Medications.....or not

I was just diagnosed with rapid-cycling bipolar disorder, and my psychiatrist wants to put me on medication--specifically, one of the below:

a). Depakote
b). Tegratol
c). Lamictal
d). Thorazine
or
e). Lithium

I just wanted to know if anyone here is taking any of those medications (I'm sure you must be, considering that Lithium, at least, is a "classic" drug for bipolar disorder), and what sort of experience you've been having with them. Also, what about dealing with the whole thing completely without any meds? Is anyone managing to handle a severe case of rapid-cycle bipolar (i.e., walking out into the middle of the road at midnight and almost getting killed, laughing screaming fits, extreme depression, paranoia--you know the routine) without any medications of any sort? Is it possible to deal with it by other means? Any help would be appreciated.

I find this whole thing terribly ironic, considering that I'm a psych major....

Hello, and welcome to PC. I was trying to find some good info for you thru Google. I did find some good info that might make your descision easier. Good Luck!

http://www.neuropsychiatryreviews.co...idcycling.html

Thanks a lot, dottie!

You're welcome!

TGC

my depression is not the bipolor type depression. I am medication free and deal with it by taking depression management classes that are offered at my therapist agency. I also work in alot of self help workbooks such as Mind Over Mood, The Depression Workbook, The Anxiety Workbook, and The PTSD workbook all of which cover depression and its symptoms.

I have many friends who are bipolor and are managing their symptoms quite well without medication.

The key for me and my friends that I know that are working the no medication route is that we are very involved in our treatment plans. And vice versa our therapists are very involved with our treatment plans.

In fact mine even knows I am in online support groups, which ones and on at least one I have figured out she is a member herself which I find really cool.

Hi there,
I do not think trying to go without any meds. is a good or safe idea.
I'd suggest going with the med(s) and therapy. Keeping in touch with the pdoc who prescribes the meds. as directed, straying away or the wish to stop medications and/or therapy sometimes is a common "trap door", try to avoid that, please.
For me depakote was too sedating and blunting, but very helpful when I first was DXed with bipolar-II(mild) which all seemed to come on from a family/marriage situation, triggering and bringing forth something that never existed or if so was so mild no one, including myself ever deteced or suspected I was a victim of this disorder.
Lithium is excellent, didn't sedate me, but was blunting, due to the fact my type of bipolar has more depressive intensity than manic. Because of this and anti-depressants pooped out my pdoc asked if I'd like to try Lamictal, I balked about it and then said, "yes", it has worked great for me. We all have to bare in mind that all meds do not work for all people the same way, but there are meds that will agree and work for patients.
There is hope, and help, we just need patience.
I wish you well with this all. Just want to stress, this is not a disorder that can handled without meds. if someone has, then they never really were bipolar to begin with.
Please, work with a psychiatrist on this, give things an honest effort. Never give up on yourself.
Take care,
DE

(((((((((((( Hypatia ))))))))))))

Welcome to PC, Hypatia

If you are indeed BP, then you should not try to go it without meds. I have had real good luck so far with litium and lamictal...I haven't taken any of the others, but I understand folks are having pretty good luck with them.

Check out www.bipolarworld.com. They have hundreds of pages on meds and treatment. Great stuff.

Cya,
DJ

I have read that there are other means besides drugs to deal with many, many mental "struggles"--( I don't like to think of them as illnesses)

Although, like "Myself" has said-- one has to be very involved and disciplined-- but in return-- the good part is-- no side effects, addictions or withdrawals.

I have recently read about schizophrenics that have gotten better after they stopped meds-- but stayed with therapy and had loved one's supporting them. Like John Nash for example--- the real guy from "A Beautiful Mind"-- he stopped all meds --- I believe it was in the 1970's-- after that, he worked on things on his own (like "Myself" has suggested) with the help of friends and his wife.

Medication, psychotherapy, workbooks and support from loved ones-- it all depends on what's available to you and what you want to choose to help you.

Please PM me if you have any questions.
I wish you all the best in whatever you decide for yourself.

mandy

I liked Depakote when I was on it. I was on it for a long time, too. The only downfall with that is that it causes you to be hungry and you gain weight with it.

Yeah, that happened to me and really fast too.
Didn't miss that once I changed to another med.
My nephew was on it too, gained weight was fatigued all the time, then once his med was changed things improved.
It did help me at the time I first was DXed.
Everyone responds to meds differently, so with some people, it takes trying different ones and dosages till a therapeutic level is established.
I can't stress enough to people that have been recently DXed for the first time, don't give up, there is hope and help.

Thanks, everyone here for helping each other.

DE

((((((((((everyone))))))))))

Thanks guys! You've all been really helpful.