Frustrated, Sad, Ready to Quit

Hey all,
I was diagnosed with Bipolar 1 a few months ago. This after five years of terrible struggles identifying the problem. Over the last number of months, I've tried six different BP meds all producing the same result--very lethargic, moving and thinking very slowly (I take them at night for this reason, and I still feel like this throughout the next day). I'm currently on Abilify (2mg) with the same result. I've only ever taken the lowest doses because I can't handle higher doses.

So many frustrations with all of this. I've lost two jobs and had to move a couple of times because I can't afford where I was living.

Does the drowsy/lethargic feeling at such low doses and over so many different kinds of meds mean I'm not BP?
Thanks for your help and any thoughts you may have.
Dan

in my opinion it just means your very sensitive ... welcome to PC

How long have you given each med a chance?

When I started on 5mg of Zyprexa, I did not find it sedating, but it did not go well and the first week was a hellish roller coaster. I actually decided to stop posting in my report thread about it for a few days because my mind got so damned dark and morbid.

However I eventually bumped up to 10mg and gave it a chance, and am now doing very well on it, now a few weeks into it.

So this is why I am wondering how long you gave the meds a chance, and if you tried upping a dosage and how it worked. I have found that just the difference between 5mg and 10mg feels like two completely different meds.

Welcome to PC, brainfog.

Ugh Depakote used to do that to me, steer clear of that one IMO.

Don't give up, its hard, and often it takes trying different RXs and giving them time to do something before you know how much it'll help. Sometimes it takes different DRs, its a process, but if you want your life to improve over what it was before, you'll need to stick with it.

Unfortunately most made me feel that way. Its just the side effects but the worst was restlessness

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Hi brainfog,

As others have mentioned, it takes several weeks for most meds to get right in your system. Please push through the initial side effects unless they are unbearable. We know you diagnosis is bipolar, but what symptoms are you trying to treat? If you tell us specific symptoms or mood issues and exactly what you've tried, we can share to help you better.

Good luck!

moogs

I am sensitive to medication and I also suffer with this. Sometimes the symptoms get better after taking the med awhile, but it never goes away. Some pills made me pass out and sleep, like I had narcolepsy or something.

My doctors always start me at the lowest doses, and I need to "Work my way up" slower than usual. Unfortunately, the side effects never go away completely.

Maybe you need a med adjustment. Talk with your doctor about all this and see what they say.

Best of luck.

Thanks all! This is helpful to hear all your good comments.

I've take Depakote (worked the best but my blood pressure dropped too low and I was having lots of dizziness), lithium (made me drowsy), Lamictal (too drowsy), Trileptal (too drowsy).

The main issue I'm having is with manic (edgy, angry, can't sleep). Many of these meds have helped with my sleep, but I feel like I'm sleeping all day. I just sit and stare at the wall. I'm always on the lowest dose.

Any further thoughts would be helpful.

For the antipyschotic seroquel, I take 1/2 the lowest dosage as it has strong sedating effect on myself.

Hey Dan

I usually find the sedating effect equivelant to my mood state.

If my mood is somewhat elevated I don't necessarily notice the effect as soon as I start the med.

But if I start meds when manic; they're usually started at a pretty high dose which can knock me backwards within a few days. Or sometimes not at all.

There's no hard and fast rule for me.

Some meds have had way too much of a sedating effect for me personally and I've had to stop them.

It can take a bit of playing around to find out what works for you and in what dose too.

Hi Fog,

Are you self-medicating? ie Alcohol or Street Drugs? How about your caffeine intake or other Rx?

Can you tell us how long you were on each of the Mood Stabilizers you have tried and their dosages? (I know you said lowest, but please specify) You're really down to Tegretol and maybe Mirapex in the Mood Stabilizer world.

How long did you give the Lamictal, as it is at least a 5 week build up, and is in general the least sedating of the common MS. Trileptal is also less sedating for most people than Depakote or Lithium.

Will continue to help share as much as I can.

moogs