am I being overmedicated

At the age of  36 I attempted suicide, I had been taking an antidepressant for the previous two years. While in hospital I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Now, two years later my Dr tells me I am stable on my meds. Over the 2yrs span I complained of various symptoms that I had not experienced prior to the meds ie.  paranoia, social anxiety, mild ocd, severe memory loss........  Each visit when I brought up a concern I was always told "this is just part of the disease"  and "I never noticed it before because I was in denial."  Currently I feel very depressed, aggitated angry, hopeless, and somewhat suicidal.  I have expressed this to family (and in the past to my Dr) and they always respond with "dont stop taking your meds." I am sure that its the meds causing all the symptoms.  My Dr now has me on :       Lithium 900mg, Wellbutrin 300mg twice daily, Lamictal, Concerta 36mg, and Seraquel 100mg.  All I am being told is that the hardest thing when treating bipolar disorder is to keep the patient on there meds, am I going CRAZY or could the meds be the problem?

P.S
I am scared to look for a new Dr because I have heard its really hard to find one in this town.  I like my Dr and have trusted him up to this point, but now.........

[LeftCoastChick]

Wow! You are on a lot of meds, and with rapid cycling BP, some meds like Lithium aren't as recommended, my pdoc won't put me on Lithium.  Some SSRI's can cause hypomania, which happened with me.  Serequal has calmed my mind down, I am on 25mgs 3 times a day.  Your shrink may be right about the behaviours, I was in total absolutely denial..and now that I see the patterns, much makes sense.  I just started lamactil - dose upped today to 25mgs a day.  I take the odd ativan when I have some serious break through anxiety.  Both drugs I am on have some anti depressant qualities.. but with everyone - the drug cocktail may be different, though I have been on Wellbutrin before and that seems like a high dose.  Do you have a pdoc or is this a family GP? It sounds like a regular GP, you really need to see a shrink..they know their pharmaceuticals. Good luck and keep posting!

[therese83]

I had trouble, 'till I found the right Doctor.  It sounds like you need a second opinion from a pdoc.

[Venora Moonwind]

Wow that sounds like me when I was first diagnosed bi polar.At the time I needed that many but as I got better I was able to reduce to only 2 meds , zyprexa and celexa.
If your doc wont work with you as a partner in your health care... find another doc that will work with you.
I have gotten stable through a healthy diet, exercise everyday at least 30 mins, regular sleep pattern, meds,therapy, and the lovin g support of my faith and my family. Oh and NO sugar or caffiene as these both aggravate bi polar.
Dont give up because bi polar is managable. you arent alone. We are here to help you through this.Keep us posted on your progress.
Love Venora

[Venora Moonwind]

PS I meant to add that the meds you are on are doing nothing for you since you are feeling the way you are.  I would get another doc asap if it were me.
Vee

[shortcircuited]

If you feel like this, your medicine is not working, but you should NOT quit cold turkey.  That's what gets people into the most trouble.  Quitting suddenly will make things much worse.  You need a doctor that will work with you to adjust the medication types and doses until YOU feel stable.

[Fairygirlthirty]

I would recommend you getting a second opinion on your medication situation from another psychiatrist.  While the meds may be helping to a certain extent, it doesn't sound like they are helping as much as they should.  That being said, however, meds do not do all th work.  In intensive group therapy for bipolar disorder I learned that medications do 40-60% of the work, and the other 40-60% is up to us to take control of.  Good luck.  

[Antaria]

As many others have already stated, it doesn't sound to me like your meds are helping and you really need to get a second opinion.  You need to find one who listenst to you and doesn't automatically brush your concerns aside as being "just symptoms of the disease.  After all, aren't the meds suppose to be treating the symptoms?  Preferably from a doc who's office is not associated with your current doc's office.  I say this because I have learned from experience that doctors from same offices (ie. clinics, partnerships, etc.) have a tendancy to stick with whatever thier partner has already done.  Perhaps they just don't want to "step on any toes".  As for the meds you are on, that does seem like a lot of meds.  Although some people do need more meds than others.  The biggest thing that threw up a red flag for me in relation to your meds and symptoms was the Lithium and severe memory loss.  While I was taking Lithium my short-term memory was nearly non-existant and long term memory was often a mess too.  Of course that's my personal experience, many people do fine with lithium.  It does wonders for my mother. (when she stays on it..).

Best of luck

[Phtartist]

I know for sure the max dose of Wellbutrin should be no higher than 450 mg.  At 400mg I get anxiety.  It becomes an irritant to me.  Usually two meds help with polar bears like us.  

An anti seizure med for the rapid cycling and an antidepressant. SSRI's are not good for bi polar people because they bring on the high end of the polar spectrum and you will crash!  That is the suicide end, the depressive end.  No wonder you are all over the place.  You are taking meds to treat the meds.

Stay with your Dr. but get a second opinion.  Doctors do work together.  They are supposed to be humble enough to accept the patients desire to have a team built.

[Anneinside]

I understand that you take Lithium 900mg, Wellbutrin 300mg twice daily, Lamictal, Concerta 36mg, and Seraquel 100mg.   Contrary to other opinions, mine is that you aren't being over-medicated but perhaps on the wrong combination. I have taken a mood stabilizer - Lamictal (you take: lithium, lamictal) with an antidepressant - Emsam (you take: Wellbutrin), antipsychotic - Abilify (you take: Serequel) and a stimulant - had to drop it when I started Emsam (you take: Concerta which I liked). Hope you can follow all the parenthesis.  I also take Ambien and Klonopin for sleep and propranolol for akathisia. So, I take 7 psych drugs. The drugs you take aren't out of line, they just don't seem to be effective right now.

By the way, having the two mood stabilizers is not redundant as Lamictal works best for depression and lithium works well for mania. As long as you are taking a mood stabilizer that works for you then you can take antidepressants.