My Bipolar Issue

[Crystina211]

I am very VERY bipolar.  It is so bad at times that is affects my husband.  I mean he is absolutely wonderful and never gets annoyed with my constant pausing of the TV right in the middle of our show to get up and do something that just popped in my head and really can be dealt with later, if then.  But, I feel really bad that we can't really watch a movie without my interruption.  Also, he is very patient with me and my shopping!  I have got myself into so much debt (but I finally paid it all off!!!) and have overdrawn our account countless times.  For all my fellow Bipolar pals out there, you know exactly what I'm talking about here.  It hasn't affected our marriage and I think I finally found a medication that is working for me.  I just started Abilify, and I am only on 10 mg right now, but I see my doctor again Wednesday and I hope she increases my dose.  But, we have noticed a HUGE difference in my "bipolarness" since I started it.  I also don't sleep well at all....when I am finally asleep, I have these terrible, horrible, frightening and very vivid dreams.  So needless to say I don't sleep well at all.  My doctor won't let me take Restoril every night in fear of becoming addicted (did I mention I also suffer from chronic pain and migraines and I am taking narcotic pain medicine?) She has also tried to blame my bipolar on these narcotic pain pills.  But I have been bipolar LONG before I was in pain.  Back to the Restoril...(sorry, my medicine hasn't improved my thinking pattern much yet) it works wonderfully for my sleep.  I can take it up to 4 nights a week, in addition to Seroquel, which I cannot afford that since it is name brand along with the Abilify.  I don't really have a question here for anyone reading this.  I guess I'm having a moment where I want to talk to someone.  I can type and type so much about all my experiences, but frankly that would get boring.  I also suffer from anxeity.  Big mess I am!!  Lol.  I was wondering what medicine people take for their bipolar disorder, anxeity, insomnia, EXTREME depression, and any other non-medicinal actions to take.  Any feedback would be more than appreciated.

Sincerely,
Very tired, manic, full of pain chick!!

[adel_ezz]

Hi

No two take the same meds or the same doses. People keep experimenting with their pdocs until they hit a combo that works. The no of BP meds is large, they vary from mood stabilizers, to antipsychotics, to antidepressants to tranquilizers, and you can find patients taking a combination of them all.

The strange thing, take your abilify for example, for some is irritating causes insomnia and agitation as it's supposedly activating but for others make them tired. so pdocs prescribe for instance akineton to go along with. Seroquel is easier because people come to terms concerning this drug, this is why it's the drug the most sold worldwide, etc...

Again antidepressants is controversial, some BP find it helpful though it's known to cause mania. For example I tried the last 2 years all kind of antidepressants from tricyclics, to SSRI, until I have settled the last 2 months for stablon an SSRE, i read on the internet that it doesn't cause mania, but who can tell, etc...nobody knows...

[ILADVOCATE]

Abilify is an antipsychotic but it does have mood stabilization properties. Anti-depressents are best avoided in people with bipolar. If you find that you have remaining depression you could speak to your psychiatrist and they could add another mood stabilizer. As for sleep aides, Rozerem is an FDA approved sleep aide that is safe and non addictive and works like melatonin to adjust the sleep cycle. You could ask your psychiatrist about that. And if your insurance doesn't cover certain medications, you should try appealing the denials in coverage.