[luckyme808]

then I started reading y'alls med stories. But what I'm on seems like a lot to me. I'm on Effexor, Wellbutrin, Latuda and Gabapentin. I really don't understand why just one or two drugs won't work.

[Victoria'smom]

I was on 2 Rx plus a PRN then depression got me and a third had to be added. I have a hard time taking those three 1x a day I can't imagine more. All the Dr's I've seen have only prescribed up to 3 before wiping me clean and restarting. I think a lot with so many meds are actually switching from one med to another.

Sometimes doctors prefer to "layer" a variety of drugs to get the cumulative effect of a single drug while reducing the individual side effects of each.

[r010159]

I used to take together 3 tablets of Fuoxetine, 3 tablets of Buproprion, 1 tablet of Amphetamine Salts, 1 tablet of Levothyroxine, 1 tablet of Clonazepam, 1 tablet of Olanzepine, 1 tablet of B12, and a couple others every day. This is simply the nature of the disease. So I got used to it.

[ginaaa22]

i take 9 daily meds a day and im 24!!!

As you can see from my signature, I take 5 meds. My pdoc thinks that's too many and would like to see the number drop, but we're rolling with it for now.

[Secretum]

I'm lucky; I can get away with only 2 meds. I think this is because I don't suffer heavily from anxiety (so I don't need a benzo) or insomnia (so I don't need a sleep aid). I do deal with psychosis, but antipsychotics can work as mood stabilizers, so I don't have to take another drug for that. I think many people with bipolar have issues with anxiety and sleep, that have to be treated in addition to the meds to treat the actual mood symptoms (mood stabilizers and antidepressants).

Originally Posted by Secretum

I'm lucky; I can get away with only 2 meds. I think this is because I don't suffer heavily from anxiety (so I don't need a benzo) or insomnia (so I don't need a sleep aid). I do deal with psychosis, but antipsychotics can work as mood stabilizers, so I don't have to take another drug for that. I think many people with bipolar have issues with anxiety and sleep, that have to be treated in addition to the meds to treat the actual mood symptoms (mood stabilizers and antidepressants).

Yeah it sucks. Before I went into the psychosis and ended up in the hospital where I was diagnosed with bipolar and PTSD, I only took 2 meds. One for depression and a sleep aid doxepin. I've struggled with insomnia since I had my son 18 yrs ago. I think that was the beginning of bipolar kicking in.

Now since the psychosis everything has changed. I need a ap or I get really paranoid. I need a med for the side effects of the ap. I take 7 meds now. I was pretty stable a couple months ago just on 4 meds. Hopefully I can get down to that again. But it sucks having anxiety and sleep issues. You're lucky.

[jack123]

I had refused to take more than 2 and prn. Now with this last breakdown I am on 5 scheduled and prn plus meds for other reasons. I have had to take what is needed and happy for the improvement.

[shortandcute]

I'm currently on six.

[BipolaRNurse]

Currently on 5 scheduled psych meds as well as a PRN. I also take several blood pressure meds, fish oil, Vitamin D3, and metformin for my diabetes. At some point I'd like to not be on 2 anti-psychotics, but obviously I need them right now because life is beating me up badly, and yet I'm handling it with some equanimity. I wasn't handling it well on only the one.

Of course, I'd REALLY like to not have to take meds period, but that's not in the cards and I know it. I'm not ashamed of it anymore, except when some healthcare worker looks at my med list and then at me like I'm some kind of psycho.

[swheaton]

Oh, let's see...Klonopin, trazodone, Geodon, and Celexa.

[littlemiss44]

I'm on geodon, lamictal, lexapro, latuda neurontin and adderal for my adhd. I need every single pill. The latuda just got added because of my bad bipolar depression. I'm doing much better. Of course it helps that I only work pt. I'm on ssd for my disorders. These work really well for me.

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Originally Posted by BipolaRNurse

Currently on 5 scheduled psych meds as well as a PRN. I also take several blood pressure meds, fish oil, Vitamin D3, and metformin for my diabetes. At some point I'd like to not be on 2 anti-psychotics, but obviously I need them right now because life is beating me up badly, and yet I'm handling it with some equanimity. I wasn't handling it well on only the one.

Of course, I'd REALLY like to not have to take meds period, but that's not in the cards and I know it. I'm not ashamed of it anymore, except when some healthcare worker looks at my med list and then at me like I'm some kind of psycho.

I know my old gp said, "I don't know how u function on them." So I got a new doc. I feel bad enough about my meds, I don't need that from a doctor, ya know.

[Victoria'smom]

Oh, my son is on an abilify, daytrana, lamictal and also singular, provental, naxinex, and another asthma med.

Hubby is on abilify, lamictal, celexa and 2 blood presser meds.

[SillyKitty]

You can see from my sig that I'm on a lot, but each helps with something different. I'm newly diagnosed schizoaffective- bipolar type, but from what my pdoc said, the meds are basically the same.

[Jcsunshine]

I'm on 4. Effexor, lamictal, seroquel, and klonipin. My psychiatrist referred to them as my special cocktail. And it's amazing how much the right mix helps. I've been diagnosed for 10 years now with bipolar 2 and I wouldn't change my cocktail for anything

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[Curiosity77]

You can see my med list from my signature. I would like to be just on lamotrigine, but my pdoc says i will need lamotrigine, wellbutrin, and an AP long term. I'm still hoping to get to monotherapy, but she doesn't think that would be a good idea.

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[wildflowerchild25]

There was a time when I thought it was almost a badge of honor to be on a lot of meds...like it proved I was really sick and therefore needed a lot of treatment and attention. I think I got up to five at one point - two ADs, an AP, a mood stabilizer, and anxiety med.

Now I would be afraid To be in so many because I would be afraid I am repeating my past. I have had a very difficult time believing that I'm not really just making this all up. I'm not sure if I'll see be able to believe fully that I'm not. So now I just take one and have a prn available. I also use klonopin sometimes though I haven't had it since September.

[venusss]

Imho, lots of meds is when you are feeling you are impacted by your meds. Has your IQ dropped from brilliant to Jersey Shore viewer? Does bother you? Do you have physical effects that bother you a great deal? If yes, then it indeed might be a lot of meds or wrong meds at least.

Also if you take meds for side effects of other meds... it may not be a good plan.

[HALLIEBETH87]

I used to take hmm levothyroxine, singulair, Flonase, gabapentin, lamictal, latuda,and Prozac everyday. now I just take one less...no more Prozac!

so a total of like 11 pills a day!