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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by BabyBunny on June 24, 2007, at 13:50:47
Hi all. I am wondering if anyone who is Bipolar has had any success NOT taking mood stabilizers?
I have tried so many things supposed to help with Bipolar (including Antidepressants) and have found that I am more "myself' without them.
I do however take Xanax XR for my terrible anxiety/panic/ocd/etc. And I don't see myself giving that up anytime soon.
Also I am currently taking Seroquel for sleep as I seem to need something and nothing works but that or Zyprexa. :( I'm hoping to get off that as well because of the weight gain.
So please does anyone have any success stories of conquering Bipolar without mood stabilizers? And when I say that I include the anticonvulsants, antipsychotics and antidepressants.
Anything encouraging would be nice as I took my last Depakote today and I am climbing the walls with anxiety. But the funny thing is even though I'm anxious as heck, I STILL am better overall! At least I'm more like me. Although I am snappier than normal from the anxiety.
Also does this increase in anxiety tend to go away? I seem to be experiencing almost all the side effects I experienced when starting Depakote all over again and it's strange. Everything but the sedation.
Any info or experiences shared would be so appreciated as I am at a loss and no longer know what to do other than go off the mood stabilizers since I can't take a therapeutic dose of ANY of them and they don't do anything but make me lazy, tired, hungry, depressed, and out of it.
Thanks so much! :)
Hugs,
Baby Bunny
Posted by BabyBunny on June 24, 2007, at 16:52:29
In reply to Anyone BIPOLAR Had Success w/o Mood Stabilizers?, posted by BabyBunny on June 24, 2007, at 13:50:47
Wow! No response? I hope that doesn't mean everyone here who is Bipolar HAS to be on a Mood Stabilizer to function. :(
> Hi all. I am wondering if anyone who is Bipolar has had any success NOT taking mood stabilizers?
>
> I have tried so many things supposed to help with Bipolar (including Antidepressants) and have found that I am more "myself' without them.
>
> I do however take Xanax XR for my terrible anxiety/panic/ocd/etc. And I don't see myself giving that up anytime soon.
>
> Also I am currently taking Seroquel for sleep as I seem to need something and nothing works but that or Zyprexa. :( I'm hoping to get off that as well because of the weight gain.
>
> So please does anyone have any success stories of conquering Bipolar without mood stabilizers? And when I say that I include the anticonvulsants, antipsychotics and antidepressants.
>
> Anything encouraging would be nice as I took my last Depakote today and I am climbing the walls with anxiety. But the funny thing is even though I'm anxious as heck, I STILL am better overall! At least I'm more like me. Although I am snappier than normal from the anxiety.
>
> Also does this increase in anxiety tend to go away? I seem to be experiencing almost all the side effects I experienced when starting Depakote all over again and it's strange. Everything but the sedation.
>
> Any info or experiences shared would be so appreciated as I am at a loss and no longer know what to do other than go off the mood stabilizers since I can't take a therapeutic dose of ANY of them and they don't do anything but make me lazy, tired, hungry, depressed, and out of it.
>
> Thanks so much! :)
>
> Hugs,
> Baby Bunny
>
Posted by Justherself54 on June 24, 2007, at 17:03:17
In reply to Re: Anyone BIPOLAR Had Success w/o Mood Stabilizers?, posted by BabyBunny on June 24, 2007, at 16:52:29
I don't take mood stabilizers..I have in the past with horrible results..however, I do take an anti-depressent and a small amount of serequel at night as I also have fibromyalgia and proper sleep is critical, not only in managing the fibro but also with managing my bi-polar..
I started earlier to answer your post but you had specified success without anti-depressants and antipsycotics also..
Hope this helps a bit..
Posted by Phillipa on June 24, 2007, at 17:04:32
In reply to Re: Anyone BIPOLAR Had Success w/o Mood Stabilizers?, posted by BabyBunny on June 24, 2007, at 16:52:29
I think they are. Love Phillipa
Posted by BabyBunny on June 24, 2007, at 17:17:52
In reply to Re: Anyone BIPOLAR Had Success w/o Mood Stabilizers?, posted by Justherself54 on June 24, 2007, at 17:03:17
Thank you so much for responding! And yes it helped a lot as it gives me some sort of hope. :)
I hope and pray you're well and remain that way. Take good care and have a great night!
Hugs,
Baby Bunny
> I don't take mood stabilizers..I have in the past with horrible results..however, I do take an anti-depressent and a small amount of serequel at night as I also have fibromyalgia and proper sleep is critical, not only in managing the fibro but also with managing my bi-polar..
>
> I started earlier to answer your post but you had specified success without anti-depressants and antipsycotics also..
>
> Hope this helps a bit..
Posted by BabyBunny on June 24, 2007, at 17:19:15
In reply to Re: Anyone BIPOLAR Had Success w/o Mood Stabilizers? » BabyBunny, posted by Phillipa on June 24, 2007, at 17:04:32
Thanks for your response. You're always so kind. :)
I hope and pray you are well. Take care and have a great night!
Hugs,
Baby Bunny> I think they are. Love Phillipa
Posted by sunnydays on June 24, 2007, at 18:58:35
In reply to Anyone BIPOLAR Had Success w/o Mood Stabilizers?, posted by BabyBunny on June 24, 2007, at 13:50:47
I'm not bipolar, but I take Lamictal and Lexapro for my depression. That's the first thing that has helped me feel normal, it seems like.
My younger brother is bipolar. There are times when he is in remission and has no symptoms. At those times he often goes off his meds (along with a lot of other times that he just doesn't want to take them). However, whenever he is not taking mood stabilizers and is not in remission, I notice a marked change in his behavior. He gets much more agitated and tends to be more aggressive. It can be very hard to be around him.
I think it's great if you can do it without meds. But please be careful and try to pay attention if someone else notes a change in your behavior. Sometimes it's hard to see things in oneself that others can see. And reconsider taking something if people begin commenting on behaviors that you've had before as part of your illness.
Good luck,
sunnydays
Posted by chiron on June 25, 2007, at 7:33:42
In reply to Anyone BIPOLAR Had Success w/o Mood Stabilizers?, posted by BabyBunny on June 24, 2007, at 13:50:47
Hi BabyBunny. I had a follow-up question on a response you gave me (which I appreciate). Do you find that your Xanax helps with the depression?
What happened when you tried Lamictal? I know you said that it made you worse, I was just wondering how. I'm giving it another try at a small dose.
I tried Depakote in February for only 10 days- made me more depressed & crazy. I didn't have my anxiety problems at the time. They started in May with a brief trial of Neurontin (or allergies, or just because my body makes no sense). So I don't really have an answer for you. But I did improve after stopping it.
I have heard positive stories about people with bipolar who find stability on meds. I guess they don't know what to do with those who don't.
What kind of bipolar are you? I'm sort-of a bipolar II, cycling within the day sometimes. I think I've heard the II's are harder to treat. Sucks. We should all band together and do our own research, find doctors who are doing the research, or demand more research. Can you tell I'm having another bad day? Hopefully I'll cycle and feel better later- not mania, just a lesser form of depression.
Posted by BabyBunny on June 25, 2007, at 9:58:01
In reply to Re: Anyone BIPOLAR Had Success w/o Mood Stabilizers? » BabyBunny, posted by chiron on June 25, 2007, at 7:33:42
Hi Chiron. :)
I answered your question about Xanax and depression on the other Post (The one about PMS and SSRI's). I hope you find it helpful.
For me, I have had different responses to Lamictal everytime I've taken it but one thing is clear. Everytime I took it, I could tolerate less than the time before. I tried it a couple weeks ago and on only 25mg I was climbing the walls in anxiety! And I started a severe Mixed Bipolar Episode. Which only got worse when I then tried an antidepressant. :(
So I find Lamictal very stimulating and not good if you have anxiety. But I am definitely the minority. MANY people seem to get sleepy on it and also have good results on it. Actually the 1st time I took it at 75mg I had decent results for a while. But then I started becoming unstable and couldn't tolerate 100mg as it made me anxious as heck!
Yes! That is why no more Depakote for me! It has made me so low that I just can't stand it! Also there are too may side effects and I am too lazy, hungry, tired, mentally slow, physically slow and more while on even 250mg a day! Now even 125mg is too much as it makes me depressed and yes I too feel it makes me feel crazy in a sort of way. Well now anyway.
I guess I will probably be ok off a mood stabilizer for now, but when I start getting manic I will probably have to go on something. I'd like to try Trileptal as I can't tolerate Lithium. Even 150mg a DAY of that gives me BAD side effects. But then again it may be because I take Seroquel to sleep as they don't play well together and increases the side effects. Not sure why but I have read that a couple of places.
I would love to give up the Seroquel and hope I am able. But right now I can't. Unless I wanna start taking Tylenol PM again and I don't as I will build up a tolerance to that.
According to the tests I've taken, I am Bipolar I with Many Mixed Episodes and an Ultra Rapid Cycler. I also have Borderline Personality Disorder which I'm sure is why they push the Depakote so much on me but I just can't take this junk! It makes me feel so much NOT like me! And the weight gain is NOT NEEDED as I had Gastric Bypass and since starting all these mood stabilizers and antipsychotics I have gained 30 lbs. :(I called a neurologist today as I want to get some testing done to see what's really going on. They told me I need a referring Doctor and since I am again in between Psychiatrists, I had to call my General Doctor (which is AWESOME) for that. I will find out tomorrow if he did it although I know he will as he's been the best support (and the Nurse Practitioner) through all of this BY FAR! Also I think a Psychiatrist may be hesitant to recommend seeing a neurologist. Not sure why I just get that feeling.
Anyway I really hope and pray you get better and that you find whatever it is you need to help you achieve that. I can honestly say Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has helped me in the past and I start again this Thursday as my anxiety is sooo high! And seems to be getting worse although today I do feel better. I seriously feel the Depakote made me more anxious as crazy as that sounds (although it and nervousness are listed as side effects).
Have a great week! And please feel free to message back if you'd like! Take care!
Hugs,
Baby Bunny> Hi BabyBunny. I had a follow-up question on a response you gave me (which I appreciate). Do you find that your Xanax helps with the depression?
>
> What happened when you tried Lamictal? I know you said that it made you worse, I was just wondering how. I'm giving it another try at a small dose.
>
> I tried Depakote in February for only 10 days- made me more depressed & crazy. I didn't have my anxiety problems at the time. They started in May with a brief trial of Neurontin (or allergies, or just because my body makes no sense). So I don't really have an answer for you. But I did improve after stopping it.
>
> I have heard positive stories about people with bipolar who find stability on meds. I guess they don't know what to do with those who don't.
>
> What kind of bipolar are you? I'm sort-of a bipolar II, cycling within the day sometimes. I think I've heard the II's are harder to treat. Sucks. We should all band together and do our own research, find doctors who are doing the research, or demand more research. Can you tell I'm having another bad day? Hopefully I'll cycle and feel better later- not mania, just a lesser form of depression.
Posted by theo on June 25, 2007, at 18:00:51
In reply to Anyone BIPOLAR Had Success w/o Mood Stabilizers?, posted by BabyBunny on June 24, 2007, at 13:50:47
How much Depokate were you taking? Were you taking it morning or bedtime?
I hope your good feeling lasts. The is some strange thing about stopping meds, almost a short term euphoria that happens, but then usually your back to square one.
Posted by tendency on June 27, 2007, at 15:35:56
In reply to Anyone BIPOLAR Had Success w/o Mood Stabilizers?, posted by BabyBunny on June 24, 2007, at 13:50:47
Yep, my 'bi-polar' has been fully cured w/out psychiatric meds. Turns out I am hypothyroid - even though my tests were 'normal'. I met an open minded endocrinologist and 10 months ago we began a t3/t4 trial. bi-polar gone ever since.
This is the end of the thread.
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