Overwhelmed

[LoveLife1011]

Hi everyone, I'm new here (as of today). I was diagnosed a week ago with Bipolar and BPD and has just been overwhelmed and scared lately. I've always hated labels, but lately I feel that there's a cloud over my head that says, "you have Biploar and Borderline" I'm getting a lot of support from my husband so that feels good, but I wanted to connect with people like me, who can understand what im going through or have been in my shoes before. I've been struggling for a long time. It's nice to finally know as things started making sense. Knowing offsets the feeling a bit, but doesn't eliminate the fear, the fear of "now what?" "will i alway be like this?" so many questions and thoughts. Anyway, I'm glad that there are people out there that know "how it feels" and can relate to me. Sorry if this is too long, but it just feels good to talk to those who can understand me.

My question, however, is about my medication. I'm on Seroquel XR and im experimenting with the dosage. I think 75mg is best for me, and doesn't make me wake up with a hangover feeling as the 100 mg did. It's not recommended to break the pill as it breaks off the coating, but is it really that bad, I mean does the medicine not work as well if you break it? Also, I feel like I don't want to wake up from the drowziness, will I always feel this way, or only in the beginning? Is there perhaps a better medicine out there that I should discuss with my dr.? I was diagnosed when I was in my depression episode and I don't feel the medicine is making it that much better, or is it only because the effect hasn't kicked in?

Sorry for all the questions, but this is all new to me, and it would mean a lot to me if I understood all this better. Thanks :)

[stephenssusie10]

Hi!
  I,like you, was recently diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. One thing you have to remember is that the diagnosis is not a label, it does not define you! You have an illness, and it will take a little time to accept it, but it is easier if you research Bipolar disorder, talk to your doctor, and get support. I was told while I was in the hospital (where I was diagnosed) that I should never say "I am Bipolar" you should say "I am diagnosed Bipolar" it makes it easier to handle. Once you see it as a illness you can start really treating it as one.
      As for the meds, it can take weeks or even a month for them to actually work. I am taking Lithium, and when I first started taking it I felt groggy, and out of it...I would just sit and stare off. I also was dizzy and it felt like my head was being squeezed. I kept going on it, and after a month the symptoms stopped and the meds really started to work. Give your medications some time to work, and then if you still do not feel they are working discuss it with your doctor.

[ILADVOCATE]

  An extended release version of a medication is designed to specifically work in that manner so if you break up the tablet it won't work. I was allowed to divide the tablets of almost all medications as directed by my psychiatrist except for ones designed to work in this manner. If you find that taking the dose divided is better for you you could ask your psychiatrist about the standard version which can be divided as directed by a psychiatrist. Seroquel takes a while to build up an effective dose so it might take some time for you to see its full help and also the sedation and other standard side effects are more intense at first then improve over time. You could discuss all this with your psychiatrist.