Bipolar support thread

Trialia

Yup, I was told 'chronic depression' to begin with - and honestly, I think at the start it was, before they put me on Seroxat and I went rapid-cycling-from-hell :P

de1amo

Does anyone know any stats about the reaccurence of manic episodes once 'one' has been clear for many years?-i haven't had an episode for 10 years but i still take the meds that got me stable--i had my first episode when i was 35ish and i am now 48.
My wife saw a psychiatrist in Turkey yesterday and they talked about me and he said it was about 50/50 if i i would ever relapse again( and sometimes doctors here take people off medication at about 5 years of stable to 'test' the 'water'!)-i dont want to stop my meds as they cause me no problems but one day i may have to if they ever damage my organs--i take respiridone carbamazipne and ventlafaxing--all in quite small doses.

My wife was put on a anti depressant for anxiety/stress by this psychiatrist which i find odd!

savagej

I would be very careful about changing medicines and see a Doctor in person, I know the risk if you are on Lithium of a return to mania is an almost certainty if it stopped suddenly, even after a decade of being symptom free. I dont know about a taper.

de1amo

i feel very dependant on my meds--if i miss one dose i get irritable or sleep badly--i just wondered because i know one day i am sure there will be a need for a change due to things that such a cocktail brings on.

dane-katie

I am on seroquel at the minute but has made me put on 3 stone in weight was bad enough i weighed 18 stone when i started it, so now here i am a size 24 argh! has anyone been able to come off seroquel and go on to some other medication that doesnt make you hungry all the time? i have had a battle with seroquel since i started it, it does make me feel better but im sick of being hungry all day, all i think about is food (not good when i am trying to diet) when i dont take it i drop 7 to 10lbs in a week but i get ill again and have to go back on it.

Its so unfair i dont have a cpn anymore and dont have a psychiatrist either, so ill have to speak to my GP about it, but have no idea if he will understand in depth about medications for bipolar?

seeya23

im on olanzapine and depakote + clonazepam been back on meds for the last 3 years after 10 years off meds i.ve put on a lot of weight on in the last few months or so i.ve got a good psychiatrist and gp and social worker

the_devil_made_me_do_it

Oh dear..manic spending spree time. Not good as I've already spent quite a lot & am starting to feel guilty about it.

System

dane-katie wrote: »

I am on seroquel at the minute but has made me put on 3 stone in weight was bad enough i weighed 18 stone when i started it, so now here i am a size 24 argh! has anyone been able to come off seroquel and go on to some other medication that doesnt make you hungry all the time? i have had a battle with seroquel since i started it, it does make me feel better but im sick of being hungry all day, all i think about is food (not good when i am trying to diet) when i dont take it i drop 7 to 10lbs in a week but i get ill again and have to go back on it.

Its so unfair i dont have a cpn anymore and dont have a psychiatrist either, so ill have to speak to my GP about it, but have no idea if he will understand in depth about medications for bipolar?

I do wish they'd find a drug that DIDN'T have weight gain as a side effect. I can empathise, i stopped taking my Olanzapine cos of the weight gain and i got worse because of it.

Is there anyway you can be referred back to a psych or cpn? I had a battle in getting mine in the first place so i know its not easy.

The Devil Made Me Do It- I've noticed i've been spending a lot too recently which isn't good considering today i've had to fork out £250 for bills. I feel like i can't stop myself. I spent £20 in home bargains on crap earlier.

dane-katie

They have changed it all round with cpn's and psychiatric's, in South Yorkshire

You have to see your GP and be refered back to the hospital where a nurse see's you and if they "decide" i need to see someone only then can they refer me
seems like it will take forever, ive rang drs today but got to wait until tomorrow to speak to someone about changing my meds.

System

dane-katie wrote: »

They have changed it all round with cpn's and psychiatric's, in South Yorkshire

You have to see your GP and be refered back to the hospital where a nurse see's you and if they "decide" i need to see someone only then can they refer me
seems like it will take forever, ive rang drs today but got to wait until tomorrow to speak to someone about changing my meds.

I didn't know that, sorry it's such a pain. Hope you get it sorted.

*waves* ooh you're in Sheffield too!