im same as u. i am bp 1 and adhd for 1st time in my life i felt good on seroqual .25-.50 and adderal 30... no anxiety and could function in life ...but lost job and ins, so quit all of it for 1 yr... now worse than ever ive been pres. resperol & prozac so cant comment on yet...but is suppose to work on both low dopemine & serotonin & i am low on both. s/t its a crap shoot if ur just low on 1 of those....but all bipolar self medicate to feela little calm at end of day...they will say alcoholic, but if cant find right cocktail its a way to survive..if wellbutron helps u as it does me,,,u r low on dopimine but if very irritable alot prob low on seratonin too.
Have you ever heard of Julie Fast? She is an author who has bipolar II and I learned more about this disorder and how to cope with it from her writings than I did from the doctors who diagnosed and treated me. Check out bipolarhappens.com and the book "Get it done when you're depressed" by Julie A. Fast.
Great stuff
There are still options out there as mood stabilizers:
http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/meds/moodstabilizers.htm
Its (current) antipsychotics that can cause that long term effect (the newer generation such as the one I am on in Phase II FDA study don't, read through my posts). The wide variety of mood stabilizers don't. As for FDA approved antipsychotics if you need one Clozaril does not cause tardive dyskinesia. Tardive dyskinesia is not reversible but is treatable. The medications Zofran, the Catapres application patch and the natural remedy rhodiola (only under the supervision of a neurologist, this is in use) are lesser known but work. Standard treatments include Tetrabenzene, Aricept, Bachlophen, Requip and Mirapex. Botox shots work on focal dystonia. You should see a movement disorders specialist for treatment and ask about these options.
Hi Chicharron,
I thought i would add my comments depiste it being quite an old note you added. I didn't think i was president, no, instead Jesus. Anyway, I took risperdal following an adverse effect to a antidepressants that sent me on and Manic episode which was quite horrific. The anti-depressants I took were fluoxetine (prozac), then surmontil (to help with sleep, then alongside this imipramine (used as a second line anti depressant) i later researched that was a tried and tested drug but would mean that people who have bipolar can be sent phsychotic. Needless to say i learnt the hard way that I suffer bi-polar.
Anyway, the anti depressants were stopped and i was gradually put on Risperdal for 18 months life was good, with a little hardening of the right nipple (gynochemastia). but the problem I had was once I had finished my 18 month course, I had an adverse affect called tardive dyskinesia, which is quite unpleasant, and involves lip smacking, tongue poking out, hands moving as thought I am playing the air piano/guitar. I am under the impression that I am one of (the few) unfortunate ones, this has continued for 2 nearly two years now. I am hoping it will subside but it may be around for life. I am currently looking into my personality type (ENTJ) and looking for a suitable career move in order to give myself the best chance of not ever having to take any medication again!
I have alot of mental health issues,but I'm not pychotic or think i'm a President. I was on resperdal for at lease 5 years for bipolar 2. That drug helped me more then I realized. Since it is not one of the newer drugs, my Dr. had to take me off it because he only gets samples of the newer drugs, so I had to make a switch. I miss the reperdal. I haven't felt very good ever since the change, but I can't afford the medication. I was on a low dose, but on a little higher doses, I felt foggy in the head. My manic states are in the form of aggitation too. You doen't have to be happy to be in a manic state, or should I say hypomanic state. Hope this helps you. Jasmine (I felt so stable on resperdal)
Hi, yes risperdal is used at times for Bipolar Disorder. I can't tell you from my own personal experience but I have a friend (with Bipolar) who was prescribed it. She was prescribed it at a time in which she was under treatment for opiate withdrawl, but no she didn't think she was a president or anything at the time. Risperdal is commonly used for manic or mixed episodes. At the time in which she was beginning the Risperdal she had been off her bipolar meds for sometime. Not sure how long she had used it or any side effects which may have occurred (lost touch) She is currently just using lithium and doing well. I didn't see any weight gain side effects when I googled it, and I currently work with many patients who use it and haven't seen it there either. Good luck to you.