I'm new here, lost, and having a terrible day

Hi Marie,

I currently take Lithium, Prozac, Lamictal, and Xanax every night.  I've tried to take a few pills in the morning but found that I would be sleepy and tired for the rest of the day (those are side effects that never go away for me).  So I take them all at night with the exception of xanax which I can take anytime I need it (no side effects with xanax for me).  I love my hubby for reminding me nightly but whenever I hear those words "did you take your meds", I feel imprisoned.  It's not his fault at all.  I guess I've just been going through a bad spell.  What meds are you on?

Marsha

my new blog:  www.didyoutakeyourmeds.com

WOW! Lithium, Prozac,Lamictal and Xanax.  Just curious, why are you Prozac?  That is a anti-depressant.  Those normally don't work well on bipolars.  Is this doctor just pushing med's on you? and not treating you and your symptons?  If so, sounds like you need to go shopping for a new doctor.  When I was on Lithium I would go toxic on it about once a year, sometimes more.  Signs of being toxic is shakes both inward and outward.  Not being able to concentrate, nausea, vomiting, I also would pace, because I couldn't sit down or sleep, because of the being toxic. When talking meds during the day..the sleepy and tired feelings will take about a month for your body to adjust to it, sometimes longers.  Which is a pain in the rear.  Another curious question.  Why are you on Xanax?  I use to take Lithium, infact I took it for 10 years, but as the years went by I would go toxic more frequently.  Plus because of having to have blood test every month left me with no veins for blood test.  Are you having your blood tested every month or atleast every two months?  So when I had to have surgery on my shoulder I had to stop taking it two weeks ahead of time, so I could be weaned off of it, cause you can't go cold turkey.  So after the surgery the Doctor tried me out on Lamictal..which I had to stop the next day, because I starting developing StevensJonhstons Syndrome.  I do hope that your Doctor explained to you that this is a dangerous side effect.  If not, I would demand that he or she explain it to you now!!  I take both Trileptal 2400mgs ( which is a high  dose, but it is what I need for my bipolar) and Seroquel 600mg. I think you should ask John some questions to see what he thinks of all these med's you take.  I may have only been coming to this site for about a month.  But he has my respect completely.  I would also reccommend you read his book that he has written.  Living Well With Depression and Bipolar Disorder. by John McManamy. I just got it in the mail today..and it is an amazing  book.  You can get it through Amazon.com and a used copy for just a few dollars...sorry John..lol, but I also bought a copy of it for a friend.  Another question...Are you educating yourself on being Bipolar?  It's important to take an active part in the illness.  You can't just depend on the Med's.  Med's can only do so much.  You have to except that you have this Disorder, and then work on helping yourself.  Keep a journal of your symptons.  Write down when you take your med's, this is a way to take control back and give your husband a break.  By keeping a Journal you will be able to take some controll back from this Disorder.  By writing this down, you will see how much better you will starting feeling.  Here's a big tip for you if you have the need to go shopping and spending money you don't have, only to have to turn around and take it all back, or having to feel guilty and trying to explaing it to your husband.  When you have the need to spend money on things you don't need...go to Target or Walmart..get yourself a shopping cart and go up and down every isle and put any and everything in it, things you think you can't live without..and keep feeling carts up until the feeling pass's.  By the time you're done, you should be able to walk out with out buying anything.  Don't feel bad for doing this to the store, because I look at it as job security for someone that works there. I do this everytime I feel like I have cabin fever.  I have been doing these things for over 16 years now, because of finally being diagnosied correctly wiht Bipolar Disorder.  I hope that some of the things I've  written here will be helpful for you and your husband..but please write to John and ask him questions .  I will pray for you and your husband, as I pray for all who suffer from Bipolar Disorder every day.

Yes, I am on Lithium (just added to regimen late last year), Prozac (because I had an allergic reaction to almost all other antidepressants and have had huge depressive episodes), Lamictal (which I've been on for about 2 yrs now), and Xanax is for my Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).  However, my pdoc upped my Lithium dosage and she said that if this worked on the hindering the depression, then I can stop taking the Prozac (which used to work but now doesn't).  I have tried so many different medications in the years gone by and still haven't found one that is consistently effective.  I have entered treatment programs and counseling sessions that I haven't been successful at.  Thought-stopping and visualization strategies don't seem to work well with my complex nuerons!  I have joined bipolar support online chat groups where I've felt out of place.  I am doing all of this while raising three children and working full-time.  And at times, I feel like I'm going to pass out with exhaustion from both daily life and trying to hide my symptoms from the "normal" world.  I love my manic episodes because I get everything done..and done efficiently and quickly and I feel great.  At the same time, I'm like a ticking time bomb with my moods, irritable and sensitive, sometimes scared, sometimes fearless.  Thank you for your advice.  It really helps to get as much support as possible when I've tried to deal with this alone for so long.  I have started my daily journal online in the form of my blog.  I hope that helps too.  Thanks again. =)

My dr says I am one of the most difficult cases she's had when it comes to finding the perfect med combo.  I've tried Abilify and it gave me restless leg syndrome.  Depakote only worked for a while.  Same for Risperdal.  She was concerned about my deep depressions which were getting worse so she put me on prozac which does not seem to help at all but I'm too afraid to stop taking it, in fear of triggering a depression.  Wellbutrin made me nauseated for 2 wks straight.  Xanax has been my hero in the past (due to my GAD).  Right now I'm focused on my Lamictal and Lithium combo (dosages recently upped) because it seems to be working...for now.  *crossing fingers.

Oh sug.. I've had docs tell me I'm a doc's worst nightmare when it comes to meds therapy for anything... I have such a high med sensitivity issue so I completely get what you are speaking of

Abilify gave me the gold fish puckering, knee jerking, and my arm jerked violently.  Not to mention, it made my eyelids itch and burn and my face prickle.