[SerenitysWave]

<font color="purple">Went to dr... same place i been going for yrs but a different dr... I wanted to change my meds to something more affordable as I am without insurance again... Was taking zoloft...This new dr was going to put me back on paxil and see since I been off that for many yrs if it would be of help again as it is my anxiety that I am seeking help with....well he asked about my depression and that progressed into discussions about all my other mental health diagnosis and when I got to bipolar he said oh, well then I cant perscribe paxil... OK... He says I should never been on zoloft or half the stuff I had been on before because its dangerous when it comes to being bipolar...Well this is the first I ever heard of that, but ok.... so he persrcibed respirdol (sp???) and when I went to get it filled it was twice as much as the zoloft which is no way I can afford that, so I called the office and now he wants to put me on carbazepine (sp??) and I have to get regular blood tests!! like how is that going to make it more affordable and from what I have read I am not sure I comfy taking that med.... I am suppose to go back Monday to get the blood tests to check if I can take the carbazapine.... I think I am going to have hubby go with me and have a discussion with the dr because none of this is making any sense to me..... I mean the other meds worked just fine with most of my disorders....... yeah there were times when I had to change meds because i would either feel worse, or it wasn't helping my moods, and so on... but I was never told that those meds werent suppose to be for dipolar too.....the more i think of it the more i want to call and say forget about it.... I need to do more research and find someone who I am more comfy with so in the mean time I guess I just suck it up and deal the best I can.......... thanks for reading, just needed to vent where I knew people could relate... </font>

[SerenitysWave]

<font color="purple"> just wanted to add that the reason I went to see him in the first place is because stress and anxiety are so bad that since sunday I have been covered literally from neck to ankle in hives! </font>

[DaveyJones]

Hi, Melinda...

Getting the right medications can be so frustrating...you go round and round taking this and that, and they are all so expensive!

I think your new doc is right about not taking Zoloft. The info that antidepressants can be bad for bipolars has been there awhile now, but many doctors haven't heard it or don't buy it.

Now, I'm not a doctor, but if I were, I would start treating you qwith lithium. It's the best mood stabilizer there is and it is quite inexpensive. You do have to have blood tests to monitor levels, but they aren't that bad costwise.

There are so many drugs that are being used for bipolar, and most are very expensive. If you find a drug that works and it is too much to handle cashwise, get in touch with PPArX, the people that have Montel doing the ad with a big bus. They really can help get you hooked up.

Hope things go well for you, I know how you feel.

Peace,
DJ

[SerenitysWave]

<font color="purple"> Thank you DJ~ I talked with my husband and he thinks I need to give it a try to and he isnt worried much about the cost which was nice to hear... I will have to give that PParX a look into. Maybe it's the change in dr that has me leery.. Its just so hard to know what is best and who to trust.... I have myself so focused on the anxiety that I seem to normalize all the rest...

Thanks for responding DJ... it helped to clear up some of my misunderstanding and gave me some comfort in going ahead with what the dr says... thanks!</font>

[DaveyJones]

I do think you're getting on the right track, Serenity...for many of us antidepressants are the very worst thing. You're still only at the beginning of what could be a long road, but I think your doctor is taking the right approach.

You may want to read some of Dr. Jim Phelps' article on his website www.pycheducation.org. He has done a lot of work on the topics of Bipolar @, antidepressants, and tons of other stuff that is related. I highly recommend it.

BTW, carbamazapine is one of the drugs that have showed good reults in proper trials...you can see the whole list at http://psycheducation.org/depression...tabilizers.htm

DJ

[Jkeyz]

Melinda,

I'm so sorry that you have having such trouble. The info you have been given about some anti-depressants making BP worse is correct. I was improperly diagnosed with depression and was given Paxil CR, took it a few years and I ended up with full blown manic/depression. I was in a psych hospital because of it.

I am currently on carbazepine, (Tegretol), and it has been my lifesaver. It works wonderful in keeping my moods stabilized. I have to have blood work every year to make sure my Tegretol level is within the therapeutic range and a liver test, to make sure it's functioning properly. (You may have to have a Tegretol level a few times to get it adjusted in the beginning. I don't think that they are too expensive. I take 400mg of Tegretol twice a day, and it was about $30.00 a month. Now I get my meds through patient assistance programs that I found through www.needymeds.com. Give them a try too!!

Best wishes with you new pdoc and new meds!!!!

Sincerely,
Katy

[SerenitysWave]

<font color="purple">Thank you for the website DJ! I really hope that it is in the right direction, I thought I had been on that road, but with this new information I see that I am actually very blessed that I didnt have a more servere break than I have had .... I look back at those episodes and thankfully I was in enough right mind to get help before it got out of control and got hurt or hurt someone else...... its kind of scary to think that I might be closer to having a "normal" mind set, life, and better sense of reality... I know it will still take time and probably will be some adjusting.... </font>

[SerenitysWave]

<font color="purple">Thank you Katy..... Carbamazepine is listed in the wal-mart generic program that cost only $4 for a month supply, which is GREAT! So if a blood test is only a few times a yr at most than that is not too bad, I was under the impression that it was like a weekly or monthly thing... thank you for cleaing that up for me. I suppose I could do a payment plan too with the dr office... I know I need this and I shouldnt be too concerned about the money, just I know its already not easy for my family to deal and live with me as it is , and to add financial burden is difficult for me...

Thank you for the well wishes and understanding, I appreciate that more than anything... </font>