[Berries]

I have bipolar I (bipolar II is less severe) and OCD. I take a boat load of meds at very high doses. 1200mg seroquel, 20 mg of Lamictal, 150mg of effexor, and 2mg of Klonipin.

I want to know--If someone who was not bipolar I and not OCD, just a normal functioning happy most of the time person, took as much meds and the kinds and dosages, would they get a different reaction to the meds as me?
Would an adverse reaction occur?
Would they be unaffected by the meds?

[lotusflames]

i wish i knew! I think generally, if there's no chemical issues (i.e. bipolar) then the meds will have little effect but i guess you can never be sure of that

[Berries]

Would they be adversely affected?

[lotusflames]

they might suffer the side effects i guess

[Maxime]

They would probably get a lot of side effects from them and have cognitive problems. You aren't think of letting someone else use your meds, are you? That would be very dangerous.

[Berries]

Originally Posted by Maxime

You aren't think of letting someone else use your meds, are you? That would be very dangerous.

No, absolutely not. I'd never do that.

I am actually trying to figure out if I actually need them.

I have this obsession about faking my mental illness. I am under a great deal of pressure by my family and doctors to not stop my meds.

I'm 44 yrs old and have taken meds since age 17. I've stopped a couple of times and ended up in the hospital, so everybody gets real touchy when I mention stopping meds.

[sunrise]

I think psych meds can have their intended effects (as well as side effects) whether a person has the condition or not. For example, I am not depressed, but I take Wellbutrin, an antidepressant, for ADHD. This med makes me feel more "up"--raises my mood and energy level--even though I am not depressed. There are no absolute "rules" though that govern how people respond to a particular med, because we are all so different physiologically/genetically.

Originally Posted by Berries

I am actually trying to figure out if I actually need them.

Can you ask your pdoc for help in answering this question? Perhaps you could cut back slightly on one or more meds and see what happens, rather than quitting everything entirely, which would likely be very destabilizing whether you were bipolar or not, because your body has become accustomed to the medications and would react strongly to their sudden absence. If you do want to cut back, please work out a very gradual plan with your pdoc. Be careful.