[earthangel1]

I had been taking medications for over a year, and I was completely drugged up. Friends and family asked me if I was taking medications before I had even told them. I once went into an animal shelter to adopt a dog and the adoption coordinator asked if I was taking illegal drugs. I can't stand people thinking I was on drugs. I got off of all my medications except risperdal because I have bipolar with psychosis. I am only taking risperdal right now. I have been having mania and now I've hit depression. I know I might need medications but I can't stand the stigmaand feeling drugged up. I took lamictal, cymbalta, and ritalin. Anyone have any advice?

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I hate to say this but that's really not a lot of meds to have tried. It can be tough to find an AD that works without causing mania and sometimes it requires another type of med to cover depression but not cause mania (the anti-seizure meds are used for this sometimes). Sometimes it takes some trial and error to find meds that work for all your symptoms without causing intolerable side effects. I think you kind of have to choose what is tolerable to you and then try to find it.

I understand the drugged up thing. I have had to choose that I would pretty much deal with any med because I don't have good tolerance of them and have allergies and the like and my bipolar has been pretty stubborn to treat. So I've tried nearly everything but I don't think that is all that common. Most people can set some parameters. And different drugs will cause really different reactions. I actually had a contracted position where they asked my company to remove me from their buildings because they thought I was on drugs because of my reaction to Geodon. We explained I was on strong medications and that I was willing to take random drug tests at any time. They declined and so I actually wound up with a nice raise and a job I liked a lot more. But it was horrible at the time, especially because I had extrapyramidal symptoms that were beyond my control and ultimately kind of dangerous and I resented being held back by something that I was suffering through (I had uncontrollable oral motor movements and eventually had to stop the drug and stay far away from that one again).

[BeyondtheRainbow]

Of course not everyone has to be on meds. Therapy can teach skills that some people are able to use to be off meds.

[badjuju89]

Honestly it took me a lot of testing medications to figure out the right ones for me. But i know it doesnt feel good to feel drugged nor should you. But its something to talk to your doctor with. And be honest with them on how you feel on your medicines til you get it right. Once mine got right it was such a "aha!" Feeling after id given it sometime. And talked with my doctor and he agreed with me i was at a good place. Wish you the best. Keep with it!

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[Crazy Hitch]

Meds for me are very pendent on my mood state.

My pdoc's ultimate goal is for me to be on just a mood stabiliser (epilim now) when my mood is closer to stable.

For now, having passed through quite a manic episode, I'm on antipsychotics too, it helps with my sleep, which overall contributes towards a better mood state for me as well as more rational decisions being made on my behalf.

[LettinG0]

There are people who manage their illness med-free; but, for BP especially, I think it takes a very HIGH level of self-awareness, coping skills, and a very good support system to maintain stability without medication. I, personally, do not have the self-awareness, coping skills, OR support system in place to take this beast on med-free. I am not on medication at the moment (it is not really by choice, lost insurance and pdoc, etc) and I am very unstable and cannot seem to improve it myself. I am currently looking for a new treatment team and plan to re-start the process of finding the right med combo.

I wish you the best in your journey whichever treatment path you choose!

[gayleggg]

Meds are a must for me but I know that there are people who manages without them.

My depression gets too severe if I don't take an antidepressant. And I take a mood stabilizer to make sure I don't get manic.

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[BeyondtheRainbow]

LettinGo-I know you don't have a dr to prescribe for you but do you know that if you have the scripts you can get meds free from a number of companies and enormously discounted from rxoutreach.com? (Rxoutreach works for anyone, even people with insurance and can be less than a co-pay). They usually have to be name brand meds but you just apply, state no insuance and give your income and every 3 months you either order or meds magically appear, depending on the company. I do have Medicare but the co-pays are eyond my means and so I easily get exemptions into programs. They are really helpful and easy to manage. So if you can find the meds that have programs and then get a script for one of those from someone/anyone and also have them sign the paperwork then you can get back on meds with the meds being expensive at least.

[PeaceAndHarmony]

Everyone is different and it can take some time to find the right med combo for you. I'm sure not EVERYONE needs medication but I can tell you that medication is, and will continue to be, a very important part of my life.

Peace

[HALLIEBETH87]

^^ that!!!