Bipolar and medication

[Liiina]

Hi there

I’ve recently got the diagnosis of bipolar affective disorder

I’m on meds at the moment but I feel like it slows me down.they are helping me so much to function and live a meaningful life

but for some reason I struggle to keep taking it, every time it works for a little while I go off them and have the same cycle over and over again

is anyone here struggling to take meds for bipolar? How do you guys manage it ?

I feel a lot smarter, more confident and think faster without meds it’s hard to give it up for the mood stability

[james1]

Hello Liiina

Welcome to the forums!

I hope some others here are able to respond to you more specifically about meds for bipolar, as I do not have bipolar.

But I did just want to welcome you to the forums, and also let you know that I've seen a number of other posts here about bipolar, usually in the depression section where you've posted. If you haven't already, it could be useful to have a look through and see what else you can find that you might relate to. You can always feel free to respond to someone else's post too!

James

[Tay100]

Hi Liiina

Welcome to our community, we are glad you found us.

It's great that the meds help you with your mood stabilisation and allow you to live a full life the way you like it, but we can see how the downsides would make them hard to stick with. You aren't alone in this- it's a common dilemma. This thread is a great thread to seek out general advice and support from people with similar experiences, as you are doing. You can also elaborate and we can provide a listening ear too. As james1 said, you can also check out relevant sections of the forum too.

Tay100

[White_Rose]

Dear Liiina

Welcome to the forum. I hope you will feel at home here and confident to talk about your life.Look at this thread. https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/depression/bipolar-rollercoaster#qxViZHHzvGG...It's in Depression. Also https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/staying-well/this-bipolar-life/page/36#qnqrl...This thread is called This Bipolar Life and can be found in the Staying Well forum. It's very long but there is no need to read the whole thread. Perhaps read a couple of the latest pages.

Like James I am not familiar with Bipolar Disorder but I know there are many here who live with this illness. You will get lots of support and help if you can write on either of the threads above. Please continue posting on your thread as you will get replies meeting your needs. As we know, everyone is different even when diagnosed with the same disorder.

Beyond Blue has some fact sheets about various aspects of mental Health which you may find useful. Browse under The Facts and Get Support above. For more specific information about Bipolar Disorder go to the Black Dog Institute. https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/ They have some excellence resources.

I believe many of us struggle to take meds whatever they are for. I know I was quite adamant I was not having any. Sadly for me, when I did try meds they had horrendous side effects or did not work. However my GP came up with something that was great. It most certainly helped me. I think it's hard to continue taking meds if you are unhappy about taking any medication. Once you find something works and you feel comfortable it will be much better. Remember antidepressants (ADs) do not cure you of depression. They help you to cope with the condition in different ways. Maybe they keep you calm, help you to sleep, manage your serotonin. They are all different. It's the same with bipolar meds, they work on your body to keep your mood stable. A bit different to ADs so I hope you get the drift. I suggest you have a talk with the psychiatrist on how your prescribed meds work on you. You may be a little more comfortable. If you see a psychologist he/she may not be able to explain the meds as they cannot prescribe medication, so have a chat to your GP.

I hope I have not overloaded you with information. Love to hear from you again.

Mary

[Gonetroppo]

Hi Liiina,

You not alone in this. I have bipolar and been on medication for about 10 years. The medications work in terms of mood stability but, as your post suggests, this comes at a cost. The medications that I'm on leave me feeling doughy and a bit lethargic at times during the day. It can sometimes be very hard to push through this and stay productive. On occasions, I have missed taking medications on a day and the following day, I've felt more energetic and been more productive so there is this constant temptation to stop taking them. However, it is very easy to focus on the costs (side effects), and lose sight of the benefits. My pre-med life was a train wreck - stumbling from one crisis to the next - and I'd hate to go back to that. So for me, it's a trade-off and medications are the lesser of two evils.

I try to minimize the impact of the meds on functioning throughout the day by taking the medications late afternoon and at night. It helps because I "sleep off" the side effects to some extent. It is also important to be aware that there are many medications for Bipolar and that people react differently to each. If the problem is due to a particular medication, then maybe your doctor can trial you on something else.