[*Beth*]

Hi PC Family, I'm wondering what we all expect, or hope to get, from medication? Would it be fewer mood changes...more time between mood changes...less intense moods...an almost complete cessation of BP symptoms? Where do you feel you are with meds? Where would you like to be (or are you where you want to be most of the time)?

[bpcyclist]

My pdoc says I am now into some kind of treatment-resistant depression thing where it is going to be really hard to keep me euthymic or stable or whatever. That does seem to be what is happening. He has a special word for it but I don't remember it.

Anyhow, I would now just like not to be psychotic every day or manic regularly like I have been recently. And I would love to be not super depressed. But the doc says it is going to be hard. I might have to try Clozaril, I guess.

[Sometimes psychotic]

Originally Posted by bpcyclist

My pdoc says I am now into some kind of treatment-resistant depression thing where it is going to be really hard to keep me euthymic or stable or whatever. That does seem to be what is happening. He has a special word for it but I don't remember it.


Anyhow, I would now just like not to be psychotic every day or manic regularly like I have been recently. And I would love to be not super depressed. But the doc says it is going to be hard. I might have to try Clozaril, I guess.

A friend of mine just went on clozaril....she is just waking up you might say....gaining insight and experiencing quiet for the first time. If nothing else is working it might be worth it.

I want to get to a point where I can function again and stay out of the hospital

Mood-wise, I am doing fairly well on my current medication cocktail. Of course I want to maintain this. As for hopes for the future, I would like even stronger stability (the ability to tolerate more stress), that is long-lasting, but really therapy continues to be a part of that for me. Ideally, someday I would like my medication cocktail to be smaller. Specifically, I wish my Seroquel XR dose was lower.

In a dream situation, I wish I could just be taking Tegretol XR for my bipolar disorder, and nothing else, but I doubt that will ever happen. I'm sure I'd still be taking the physical-related meds (Synthroid and maybe propranolol). My thyroid is shot. I accept that. As long as I take Tegretol, my Synthroid dose will surely be high because of the drug interaction. That's no big deal to me, though.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by BirdDancer

Mood-wise, I am doing fairly well on my current medication cocktail. Of course I want to maintain this. As for hopes for the future, I would like even stronger stability (the ability to tolerate more stress), that is long-lasting, but really therapy continues to be a part of that for me. Ideally, someday I would like my medication cocktail to be smaller. Specifically, I wish my Seroquel XR dose was lower.

I think you stated your medication/therapy goals so well. "The ability to tolerate even more stress" is such an accurate statement. When all is said and done, stability and the ability to better tolerate stress is probably the ultimate objective.

In a dream situation, I wish I could just be taking Tegretol XR for my bipolar disorder, and nothing else, but I doubt that will ever happen. I'm sure I'd still be taking the physical-related meds (Synthroid and maybe propranolol). My thyroid is shot. I accept that. As long as I take Tegretol, my Synthroid dose will surely be high because of the drug interaction. That's no big deal to me, though.

I'm sorry about your thyroid. I hear you on the one medication desire, though. Wouldn't that be terrific?! I'd be pleased with even 3 meds, but I also doubt very much that my med cocktail will ever go that low. For one thing, it egts into the taking a med to deal with the side effects of another med.

Thanks for your reply, Birdie...you've helped me set my own goals with your wise words.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by spikes

I want to get to a point where I can function again and stay out of the hospital

Hi spikes, So what would keep you out of the hospital? Is it usually a mood instability, or psychosis?

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by Sometimes psychotic

A friend of mine just went on clozaril....she is just waking up you might say....gaining insight and experiencing quiet for the first time. If nothing else is working it might be worth it.

Honestly, I've heard a lot of positives about Clozaril. My pdoc seems spooked by it because of the monthly blood draw, but unless someone has a true needle phobia a monthly blood draw seems worth having a better life.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by bpcyclist

My pdoc says I am now into some kind of treatment-resistant depression thing where it is going to be really hard to keep me euthymic or stable or whatever. That does seem to be what is happening. He has a special word for it but I don't remember it.



I am truly sorry, bpc. Treatment resistant is never fun to hear.

Anyhow, I would now just like not to be psychotic every day or manic regularly like I have been recently. And I would love to be not super depressed. But the doc says it is going to be hard. I might have to try Clozaril, I guess.

I just posted to Sometimes_psychotic that I've heard good things about Clozaril. Do you know when you will be starting on it?

[fern46]

So far, I've needed meds as a bridge to get me from acute symptoms back to a state where I have greater awareness and ability to see my mental state more clearly. I weaned off and I'm stable. I'm transforming the factors in my life that contributed to my instability and I hope to manage without meds in the future. I would most definitely be open to meds again in the though should I find myself in a state where I am unable to thrive on my own.

Originally Posted by BethRags

Hi spikes, So what would keep you out of the hospital? Is it usually a mood instability, or psychosis?

I'd say 80% of my hospital stays were because of or at least included psychosis. I don't really need something specific for a mood stabilizer, I was stable and high-functioning for months just on a low dose of Risperdal Consta. I'm pretty convinced upping the dose of that would end my current mixed state and prevent my early psychosis warning signs from getting worse, but we'll see about that.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by fern46

So far, I've needed meds as a bridge to get me from acute symptoms back to a state where I have greater awareness and ability to see my mental state more clearly. I weaned off and I'm stable. I'm transforming the factors in my life that contributed to my instability and I hope to manage without meds in the future. I would most definitely be open to meds again in the though should I find myself in a state where I am unable to thrive on my own.

I love your attitude. It's flexible and smart.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by spikes

I'd say 80% of my hospital stays were because of or at least included psychosis. I don't really need something specific for a mood stabilizer, I was stable and high-functioning for months just on a low dose of Risperdal Consta. I'm pretty convinced upping the dose of that would end my current mixed state and prevent my early psychosis warning signs from getting worse, but we'll see about that.

I have my fingers crossed for you, spike. Do you know when you might be increasing the dose? Mixed states are the most common way BP manifests for me.

Originally Posted by BethRags

I have my fingers crossed for you, spike. Do you know when you might be increasing the dose? Mixed states are the most common way BP manifests for me.

I see my NP in a couple hours and my next injection is next Tuesday. Mixed states are the most common way my bipolar side manifests too, unfortunately.

[Pookyl]

As someone with a history of rapid cycling and mixed moods I’m thrilled with how well my current combo of meds is working. I’ve not had a full blown episode since May last year and I’ve been euthymic and stable for 6-7months.
My pdoc and I (because of the side effects) are weaning me off Seroquel and hopefully I will do well on Saphris as monotherapy.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by Pookyl

As someone with a history of rapid cycling and mixed moods I’m thrilled with how well my current combo of meds is working. I’ve not had a full blown episode since May last year and I’ve been euthymic and stable for 6-7months.
My pdoc and I (because of the side effects) are weaning me off Seroquel and hopefully I will do well on Saphris as monotherapy.

What great news, Pookyl! Having a reliable med cocktail is such a secure feeling.

[pacman_789]

That’s an interesting question, and I’m curious to see other replies as well. I have bipolar 2, so my goal is not going to be to prevent a manic episode or hospitalization. I just want to be able to slow my mind down and enjoy the simple moments in life. Sometimes, I get going so fast that I feel life is passing me by. I’m always on the go and have to be doing something whether it be work or pleasure, and I used to think that’s a good thing. Sometimes, I even question my diagnosis because those things are fun.

But, when I take medication, I feel more compassion for others and feel connected to those around me. I no longer feel like an island and like I am living just for the moment, but I can find a greater purpose. I just wish they didn’t have so many cognitive side effects because it hurts my work performance and ambition.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by pacman_789

That’s an interesting question, and I’m curious to see other replies as well. I have bipolar 2, so my goal is not going to be to prevent a manic episode or hospitalization. I just want to be able to slow my mind down and enjoy the simple moments in life. Sometimes, I get going so fast that I feel life is passing me by. I’m always on the go and have to be doing something whether it be work or pleasure, and I used to think that’s a good thing. Sometimes, I even question my diagnosis because those things are fun.


I understand so well! It seems that many of us question our diagnosis for the same reason.



Do you ever have irritability that feels out of control (or anger)? Do you experience depression? Euphoric hypomania on it's own is terrific, really like a drug, so much fun...until it's not fun anymore because the high has morphed into something else.

But, when I take medication, I feel more compassion for others and feel connected to those around me. I no longer feel like an island and like I am living just for the moment, but I can find a greater purpose.


Welcome to bipolar disorder land

I just wish they didn’t have so many cognitive side effects because it hurts my work performance and ambition.

Yes. I hear you. The cognitive and physical side effects are sooo hard to live with. I guess it all goes back to the benefits/risks.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[pacman_789]

Originally Posted by BethRags

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks, Beth. Nice to know that others can relate 😊. I question it sometimes since mine isn’t as extreme as many with bipolar 1, but I guess it’s just a milder form of the illness.

Yes I have all of those features you mentioned. The irritability is often unreasonable and makes me difficult to be around at times (bless my wife, she is so patient).

[Pookyl]

Hey Pacman, does your cognition slow down or does it just feel like it’s slowing down?
The reason I ask is because when I was on a different med combo I felt dull cognitively but testing by a neuropsychologist showed that my cognition was unchanged. But I felt I had to work harder to get the same result.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by Pookyl

Hey Pacman, does your cognition slow down or does it just feel like it’s slowing down?
The reason I ask is because when I was on a different med combo I felt dull cognitively but testing by a neuropsychologist showed that my cognition was unchanged. But I felt I had to work harder to get the same result.

Excellent description.

[pacman_789]

Originally Posted by Pookyl

Hey Pacman, does your cognition slow down or does it just feel like it’s slowing down?
The reason I ask is because when I was on a different med combo I felt dull cognitively but testing by a neuropsychologist showed that my cognition was unchanged. But I felt I had to work harder to get the same result.

Hmm, I’ve never thought of it like that. Most of the time, it’s more like I’m going slower so have to do things more deliberately and methodically. So, that kind of falls in line with your findings. But, there have been times when my memory wasn’t as good and I had trouble processing things people were saying to me at work.

I also don’t handle interruptions as well and get frustrated when things go wrong more than usual.

[sarahsweets]

Hey @BethRags:
I was put on a cocktail of meds that literally saved my life about 13 years ago. There has been some tweaking of things to adjust for things like body changes or stress-based alterations but for the most part it was like the medication scraped me off the sidewalk and made me whole again. I know that that is probably not typical of someone with bipolar because its so pervasive and difficult to treat, but I am very grateful to be able to say that. I do know that had I not already been on medication that I would never have been able to get sober.

[Jmayfair]

As for myself and meds I can mostly hope for more time between moods since there seems to be no cure for this illness. I was recently diagnosed (less than 2 years ago) and I now accept this about myself including the reality behind BP medication.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by Jmayfair

As for myself and meds I can mostly hope for more time between moods since there seems to be no cure for this illness. I was recently diagnosed (less than 2 years ago) and I now accept this about myself including the reality behind BP medication.

Good - you have a winning attitude.