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Re: Bipolar success stories? « Kira » Dr. Bob

Posted by Krysti on April 28, 2003, at 10:49:40

In reply to Bipolar success stories? « Kira, posted by Dr. Bob on April 23, 2003, at 17:59:24

Hi Kira,

I was diagnosed with Bipolar a year ago. I am a rapid cycler also. I posted a similar message on this board when I was first diagnosed and I didn't get much positive feedback, actually I don't think I got any, which really scared me.

Well, I am happy to say, I have been stable since the beginning of January. The worst side effect I had was gaining 15 lbs on Depakote and feeling blah. That was the first mood stabilizer I went on. Then, I tried Gabitril which I ended up becoming depressed on. I added an SSRI, Lexapro, which put me into a mixed state. You need to be careful of using SSRI's for depression as they can induce rapid cycling. I stopped taking the Lexapro and switched from Gabitril to Trileptal. Trileptal worked the best for me, but I did end up becoming depressed again. I added a small dose of Celexa (10mg) and have been stable since.

For most people, it seems to get worse than better at first. I think that's due to a lot of things. Finding out you have it can be traumatic in itself. Then, to realize you're going to have to take medication for the rest of your life can be daunting to say the least. Then, the disappointment when a med doesn't work and you have to try something else. The good news is it does get better. And once you start feeling better, it is all worth it.

Remember also, medication affects everyone differently. What may work for someone else may not work for you and vice versa. Adjusting a dose of a particular med can also make all the difference.

The most important thing is to find a good pyschiatrist who is very knowledgeable with bipolar meds and who is very proactive in finding the right "med cocktail" for you. Also, I would suggest reading about all the meds used for bipolar yourself so you feel comfortable about what you are trying.

The most important medication for bipolars is a mood stabilizer. Lamictal and Trileptal are known to be good for rapid cyclers. Lamicatal also has an anti-depressant property. As far as side effects, the worst of them are pretty rare. The mild side effects like nausea, sleepiness, ect., usually go away within a couple of weeks or so.

I know it is scary, but hang in there, it does get better. If you have any more questions, please feel free to ask me and I will answer as best I can.

Take care,

Krysti


> > I have been diagnosed with rapid-cycling Bipolar and am very nervous about the potential side effects of medications. I am wondering if anyone would be willing to share their experiences with me regarding medications for treating Bipolar.
> >
> > I have read many stories from people who have had negative experiences on meds, yet have not read about anyone who has successfully been able to manage their disorder without side effects and/or a worsening of symptoms. I would like to believe that there *are* success stories out there, as it would make me less wary about treating my own condition with meds.
> >
> > Any information would be most appreciated. Thank you for your time and consideration!
>


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