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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by gorgeouslygrim on March 29, 2010, at 14:30:24
What in the heck?! I can never just take my meds everyday and by the time I have gotten vicious or depressed is when I stop and think, "I guess I better take my meds." I hate them, I just started Tegretol XR and didn't even have any adverse effects when I decided to stop taking it. I only took the darn thing for a couple of days so that was just ridiculous that I stopped taking it. Do any of you have a hard time taking your meds? Do any of you just stop taking them because you think youll be fine without them? I know I do. What do you do to stay on your meds?
Posted by linkadge on March 29, 2010, at 19:03:04
In reply to Can't take my meds, posted by gorgeouslygrim on March 29, 2010, at 14:30:24
Well, what are your problems? Write them down, write down their sevarity. Describe how they impact your life. Post it on the wall in big letters "This is How I have Been Feeling"
If the medications help these problems, then you can contrast how you feel to how you felt.
Tegretol is an effective medication for bipolar disorder. It is no less (or more) effective than other medications like lithium or depakote.
Carbamazepine is typically used more with certain forms of bipolar disorder (like that with rapid cycling or high anixety, epilepsy, etc.).
If you have rapid cycling bipolar disorder, there may is a strong tendancy to want to quit medications. Why? Becuase you start taking them, you stabilize and realize, hey I just felt like this two weeks ago, how bad could I have got since then?
But, really the problem is the constant up and down that prevents people from being able to trust themselves and how they will feel from one minute to the next.
Linkadge
Posted by gorgeouslygrim on March 29, 2010, at 22:47:02
In reply to Re: Can't take my meds, posted by linkadge on March 29, 2010, at 19:03:04
Hey Linkage,
You are right. I have BP II but I sweart it rapid cycles. Hopefully I can get positive results from this med but well see. I took it today and Ill take it again in a couple of hours. Fingers crossed. As for writting down the results of not taking my meds, I am too ashamed to write them down. I KNOW I need to take my meds I just keep thinking that I can over come this. I have pulled myself out once but that might have just been a manic episode followed by pregnancy which forced me to not take any meds because about 6 months after she was born, this deep depression started. I even thought it might be post partum but its not. I have had all the signs I just didnt add them up before. I hate this but its what I have to deal with. Sucks!
Posted by linkadge on March 30, 2010, at 18:20:44
In reply to Re: Can't take my meds » linkadge, posted by gorgeouslygrim on March 29, 2010, at 22:47:02
Good luck. Tegretol is one of the meds I wish I had stuck with. It stabilized my moods rather rapidly and generally put me in a good zone.
I am probably bipolar II, but I evade the diagnosis and use antiderpessants instead. I think it is probably hindering my long term recovery. I have significant insomnia virtually every other night. Its not associated with anxiety or depression at the moment, my mind just won't shut off.
Linkadge
Posted by gorgeouslygrim on March 31, 2010, at 0:53:17
In reply to Re: Can't take my meds, posted by linkadge on March 30, 2010, at 18:20:44
The anti depressants might be what has kept your issues on going. Individuals that take SSRI's and are Bipolar run the risk of getting aggrevated easier. Basically, it is not always the best treatment. You know, I was diagnosed as bipolar eight yrs ago and was like hell no! I ignored that and didnt take any meds. Instead I had very distructive behavior during my depressive states and run a muk during my manic states. I was a bad bad girl to say the least, I just never got caught thank God! Once I got too out of hand and I had two little ones that counted on me, I went to a doc and was re diagnosed without telling him of the previous diagnoses years before. I never was a bad mom, in fact I worked, went to school full time for my bachelors and I provided very well but the one thing that lacked was my enthusiasm to play and teach my children. Try to allow yourself to accept a diagnosis because it just might give yourself some acceptance and a feeling of relief. Thats what happened for me.
Why did you stop the Tegretol? If you dont mind? Please let me know if there is any advice or experience that I can share with you to help. : )
Posted by morganator on March 31, 2010, at 1:49:24
In reply to Re: Can't take my meds, posted by linkadge on March 30, 2010, at 18:20:44
I see no problem with taking antidepressants if they work for you. I'm bipolar and was on Zoloft alone for nearly 8 years. I felt pretty good most of the time. Feeling good is what it's all about. Life is too damn short.
Posted by gorgeouslygrim on March 31, 2010, at 5:00:56
In reply to Re: Can't take my meds, posted by morganator on March 31, 2010, at 1:49:24
Hello,
In my previous post I mention how I was diagnosed eight yrs ago but avoided meds. Well the truth is I bounced from one anti dep to another but I had forgotten this as I was supposedly being treated for post partum, Boy were they wrong! In fact, the first time I ever had an anti dep in my system I almost ran my then boyfriend over in my car in front of his mothers house over the littlest argument. I wanted to die and I was completely out of control, that med was Lexapro. Paxil did nothing. Cymbalta made me physically hurt and did nothing, Prozac helped for oh a whole whopping three weeks and left me with 20 extra pounds.
My point is that if you found one ant dep that worked for 8 yrs then you are one lucky ducky! Good for you! I wouldnt wish the crap Ive been through on my worst enemy... well, maybe but thats another post.LOL!
If Link's,post had mentioned that he/she was extremely happy with the anti dep, I wouldn't ever try to sway them but they mentioned how they think the anti dep might be hindering the recovery. I just wanted to provide the information my psychiatrist had shared with me. Thank you for sharing your experience with us as it is important to get a variety of experiences in order to help someone to the fullest. : )
This is the end of the thread.
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