[zijax]

My boyfriend has bipolar and anxiety, same as me. He has a new Dr. who doesn't believe in giving Ambien or Zanax. He is part of an act team and they dispense his meds. I decided to give him my Ambien last week thinking I could get off it. I am waking up in the middle of the night. I am not sleeping well. I am beginning to have mood swings again. The solution...he needs to find a new Dr. but he can't leave the act team right now because they're helping him find a job. I have been financially supporting him too. For 7 months. I am beginning to feel resentful. I really love him. I don't know what to do.

[greentires4me]

If your not sleeping well why does he need to find a new doctor? I don’t understand...

I know ambien and Xanax are highly addictive and controlled substances. Maybe he could ask for trazodone to take at night?

Stopping medicine is like a down hill bumpy ride if not done in a tapering type deal!

[zijax]

He used to be on Ambien and Xanax, same thing I'm on; same dosage. His Dr. just took him off of it so I'm giving him my Ambien so he can sleep and I'm going without. He is allergic to Trazodone.

I am wondering if lack of sleep for a Bipolar would cause more mood swings or does it just cause mania? I'm having mood swings. I'm feeling frustrated.

[99fairies]

Someone very close to me was having a panic attack so I gave him one of my clonazepams,to help him out. I called my pharmacist and asked him if that was alright. He said if my pdoc found out he would never give me benzos again and I could even face jail time if the authorities found out I was sharing my prescriptions. Just something to think about.

[Zigy]

He needs to find a doctor and start taking actual medications. Neither Ambien nor Xanax cure anything. Both are very addictive too. He needs antidepressants or mood stabilizers or whatever is appropriate for his condition.

Sharing meds is a very bad idea and illegal. I know love makes people irrational but you need to start thinking about this rationally. What you're doing is a downhill road to big trouble as yours and his conditions are likely to get worse.

Please take 99fairies and Zigy's posts seriously. It is no joke! And definitely if you aren't sleeping because you're not taking a medication you should be taking you definitely could destabilize yourself. You say you're already experiencing some mood issues.

[scatterbrained04]

I really think sharing meds is not a good idea.

Originally Posted by zijax

... I decided to give him my Ambien last week thinking I could get off it. I am waking up in the middle of the night. I am not sleeping well. I am beginning to have mood swings again... I have been financially supporting him too. For 7 months. I am beginning to feel resentful. I really love him. I don't know what to do.

Been there -- the supporting, the pressure. You are feeling resentful for having to support him and now the pressure to give him YOUR meds. What's worse is that your not having them is causing negative issues for you. No surprise. That's why it is is prescribed to YOU. The whole situation is a pretty sweet deal for him and a totally raw deal for you.

What to do is reclaim YOUR prescription. Because of the above, and also because of the points raised by other posters.

Besides, if it is felt that the solution is for him to find a new pdoc, he has little to no incentive to do so with you giving him your meds.

And if you think you feel resentment now? Imagine this continuing -- think of refills, new scripts, potential conflicts with getting scripts you need (if you were inclined to convince yourself you didn't need this one, despite the evidence -- love has a funny way of making us justify things against evidence...) So then you would be put in a position of having to lie in your appointments...

It's a slippery and messy slope, GUARANTEED to increase your resentment. Don't do it. I say this out if the caring -- I'd hate to see that situation for you.

P.S. "Just until I get a new pdoc" -- Don't get hooked by this sure to be heard line. See above, no incentive to get one, PLUS, there's no guarantee a new pdoc will prescribe him that (or any specific thing) anyway.

Wishing you much strength.

Originally Posted by zijax

I am wondering if lack of sleep for a Bipolar would cause more mood swings or does it just cause mania? I'm having mood swings. I'm feeling frustrated.

Lack of sleep is destabilizing, so that could play out as more mood swings, not necessarily mania though it often goes that way.

Sorry you're feeling frustrated...
I bet getting back on your Ambien and getting good sleep would get your mood evened back out again.

[zijax]

Thank you everyone. I've talked to him about the meds. I'm afraid my frustration came out. Resentment is not a healthy place for me to dwell. Thankyou for all your posts. I appreciate the honesty.