Quote:
Originally Posted by *Beth*
Welcome to the forum @Tart Cherry Jam.
I'm not exactly sure what you're hoping for with regard to medication. Do you want a med that will help you sleep without the metabolic and sexual side effects?
I cannot take credit for being brave enough to try the older AP's, I'm just old enough to have been prescribed the older AP's because they were the only available meds back then. In the past I was on Navane, Stelazine, Thorazine, Haldol, Mellaril, and there were a couple of others I can't recall the names of.
I remember that Navane was a helpful medication for me, back many years. It was calming. But I've tried it more recently and it didn't seem to do anything.
I've been on several of the new (atypical) AP's. Seroquel has had a terribly destructive effect on my health, the same metabolic issues you have described. The only benefit I've had from the newer AP's (Seroquel, specifically) is that is a very low dose it helps me sleep.
In my decades of being on psych meds very few help me sleep. I think lithium does and, as I mentioned, Seroquel (low dose) dose help me sleep.
I suppose that the older AP's in knock-out doses would put me out, but being able to function on that level of medication would be hard.
As for the sexual issue, I believe that all psych medications have an effect of sexual function. I think it's especially noticeable when we're manic and hyper-sexual, then medication interferes with that.
I wish I could offer more help. I think that many of us with bipolar disorder share your struggles.
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Yes, I want a med that will help me sleep without metabolic side effects, sexual side effects, and creative/intellectual side effects. Believe me, I realize this is a tall, tall order! We do share the struggles!
I recently took 400 mg Seroquel ER plus 25 mg Seroquel (regular, not ER). Did nothing for my sleep at all. I could not fall asleep and had to reach out for Zyprexa. You reminded me that Seroquel is sedating at small doses, not large ones. I will try again to see if very little Seroquel might do the sleep trick for me.