Do I ever go off the meds?

Diseases & Conditions Bipolar Disorder
1
Hello,
I was just diagnosed in november at a mental hospital. I think I was manic for a very long time before I crashed. Although I don't remember alot of things that happened in the few weeks prior. But I was so manic that I kept getting hurt. Though I am doubting the diagnosis, even though three different phsycs have told me I am bipolar 1. In my life things are always chaos, there is not a day that goes by that I just sit on the couch and do nothing, that is why it is even hard for me to find time to sit here and type something on the computer without being interupted. The day the I admitted myself I was on lexapro,klonipan,and aprazalam I think. I went and got a second kitten just for the heck of it. My husband had to work late that night. My kids were being crazy of course running around the house fighting, screaming, and playing. I hurried around the house cleaning as fast as I could. I walked around the corner and saw my 2 year old son with a permanent marker all up and down the wall next to the stairs, which we had just painted. I freaked out, I ran in the garage and got all the stuff to paint and I was painting the wall while I was yelling at him. I would stop and go over and spank him and continue yelling at him. Then I went into the laundry room and started taking the door off the shelf thinking that I would paint the big laundry room while I had it all out and the cupboard door fell and knocked a grill onto my foot. It hurt so bad that I thought for sure it was broken. I called my friend to come over and I was crying I couldn't stop crying. when she arrived I only got worse, I was crying and screaming and pulling my hair out in chunks. Untill finally my mom got there and I started saying that I needed to be put into the hospital. They called my husband sometime during all of this, and he got home to take me to the hospital. When we got to the hospital I asked to speak to a social worker and I really opened up to her and told her things from my past that I didn't think actuallly bothered me. From there I was admitted into a mental hospital. Where I only got worse, I was on so many meds I don't hardly remember the four days I was there, and I ended up making them let me leave even though they didn't think that I should. I had cut my arm all up and I could not comprehend anything. It didn't get better when I got out since I was still on so many meds. Finally 2 months ago I went to summit research, they started by taking me off all my meds exept lithium. After two days I immediately was doing better, my head was actually clear. Then they started me on serequal, and those are the two drugs I am on now. My point to this is  could it possibly be all the medicine that I have been on all this time be what is making me crazy. Is there any chance at all that I am not bipolar? I just don't know, is it that these medicines are what work even though I have gained 30 pounds in 2 months. Can't there possibly be another way? Any advice would help. Thank you Tina
2
Hia Tina, I felt for you so much reading your story here.

I will leave you a website and you can search it to answer your own questions.
I have many sites like this as I just told another dear lady here.
I myself have just found out that my OBS is from what I've been on.
The OBS has steadily worsened and we knew it wasn't from the Lyme, because it's happening so suddenly and I've had Lyme since 1991 and this increase of the problems in OBS just started this last Fall. I am gradually tapering off of my meds and hope that with more education that I've just come to be aware of, that I can undo the damage done. I've been on Xanax for a long time and more recently Neurontin.

Anyhow, this is one of the best sites, but there are plenty of others by Psychiatrists who give the other side of this drug craze of the last 20 to 30 years and the affects it's having on their patients. http://www.breggin.com

You've asked the proper questions and the answers 'are' out there.

Be patient with yourself, and know that these questions are wise and come up because of our own common sense and logic kicking in.

I have a natural website that carries lithium in a safer, no prescription needed compound ... http://www.vrp.com/art/718.asp

Type Lithium into their Search after reading this article and more articles will come up.
This is a world renowned Laboratory and Research Facility and well trusted for their Documentation.

All the Best to you and keep up the good work .
Ann
3

Hi Tina,  Welcome.....

I am sorry about your bipolar diagnosis.  I know it is a difficult adjustment to make.  Bipolar Disorder is completely manageable with the proper medications.  It is essential for you to follow your physicians recommendations for your treatment.

Ann mentioned a "drug craze of the last 20 to 30 years"  I do think it is important to point out that doctors didn't know what Bipolar was 20 years ago nor did they have medications to treat it.  Most people who had active symptoms, were manic or suicidal were institutionalized for long term.  It is true that a lot of the newer medications that are out to treat this there is not any long term data to support it being safe.  However, this can be said with any drug that you take.  Taking medications and what kind is always a personal choice.  Everyone is different and will react differently to them.  You have to figure out what is most important to you. 

You, your kids and your husband deserve to have a normal happy life.  Try to make the best of it.  Either way we are here for you....

~elisha
 

4
Thank you so much for your information, and support it always feels good to know that there are people out there that have similar things going on. I am a person that when I am helping someone I feel good about myself. This program that I am in Summit research is to research these drugs. I am the guinee pig and that is okay because with my help I could help alot of other people with bipolar to know what will help to be normal again if there is such a thing. But I do have to say that I definetely feel normal, though everyone has their days. Thank you again, Tina
5
Hi elisa, I'm 53 years old. I know that you have worked where these treatments were all that the institution knew or used, so that is what you are used to ....... 'that' side of treatment, so there goes a bias along with that.
Any patient is entitled to second opinions and the research and documentation for the "other side" is all the more impressive than the statis quo.
I looked long and hard at the causes and treatment of bipolar, depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses before I posted such findings.
WE are entitled to the Research and findings of those Dr.s and Psychiatrists who have worked against the current, at their own risk, to bring us what they have learned.
A well informed patient, having being given all sides of treatment options from Qualified Psychiatrists and being able to make their own choices is their Right.
One school of thought is not enough.
T
6
(My keyboard froze above, so I had to restart my computer)

I was just going to close with ....

'IF' the research is by respected Professionals in Psychiatric medicine, such as these Dr.s who I quote ... then it should be our right to hear both sides and not always be forced to think that only the one side of treatment is right ... as is often the case here.

I would highly recommend that we all do the Research of the opposing view point from these Psychiatrists and then make up our own mind.

We are only given One Brain in this lifetime and I consider it a very necessary organ, so feel extremely obliged to be sure that I've heard ALL sides on this issue and be given the right to Research to my hearts content and come up with that which I feel is well documented enough to merit my respect and lessen my chances of further injury. I prefer to be a very well informed patient, when it comes to my own health care and that of those I care about.

Thanks.
Take Care.
Ann
7
When you get on the correct medications,stay on them,as Bi-Polar is ongoing,the rest of your life.Many have gone off the medications as they felt better,then got into trouble.

SnowyLynne

8
Ann,  Of course your opinion and those of the medical professionals that you quoted in your original post are respected.  It was not my intention to slap at you or what you had posted.  I was merely pointing out another side and point of view.  Yes, I have spent most of my time working in the mental health field with people who have severe mental illness and who more times than not are unable to make decisions about medications choices.  So I am very well versed in this.  The agency that I work for is privately owned and we work very hard to help these people rebuild their lives and get into apartments and live normal lives from being institutionalized for many many years.  However, it isn't only from a career stand point but a personal one as I also have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Major Depression and take antidepressants my self on a daily basis.  So I have been through this cycle.  I have several people close to me with mental illnesses and have seen the devastation this it causes not only to the person but the people close to them.  So I am sorry if I don't believe that my point of view is bias. 
 
I have always maintained that it is extremely important for everyone to be informed of what they are taking.  If you want to you can find negatives to any and all medications.  I have Multiple Sclerosis and recently diagnosed with atypical Parkinson's called MSA so I take medications for these also.  I know that the medications aren't going to cure it but they make my everyday symptoms better and better able to live.  So my quality of life is better. So yes, it is important to be informed on your medications.  I first stated that taking medications and what you take is a personal choice and I stand by this.  At the same time I didn't mean to offend you in anyway.....
 


~elisha
 

Post Edited (els) : 3/6/2006 8:18:38 AM (GMT-7)

9

Hi Tina,

Being diagnosed with bipolar disorder is a hard thing to accept at first.  When I was first diagnosed I did not accept it.  I went off the medications thinking I did not have bipolar disorder.  I was fine for months, and then I crashed with a manic episode.  The manic episode that I had tore my life apart.  I realized that I did not ever want to go through that again. So this time I listened to the doctors. 

I have been taking Lithium for 3 years, and have had no depressive or manic episodes.  It is a great feeling having a stable life.  I no longer have this feel that my life will fall apart because of a manic episode.  At first it is hard to accept being on medication.  I just think how many problems in life people wish could be fixed by taking pill.  Bipolar disorder can be managed effectively with the right medicaiton.  Treated bipolar disorder really has no symptoms.  If the medications work properly no one should be able to tell there is anything wrong with you. 

 

10
Thank you for all of your help. I agree that I would never wish to go back to the way that I was before. I don't care how much weight I gain. My family deserves to have me here for them rather than being locked up in some institution. Thanks again tina
11

Hi Tina,  Yes your family does deserve to have you there for them but you also deserve to be healthy and happy.  To have the best life you can possibly can. 

Bipolar runs in different cycles that is why it is hard to diagnose and treat.  You wont see too many people now a days being "locked up" or institutionalized for any kind of mental illness.  We now have these big fancy mental health facilities that you can go to for a week or two then go home again once your meds are straight.

I hope that you continue to use this site as an information source and we are always here to help in anyway that we can, so post often.....

~elisha