to take asprin and benadryl, with maybe a cough drop. Fortunately, I don't get sick often.

Molly, be REALLY careful with the Levaquin. The only antibiotic that has more horror stories than Bactrim is Levaquin! You can have tendon ruptures, my sister did and now faces expensive and painful knee surgery, and a long recovery.

No wonder I take the herbal stuff if at all possible!

Ezra, the best info I have says that if you have family members with bipolar, take what they take, if it works for them.

When my mother didn't drink, lithium worked great, so I asked my doc for lithium as my mood stabilizer. It has side effects, but I knew within a day that I needed it more than anything. "They" say you will gain weight, or not be able to lose, but "they're" full of crap. I have lost over 60 pounds taking lithium.

For my anti-depressant, doc set me up with Lexapro. Because I have Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (you can check out the link in my sig), I do better on small doses. It works, I don't get suicidal anymore. I do get some wierd female issues with it, but I'm not suicidal anymore I am willing to pay the price tag. Speaking of price, my dose is $20 a month.

Since I have psychotic features, delusions, hallucinations and all that mess, I take Risperidone (generic Risperidal). It works great. If I do get nasty breakthrough paranoia or hallucinations, I go up slightly on my dose, one time, and they go away. Good stuff! Since it is generic now, a monthly prescription runs about $20.

"They" tend to say if you are more mixed (up and down at the same time), the antiseizure meds work better as a mood stabilizer. But I can run mixed and I do great on lithium. Lithium is also WAY, way, cheaper. Generally $4 a month.

If you tend to run manic, then depressed, they say lithium is better. Lithium is also good if you have a strong family history of mood disorders (depressed parent or sibling, or a whole "mess" of nuts like my family - maybe 3 people AREN'T sick). They are also beginning to use lithium to stimulate the immune system. I notice I get sick FAR less (colds and flu) on the lithium than I did before.

Now, the lithium is really rough on my stomach. I have to coddle my tummy often. I can also get a zombie effect going - even my father has mentioned it's a good thing I don't drive, but that could be my FAS. I don't mind, it's so much better than the alternative.

I hope this helps.

Generally, doc will want you on mood stabilizer minimum. She may also put you on an anti-depressant if you tend to run depressed. If you also hear/see/smell/feel things that aren't there, get paranoid, or are convinced of things that aren't true (delusions), she'll add an antipsychotic.

I don't care what they call my pills, they work!

[CurveControl]

Originally Posted by faithgirl

Shoot! Pdoc is worried about the dark stools. I should have just shut my mouth about it becuase my regular doctor will want to do all kinds of tests. Pdoc took me off cymbalta and Abilify to see if it straightens out and I go back in 2 weeks. In the meantime I am supposed to go to my regular doctor. Being the resistant PITA I am, I will stop the 2 meds and see if that stops it. I think it may be all the ibuprofen i am taking due to the constant head aches. That or Abilify. I have no pain or anything, so I really think it's probably nothing. just some kind of reaction. I am not going to be pleasant these next 2 weeks. I do get to keep the Klonopin to help keep me from wanting to strangle people though. Lucky co-workers.

Molly, I am in love with Levaquin-it kicked the pneumonia I had last summer within a few days.

DJ-so you're saying the higher dose of Lamictal was easier to adjust to than the lower dose?

Hope you both feel better soon.

I hope it is nothing.

Originally Posted by EzraDuncan

What meds have worked best for you guys? I've been trying to research but the info is all over the place.

I like my Lamicatl and xanax and ambien.




Heather~ I am allergic to so many antibiotics and my sinus infections get so entrenched because of some physical issues in the way they are formed that Levaquin is about all I will/can take.
2 zpacks do Nothing. Sometimes a single round of levaquin takes care of it. sometimes I do a Double.
As you know I am very careful of what I take, and do tons of research before I decide if the potential pros out weigh the potential cons.

[Houston Heather]

I nag, because I care!

I hope you feel better soon!

[CurveControl]

Originally Posted by Houston Heather

I nag, because I care!

I hope you feel better soon!

I know you do sweetie~
And you have seen the worst (other than death)set of side effects/interactions I can imagine so I don't blame you a bit for your caution.

[faithgirl]

I'd like to report that I am head ache free for the first time in about 6 weeks. I stopped the Cymbalta today. Please, if I ever get the brainiac idea to go back on that stuff, would someone tell me what a dork I'm being? Please?

I was supposed to stop the Abilify, too, but I had some 2 mg. left and I am going to take that for 3 days so it's not such a shock. Oh, and the other problem has lessened considerably. I doubt very much it was blood, but was probably just some reaction I was having to the Abilify.

[CurveControl]

I am glad you are feeling better!!!

[djalomo]

Originally Posted by faithgirl

I'd like to report that I am head ache free for the first time in about 6 weeks. I stopped the Cymbalta today. Please, if I ever get the brainiac idea to go back on that stuff, would someone tell me what a dork I'm being? Please?

I was supposed to stop the Abilify, too, but I had some 2 mg. left and I am going to take that for 3 days so it's not such a shock. Oh, and the other problem has lessened considerably. I doubt very much it was blood, but was probably just some reaction I was having to the Abilify.

Wow you were supposed to stop both? I missed something - what does the doc want to put you on? Or are you gonna go without meds?

[Houston Heather]

I'm glad you're doing better!

I hear so many horror stories about other meds, I'm going to die with a good lithium level!

[faithgirl]

Originally Posted by djalomo

Wow you were supposed to stop both? I missed something - what does the doc want to put you on? Or are you gonna go without meds?

I am using the Klonopin for now, to help ease me off the others. I was only on 5 mg Abilify and 20 mg Cymbalta, so hopefully it won't be too bad. He was freaked about the possibility of it being blood. I will drop down to 2 mg for 3 days on the Abilify then quit. I go back in 2 weeks and we will start from there...i wish the Abilify were not causing this becuase i honestly don't have any side effects besides this one. It was the Cymbalta causing the horrid head aches. And he was rather shocked at how much ibuprofen I was taking, but I need a lot to get rid of my head aches, and I always have. Ibuprofen could have been causing the bleeding, if indeed it was bleeding.

Actually, the Abilify may be causing another side effect-I cannot remember my words. It sucks becuse i was in a meeting today saying, you know, the 'thingy'. Fortunately it was a casual meeting.

[faithgirl]

Originally Posted by Houston Heather

I'm glad you're doing better!

I hear so many horror stories about other meds, I'm going to die with a good lithium level!

Sometimes i think I should try it, but my depression is extremely bad, so I don't think it would be a good fit.

[faithgirl]

I just looked at crazymeds and it says this about atypical antipsychotics: sudden withdrawal from long-term use of an atypical antipsychotic can be weird but not really that big a deal. Other than the return of the symptoms it's treating, of course.

I've only been taking the Abilify for about 3 weeks and it's a low dose, so it should be fine to stop it.

[Houston Heather]

Oh, I had overwhelming depressions - as in - it was a good day because I didn't hurt myself.

On a 1-10, bad days tended to run at a 7, with an 8 "I'm going to kill myself, put me in the hospital". I can have mixed depressions too, which are very dangerous. Horrible emotional pain, overwhelming desire to hurt if not kill myself, absolutely obessed with suicide. If I was hospitalized every time I was suicidal, I would have spent years locked up.

If I got up to an "8" or above, I always sought help. Once, the doctor took so long I actually cycled up to mania - and that led to my diagnosis.

I got my ass kicked by a bad depression today, and took an extra lithium. Boom. Back to normal. I LOVE the stuff.

[faithgirl]

Originally Posted by Houston Heather

Oh, I had overwhelming depressions - as in - it was a good day because I didn't hurt myself.

On a 1-10, bad days tended to run at a 7, with an 8 "I'm going to kill myself, put me in the hospital". I can have mixed depressions too, which are very dangerous. Horrible emotional pain, overwhelming desire to hurt if not kill myself, absolutely obessed with suicide. If I was hospitalized every time I was suicidal, I would have spent years locked up.

If I got up to an "8" or above, I always sought help. Once, the doctor took so long I actually cycled up to mania - and that led to my diagnosis.

I got my ass kicked by a bad depression today, and took an extra lithium. Boom. Back to normal. I LOVE the stuff.

Oh I know you do have bad, bad depressions Heather. What I meant was that I don't have the real bad mania's like some do. At least, that's what I've heard, is that Lithium is more for those that have bad manias. Sometimes I get to typing something out, and I think people have got to be able to read my mind and know what I mean without me writing it out more clearly. I think it would be great to have something that worked immediately.

[faithgirl]

It's only withdrawals, it will be okay...
It's only withdrawals, it will be okay...
It's only withdrawals, it will be okay...
It's only withdrawals, it will be okay...
It's only withdrawals, it will be okay...
It's only withdrawals, it will be okay...

[Houston Heather]

[CurveControl]

Originally Posted by faithgirl

It's only withdrawals, it will be okay...
It's only withdrawals, it will be okay...
It's only withdrawals, it will be okay...
It's only withdrawals, it will be okay...
It's only withdrawals, it will be okay...
It's only withdrawals, it will be okay...

whats up?

You might need to go slower. You need to call your doc and see what is normal to expect and if what you are feeling is normal or not.

[faithgirl]

Originally Posted by CurveControl

whats up?

You might need to go slower. You need to call your doc and see what is normal to expect and if what you are feeling is normal or not.

It's better now. I was just very teary last night and this morning. I just had to remind myself it was going to be okay.

[CurveControl]

Originally Posted by faithgirl

It's better now. I was just very teary last night and this morning. I just had to remind myself it was going to be okay.

Glad you are better. weaning can be hard and scary

Personally I am on a tear. Very stressed and angry and sad and..... Gah.

[faithgirl]

Originally Posted by CurveControl

Glad you are better. weaning can be hard and scary

Personally I am on a tear. Very stressed and angry and sad and..... Gah.

Sorry you're feeling bad. I hate feeling that way, too. I hope you get to feeling better.

[CurveControl]

thanks.
This crisis will pass, like all the others.
Don't know what the final 'cost' of this one will be though.

[faithgirl]

I know what you mean, i just found out that next week I will be doing a much more stressful job here at work-I don't normally do it, I will be back up for someone on vacation. Great. More stress, and no drugs. I hope I am not mean to anyone in that department because I actually like them all.

[djalomo]

Bleah. I have a sinus infection. My internist gave me all these directions, but my only real symptom that's bugging me is my sort throat - she thinks it's drainage that's infected. She gave me a z-pack and suggested Mucinex DM for congestion - but I don't feel like I'm having any.

But anyway, do y'all think the z-pack will be sufficient. She warned me to take the Mucinex in the morning because the decongestants will cause insomnia and I think I'm kind of like what you said, Heather - I think they will make me hypomanic at least. I can deal with getting over this more slowly rather than jack up my moods. I was taking Tylenol Cold and Flu last weekend and I got sooo depressed/depersonalized feeling, and I had some WEIRD sleep/wake state that borderlined auditory hallucination.

[djalomo]

faithgirl is your other symptom improving? i wonder if it really was the Abilify that was causing it.

[faithgirl]

Originally Posted by djalomo

faithgirl is your other symptom improving? i wonder if it really was the Abilify that was causing it.

I think it may have just been the Ibuprofen. It cleared up, then came back after I had some bad acid reflux and took extra strength maalox-which i now see has a warning not to take if you have black stools. Nice.

so it did come back for one time, but is gone again. I am not touching any stomach meds, or any abilify or Ibuprofen for the next few days. Period. I read online if it is ibuprofen, it will stop when you stop taking ibuprofen. So I am not worried since I have no other symptoms.

I am so angry right now-I feel like I really was making some progress and was actually happy and the depression was all but gone, and now I have to get off meds and I am back to square one. I am so angry and cannot concentrate and depressed, paranoid and want to cry. I've had that tiny taste of what normalcy might be like, and it was pretty awesome, even if I wasn't right where I needed to be at. My memory is shot though. I may have to rename Abilify, Astupify. I have some projects going, writing, reading, knitting, and I cannot concentrate on them now that I am off the meds.

I've only had a Zpack one time, and it was for a sinus infection and it wasn't enough. But I get bronchitis an awful lot, had pneumonia last year and a couple of sinus infections, so really, a lot of antibiotics don't work with me anymore. Hope it works the first time around and you get to feeling better. when's your next pdoc appointment? Maybe you should mention the auditory hallucinations even if it was from the otc meds?

[djalomo]

I really totally need to address the hallucination - I have NEVER in my life heard voices before. I felt like I was half asleep/half awake, and I don't remember what the voice was telling me but it was a low, mean, male strong and raspy sounding voice. I kept saying "I don't believe you" meaning I didn't believe he was actually "there," and then eventually my body was able to wake out of it. Like, my mind was "on," but my body was still asleep. Wacky.

Do you think since that symptom cleared up you can go back on the Abilify? It sounded like it was helping your bipo symptoms some.

[Houston Heather]

DJ, when I have an icky sinus problem I take plain mucinex. They have such a beast... no decongestant but let me tell you, it works great! I am always thirsty, dry mouth (I am used to it now!), and it makes it really bad, but no wierdness.

I can sleep, no bad thoughts, no mania... the plain Guiafenisen 400 mg is the active ingredient. Nothing else, and it works! They have a plain 12 hour formula, too... just 2 layers of the "guia" and they work very very well.

Risperdal really works for hearing things...smelling things, invisible buggies crawling on the skin (oddly, Mom had that too!), seeing people who weren't there... you name it. I never tasted anything I shouldn't but I've had plenty of hallucinations. Not fun.

It's awful to know I can't trust my "input". If they are particularly bad, I will increase my dose slightly (from .025 to .125 mg).

[faithgirl]

Originally Posted by djalomo

I really totally need to address the hallucination - I have NEVER in my life heard voices before. I felt like I was half asleep/half awake, and I don't remember what the voice was telling me but it was a low, mean, male strong and raspy sounding voice. I kept saying "I don't believe you" meaning I didn't believe he was actually "there," and then eventually my body was able to wake out of it. Like, my mind was "on," but my body was still asleep. Wacky.

Do you think since that symptom cleared up you can go back on the Abilify? It sounded like it was helping your bipo symptoms some.

That sounds scary! I hope it is just a reaction to the otc stuff, and it isn;t something that will ever manifest on it's own.

I don;t know about the Abilify-I kind of doubt my doctor would put me back on it. He isn't going to be too thrilled when he finds out I did not go have this checked out. But I know my regular doctor, he would have Wanted to scope me from both ends, and no thanks! I think as long as it doesn't come back, I am fine.

[djalomo]

Originally Posted by faithgirl

That sounds scary! I hope it is just a reaction to the otc stuff, and it isn;t something that will ever manifest on it's own.

I don;t know about the Abilify-I kind of doubt my doctor would put me back on it. He isn't going to be too thrilled when he finds out I did not go have this checked out. But I know my regular doctor, he would have Wanted to scope me from both ends, and no thanks! I think as long as it doesn't come back, I am fine.

Ahh cool. I'm curious about what they'll try next. My doc told me about a new drug that's like a combo of Zyprexa and Effexor that's supposedly having good results on people who run more depressed. Zyprexa scares me because of the possibility of weight gain, but I did Pristiq (which is similar to Effexor) and I had zero appetite, so I wonder if that would even out. Lamictal also really curbs mine, which is nice. I guess it's not really a "curbing" so much as a not-obsessed-with-food feeling. I didn't stick out Invega long enough for it to work because I was constantly hungry and always thinking about food.

I keep reading about how good Lithium is for bipo - I really think if I HAVE to switch in the future I'm just going straight for the Lithium, even with its potential for side effects. I knw not everyone gets them so for me it would be worth the risk, probably.

[faithgirl]

One thing that sounds really good about lithium is that people say it works immediately, none of thi waiting for months to see if it will work. And like Heather is always saying, if she gets too manic, she can just take another one. That would be nice to have a drug that can be adjusted so easily.

At this point, I don't want to try anything that is a known weight gainer. I know they all can cause it, but if it is something really known to do it, I need to exhaust my other options first.