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Meds vs non meds
Hello, I've recently been diagnosed with BPD. The Dr. Wants to see what we can accomplish without meds. I've changed my eating and exercise habits and I'd like to see if anyone else had had much success balancing moods naturally or what kind of experiences others have had with meds vs without...
Hi there,
I couldn't do it without meds. My life trainwrecked pretty hard. Off work for a couple of years getting back to stable. I do know however people that go without meds so I won't tell you it isn't possible. A lot depends on how severe your bipolar is. If you are bipolar 2 (no manias) then it is more likely you'll be able to go without meds. There is some good evidence too that Omega oils help with bipolar symptoms. I take them and find that I notice when I don't take them. I just read though that they shouldn't be taken with sugar laden foods. That they should be taken with lean protein to be most readily absorbed. There is another suppliment called NAC (sorry don't remember the full name) that is also supposed to help - but as all things talk with your pdoc before starting any treatment. Natural or otherwise.
Not all meds are created equal either. Something like lamotrigine has a pretty low side effect profile if you titrate up slowly. I haven't seen any scary studies about its use long term. It is good for bipolar 2 because it works well on the depression side of things that lithium doesn't. Lithium is better at controlling mania.
Now atypical antipsychotics (Abilify, Seroquel, Ziprexa, Geodone, and Risperadol) have a long list of side effects, cause weight gain, diabetes, actually shrink your brain slightly over time, high cholesterol, can cause movement disorders. But not all people get these, or could get other symptoms. For example for me is one of the antipsychotics caused rapid weight loss.
Some doctors are preferring to use things like Abilify as first line treatment. It is FDA approved for it, but I personally would consider it a drug of last resort. I think the increase in use has more to do with drug company advertising than it does with effectiveness and safety verses other medications. If you decide to take an antipsychotic and can afford Abilify I would take it over the other ones because it has fewer side effects, but it is really costly.
I personally take an antipsychotic because for me the effects outweigh the potential issues. I also take lamotrigine and it just wasn't enough to control my symptoms. I just think you should be informed going in that the antipsychotics can pack a pretty heavy punch in the side effect department, but the also work wonder if you are psychotic. I can go outside at night without being scared out of my mind - couldn't do that before.
Lithium has been around forever and is a good drug for many people. A lot of doctors don't like prescribing it because you need blood tests to make sure you don't go toxic, and if you go toxic it can permanently damage your kidneys. Know a few people whom that happened to.
I don't know anything about Diprovalex except that it is a mood stabilizer. It isn't used much in Canada I don't think. I don't know anyone on it.
If you have a mild case of bipolar 2, have a job that you are functioning in for example, lifestyle changes and a few suppliments may be all that is needed, but for most of us meds changed our lives and in many cases saved them. If you get suicidal the risk of death is 15%. If meds keep you from going there it is worth it. I would be dead without medication. I know this and it keeps me taking it.
On a side note - don't take St. John's Wort or antidepressants (some pdocs will give an antidepressant with a mood stabilizer but if you google you will see the research that says that is a bad idea). They can make you manic.
Sorry this is a bit long. Thought as a new person it may be helpful to have some background on the meds they want you to take. A really good book is The Bipolar Survival Guide. They just put out a new edition. It goes over the theory of bipolar, medications you can use, and some social/rythm therapy excercises.
Take care and good luck with your decision.
I couldn't do it without meds. My life trainwrecked pretty hard. Off work for a couple of years getting back to stable. I do know however people that go without meds so I won't tell you it isn't possible. A lot depends on how severe your bipolar is. If you are bipolar 2 (no manias) then it is more likely you'll be able to go without meds. There is some good evidence too that Omega oils help with bipolar symptoms. I take them and find that I notice when I don't take them. I just read though that they shouldn't be taken with sugar laden foods. That they should be taken with lean protein to be most readily absorbed. There is another suppliment called NAC (sorry don't remember the full name) that is also supposed to help - but as all things talk with your pdoc before starting any treatment. Natural or otherwise.
Not all meds are created equal either. Something like lamotrigine has a pretty low side effect profile if you titrate up slowly. I haven't seen any scary studies about its use long term. It is good for bipolar 2 because it works well on the depression side of things that lithium doesn't. Lithium is better at controlling mania.
Now atypical antipsychotics (Abilify, Seroquel, Ziprexa, Geodone, and Risperadol) have a long list of side effects, cause weight gain, diabetes, actually shrink your brain slightly over time, high cholesterol, can cause movement disorders. But not all people get these, or could get other symptoms. For example for me is one of the antipsychotics caused rapid weight loss.
Some doctors are preferring to use things like Abilify as first line treatment. It is FDA approved for it, but I personally would consider it a drug of last resort. I think the increase in use has more to do with drug company advertising than it does with effectiveness and safety verses other medications. If you decide to take an antipsychotic and can afford Abilify I would take it over the other ones because it has fewer side effects, but it is really costly.
I personally take an antipsychotic because for me the effects outweigh the potential issues. I also take lamotrigine and it just wasn't enough to control my symptoms. I just think you should be informed going in that the antipsychotics can pack a pretty heavy punch in the side effect department, but the also work wonder if you are psychotic. I can go outside at night without being scared out of my mind - couldn't do that before.
Lithium has been around forever and is a good drug for many people. A lot of doctors don't like prescribing it because you need blood tests to make sure you don't go toxic, and if you go toxic it can permanently damage your kidneys. Know a few people whom that happened to.
I don't know anything about Diprovalex except that it is a mood stabilizer. It isn't used much in Canada I don't think. I don't know anyone on it.
If you have a mild case of bipolar 2, have a job that you are functioning in for example, lifestyle changes and a few suppliments may be all that is needed, but for most of us meds changed our lives and in many cases saved them. If you get suicidal the risk of death is 15%. If meds keep you from going there it is worth it. I would be dead without medication. I know this and it keeps me taking it.
On a side note - don't take St. John's Wort or antidepressants (some pdocs will give an antidepressant with a mood stabilizer but if you google you will see the research that says that is a bad idea). They can make you manic.
Sorry this is a bit long. Thought as a new person it may be helpful to have some background on the meds they want you to take. A really good book is The Bipolar Survival Guide. They just put out a new edition. It goes over the theory of bipolar, medications you can use, and some social/rythm therapy excercises.
Take care and good luck with your decision.
Get a second and a third opinion. No meds for BP sounds irresponsible to me. Again and again you hear "I went off my meds and wound up in the hospital."
no ive tried the non meds..i was good i thought..the po po had other ideals lol..bpd can be treated with bipolar meds..thers lamctal,,among lithiem at low doeses..a mood,s,, is a look in for ya..
It's BP, sorry for any confusion. Like I said, it's a recent diagnosis and to be honest it feels like its gotten a little worse in the last couple weeks. I'm definitely going to try those breathing techniques and keep you posted. I'm all about helping out where I can, I was kinda trying to feel out other peoples successes or downfalls too. I appreciate your responses and wish you best of luck as well.
BPD - borderline personality disorder
BP - bipolar disorder
sometimes these initials just get confusing. I wish you luck in maintaining a stable mood with life changes. I wish I could do that but I have found medication to be necessary for me.
BP - bipolar disorder
sometimes these initials just get confusing. I wish you luck in maintaining a stable mood with life changes. I wish I could do that but I have found medication to be necessary for me.
To balance your moods naturally, follow these pranayam daily, twice a day. This will help to balance the body systems, and the left and right brain. Do the pranayam with concentration ad with eyes closed. Tell the Dr. about this and let me know his comments. Your feedback on progress in a few months will help others very much.
Build up your timing gradually.If you feel tired or dizzy, stop and resume after one minute.
Anulom Vilom pranayam –
Close your right nostril with thumb and deep breath-in through left nostril
then – close left nostril with two fingers and breath-out through right nostril
then -keeping the left nostril closed deep breath-in through right nostril
then - close your right nostril with thumb and breath-out through left nostril.
This is one cycle of anulom vilom.
Repeat this cycle for 20 to 30 minutes twice a day.
Children under 15 years – do 5 to 10 minutes twice a day.
You can do this before breakfast/lunch/dinner or before bedtime or in bed.Remember to take deep long breaths into the lungs.You can do this while sitting on floor or chair or lying in bed.
Bhramri Pranayam -Close eyes. Close little flap of ears with thumb,place index finger on forehead, and rest three fingers on base of nose touching eyes. Breathe in through nose. And now breathe out through nose while humming like a bee.
Repeat this 5 to 21 times.
April 9 ,2012
Build up your timing gradually.If you feel tired or dizzy, stop and resume after one minute.
Anulom Vilom pranayam –
Close your right nostril with thumb and deep breath-in through left nostril
then – close left nostril with two fingers and breath-out through right nostril
then -keeping the left nostril closed deep breath-in through right nostril
then - close your right nostril with thumb and breath-out through left nostril.
This is one cycle of anulom vilom.
Repeat this cycle for 20 to 30 minutes twice a day.
Children under 15 years – do 5 to 10 minutes twice a day.
You can do this before breakfast/lunch/dinner or before bedtime or in bed.Remember to take deep long breaths into the lungs.You can do this while sitting on floor or chair or lying in bed.
Bhramri Pranayam -Close eyes. Close little flap of ears with thumb,place index finger on forehead, and rest three fingers on base of nose touching eyes. Breathe in through nose. And now breathe out through nose while humming like a bee.
Repeat this 5 to 21 times.
April 9 ,2012
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