[Ocean Swimmer]

How many Bipolar symptoms are the result of long term pain killers ?
Are there any know. Hormone therapy to relieve the symptoms, and are the side effects worse or easier than bipolar meds.
I had a cronic pain condition that was managed by opioids. Then when I would not increase my Norco mgs I became depressed.
Later I had a Manic attack which led to the bipolar diagnosis.
I'm off pain killers but am concerned about the hormone damage and am continuing to deal with the side effects of my meds.
Last month I found an old 1/4 bottle of Norco. I started taking them when my husband came home from a month working in China.
Every day he commented, "See, your psych meds are really helping!"
I never mentioned that I sneaked some pain pills. ( which always seemed to help more than psych meds, but I know that's no excuse to take them. They are addictive and dangerous. But I want to know how dangerous is prolonged use of psych meds on my nervous system. Also I don't want to ever be faced with the shakes. Or convulsions. Thank you.

[Ocean Swimmer]

I really need HELP.

[Keegan2015]

That sounds like a question for your doctor. different meds will obviously have different side effects on the body. Your doctor wouldn't prescribe something unless they thought that the benefits outweighed the potential side effects.

Opiates are probably a lot harder on the body and more dangerous than any Mood stabilizers or ADs that you're taking.

[Ocean Swimmer]

Thanks Keegan
I'm not going to accept any more pain klllers unless a surgical emergency.

[Disorder7]

The most dangerous med you're taking is Ativan several times a day. Benzos should never be used long term because they damage your central nervous system. I would have to question any doctor that prescribed any benzo, particularly a short acting benzo like Ativan, for daily use.

You can not die from an opioid withdrawal, but you can from benzo withdrawal.

Keegan: I know you mean well. But I think you might be interested in researching benzo interdose withdrawal and protracted benzo withdrawal before you assume all doctors have your best interest at heart.

[Ocean Swimmer]

I know. I don't second guess my car mechanic, whom I trust but continue to worry about my pdoc and meds.

[newtothis31]

As a disclaimer, one of my close friends who also had BiPolar I lost his battle earlier this year. He overdosed on a cocktail of pain meds, benzos, and alcohol. Like you, he expressed grave concerns over the side effect of his BP medications and was fearful of continuing to take pain medicine.
My p-doc would have kept me on klonopin if I wanted to continue being on it- based on my experiences- benzos can wreck havoc if you're not careful. I was very fortunate to have a primary care doctor who urged me to talk to my p-doc about getting off benzos in a safe way.
There's a few things going on- one you need to be honest with your husband if you're taking pain medication.
Seraquel does have some vicious side effects- if you have been on it over a certain amount of time & haven't seen improvement- I would get a 2nd opinion from a psychiatrist to find a medicine that may be a better fit for you, or work with your current doctor. Does your current know that you have access to pain medicine?
I'd also have a conversation about the possibility of weaning off benzos- at some point, they do stop working & it's no longer beneficial to be on them.
I am a bit scared for you- it doesn't sound like you're in a good situation with your treatments.
For me, it took a lot of medication adjustments and discontinuations (Lamitcal, Zyprexa, Depakote, trazedone) until I found a good mix. With my medicine now, the side effects are unfortunate but the benefits of taking the medicine far outweighs the negative side effects.
Keep us posted- and please do not use alcohol with benzos in your system.

[Ocean Swimmer]

Thanks. I'm not getting pain pills prescribed. I took all of the old ones I found. There are no more here or in CA.
I stopped drinking but I was thinking about having some drinks when I go to Florida on Sunday.
Yes, I've been on seraquel for a really long time. Maybe 3 years.
I feel like I'm going to go manic on this trip.
My husband won't believe any thing I tell him about my meds. I had a psychotic break last year when I weaned off opioids,Valium and adderal.
I was comotose by the time I got out of the foreign hospital here in Costa Rica and was admitted to a CA hospital. So the new pdoc talked to my husband and told him to readmiit me if I was non-compliant on any meds. I'm scared of him. I don't want ECT or ip again.

[jeanlit]

Strongly advise not doing alcohol on the meds you are taking.

Alcohol itself affects mood and likely will destabilize you.

If these meds are not working for you, then you need to rethink one at a time. You're on quite a cocktail of meds that might be streamlined and you might feel better.

Also, being bipolar 1 myself, I find that if I do not stick to strict wake/sleep cycles, take my meds at the same time, etc., that can destabilize me also.

It isn't just taking meds.

Regards the benzo, I've taken diazepam 10 mg daily for years. If I don't I cannot function. To date, it has only affected my REM sleep, don't get as much REM as I'd like, so sometimes I lower the dose or skip one night to get some good REM sleep. Never escalated, never abused it either. Don't drink at all though.

In essence, you are on antidepressant (Effexor), temazepam for sleep (in the benzo class), Ativan (a benzo), and Seroquel (antipsychotic mood stabilizer). I'm wondering if you might streamline them more to our tolerability.

Most opioids do have a mood effect because they have some small quality of SSRI (which is also what your Effexor does).