[BLOND37]

i have been diagnosed with the above 3.. am on wellbutrin for depression. nothing for the adhd.
was on lamectin for the bipolar which worked for one week (25mg) but then didnt work anymore. doc said higher dosage needed but i dont have health insurance and cant afford any medication.
he put me lithium which first made me drowsy and then made want to go insane over the littleest thing... i was so angry over some letter last nite that i could not come down for HOURS...
i have never been properly medicated for my illnesses and dont think i ever will be. i dont know what to do.. i dont have time or money to keep trying new meds which make me worse.

[thinker22]

You know, there are programs for free medication direct from the pharmaceutical company. You fill out a form at your drs office, attach a proof of income and they will ship the meds direct to you or your dr. In the mean time, they give you a voucher to go get a free filling of the prescription at a local pharmacy. That's how I got almost all of my medication. The three I'm on right now (Lamictal, Wellbutrin, and Seroquel) are all free, all from the manufacturer, name brand. It arrives, the student center (where I see my p-nurse) calls me, I pick it up.

I'm afraid of lithium for some of the side effects I've read about, so I don't blame you for not liking it. I'm hoping Lamictal will do the trick on curing or at least leveling out my mood swings.

The sad but true fact about mood disorders is that it can take quite some time to find the right combo for you with the least side effects. I've been at it for a year now, and still not sure this will be the one. But, I'm not as bad as I was before I sought treatment. I used to not be able to sleep for weeks, was irritable all the time, etc. Now I get a decent amount of sleep every night, no hallucinations, very few nightmares, and I have energy during the day. Only pesky thing still is those unpredictable mood swings.

If you have bipolar (in the depressed phase) and ADHD, meds are about the only thing that will help along with therapy and exercise. I know some people swear by fish oils and B vitamins (which can assist in treatment), but the only thing proven to stabilize moods are either lithium or lamictal (and some of the other anti-seizure class meds). The anti-depressants may help with your depressive state, but they can trip you into dangerous mania of impulsiveness, aggressiveness, feelings of invincibility, etc. I've been there. Not good.

As for ADHD, I think there may be some meds that have an overlap between the two. If not, you may need a stimulant for that one.

Also, consider looking into state sponsored health insurance. Some states have a plan and depending on your income, you may not have to pay any premiums. If you have a serious condition (that is life-threatening or is a disability...which bipolar is at least on the former count and often on the second) they will be more likely to add you. I just applied for my state's insurance and hope to get a decision too. I'm pretty ****ing poor this year. Not that I've ever been above the poverty line in terms of earning, but really, I average about $500 a month gross. I'm a student and my hours at my job got cut like most other workers under 40. To stressed out and unstable to find another job at this stage.

Hope this helps some. Don't give up. It's worth the process. And god am I ever tired of it too!

[BLOND37]

i know and i applied fror the pt asst programs but it takes weeks, months.. my doc had no samples or vouchers. i cant afford lamictal.

[BLOND37]

and i have applied for state ins and help but again it can 90 days

[thinker22]

Originally Posted by BLOND37

i know and i applied fror the pt asst programs but it takes weeks, months.. my doc had no samples or vouchers. i cant afford lamictal.

That's really weird that you didn't get a voucher. When you apply for pt. assistance it usu. takes only a few weeks to get the prescrip shipped to you and like I said, the doc is supposed to give you the voucher that comes with the application (bottom perforated portion with your application number). Sounds like the doc isn't doing his job or is too busy to even delegate the responsibility of getting the pharmaceutical company on the line. If the doc really wants you on Lamictal, knows you can't afford it, knows you're suffering and didn't give you the voucher for immediate relief, he's probably overworked or completely unaware of the procedure involved. I'd call over there and ask about your voucher. If they don't know WTF you're talking about, it's time to find a p-doc or p-nurse who does.

Yeah, I applied for state insurance too. I don't know when or if it will come through either. I hope it does, because bipolar is often more fatal than heart disease and cancer. Trigger warning: One in five of us diagnosed with it will "succeed" at suicide and probably double that will attempt at least once. So, if they deny you for insurance, they're the crazy ones. It's much more cost effective to pay for our meds and appts than to have us in the hospital repeatedly.

I'm just saying I'm angry and frustrated too about the process. I didn't realize how much you'd already tried and sorry if any of this message is redundant also. Not trying to make you more upset. That voucher is a must until the meds arrive if the paperwork has been filled out. If you've not filled out the paperwork, they cannot give you the voucher. So be sure to fill it out and check up on the doc's office in a couple of days if they haven't called you back on the status of your request and the voucher (once they've confirmed that the pharm co will in fact be sending the supply--all via phone calls and faxes--they then authorize the voucher and can give it to you to take to any pharmacy for a temporary supply).

Let me know how things go w/your dr's office. Don't give up on getting what you need. There has to be a way. It's hard when you're feeling so bad to communicate effectively, but they need to know how badly their lack of action is hurting you.

[BLOND37]

yea i think i am his only pt needing help.. he is good but busy.. the secretary doesnt do anything but sit there and answer the phone. he is also in the swanky part of town so i'm sure he doesnt know about financial help stuff.
i'm going to call him today- like i think i said i stopped taking everything.
i cant be going off on a rage of anger for 6+ hours..
i would have considered suicide but I can't leave my dog alone....

[thinker22]

I'm glad you're calling. Some docs really don't know certain procedures for getting free meds, but it's not your fault that he doesn't. Perhaps your situation will get him educated on the process in case of future needs on your behalf or for other clients.

I think the same thing...my chinchillas need me. I've had them for almost 10 years now. I think my guy would be okay without me, the plants and the cat too. It's not that no one would be upset or miss me, it's just the whole need issue...and the what's to become of issue. But still, there are things to live for, although it's hard to see when you feel so bad all the time. Like, I want to read so many more cool books when I can concentrate again and I want to see our first human mission to Mars. I'd totally volunteer to be a colonist.

I think the lamictal may be starting to help. I haven't had an angry outburst in a week. Sooner you get to try it the better, because they have to up your dose so slowly. Pulling for you.

[BLOND37]

ok so my pdoc is on vacation so the nurse practitioner (whom no offense i really dont trust NP's) said i went up in dosage too fast ( well i did what my doc told me to do)... she wants me to take one pill once a day for a week.

[thinker22]

Wait, is that lamictal or some other prescription?

[BLOND37]

Originally Posted by thinker22

Wait, is that lamictal or some other prescription?

this is lithium.

i was on lamictal for a month, couldnt afford it any more no ins.. so last week he put me on lithium, and it made me drowsy for 2 days and then my famous day of rage..

[BLOND37]

my pdoc wont give me anything for my adhd because he feels treating my bipolar will help lessen the adhd.. however this isnt happening.. i cant go to any other docs cuz i dont have health ins and he is seeing me without billing me..