Sleep, anxiety, weight

[BK729]

I got diagnosed Bipolar 1 four years ago, I'm currently twenty two. I currently take 30 mg. of zyprexa,. 1500 mg. depakote, 2 mg. benztropine, 50 mg. of risperdone, and 50 mg. testim . I have gained 70 pounds of fat. When I'm not in a mania I sleep from the zyprexa for 12 hours a night. My anxiety is so high and from all of the side affects, just to name a few I have had diarrhea for the last three years, retrograde ejaculation, weight gain, restless legs syndrome. I still go through 28 day mania's with a short severe depressions and crazy mixed episodes. During my peak of my mania's I sleep one hour a week and can't go to sleep on my own. I bug my family constantly during the night. So sometimes I take more zyprexa. The program I am in, I can't take certain medications because of my drug history. I want to loose weight, decrease the amounts of all of my medications, I want to become mentally stable with less anxiety, I volunteered to go into rehab. Would some of the other medications that they won't let me take, help me? I need sleep in my mania's. It is hard not to get everything out in one paragraph. What steps can help me become mentally stable?

[LeftCoastChick]

It sounds like you do need to switch meds. If you are still severely cycling, the drugs aren't the right ones. I wa really and I mean really against Lithium until I bottomed out, and the Lamactil just wasn't cutting it, so I gave it a try, it's been such a transformation, I'm not manic nor depressed heavily, I still battle don't get me wrong, but I'm no where near suicidal. I'm BP2 mixed state rapid cycler, and I was having several mood swing a DAY.

Trazadone usually helps me sleep, and I have mid sleeping awakening as well as getting to sleep - I just have to watch my sleep schedule. I messed it up this week, and having a hell of a time getting back on the sleep wagon.  Serequal is an anti-mania drug, and I'm told it's a first line anti-psychotic/manic med,  its worked great for me,  I don't have that gerbil wheel going around in my head for hours, my anxiety has gone from about a 9 to a 2 and I rarely have to take Ativan anymore, it's great. So there are other options!

[hi_you]

ahmmmppp.....in your case all i can say is try to have a balanced diet or weight loss........

It will help you more..............go to the gym and workout..................try fish oil...It is good for the brain..Im also a bipolar......but Im not yet taking any medications because i wasnt able to see a psychiatrist yet....but I will...although im still in my stable state.........eat foods which are necesarry.....fruits is a good help especially grape and oranges......fish oil is also good...try to read books even it is hard for you that will be a good therapy....try to go out or stroll with your family....that's a good therapy too..........try todo activities ,watch movies..........


In your case,all i caN SAY IS You need to have a diet........

[azalea82]

Weight gain is a common side effect with both Zyprexa and Depakote.  There are other medications to treat bipolar disorder that do not have weight gain as a side effect.  Perhaps you could discuss this with your prescribing doctor.  Google "bipolar + phelps" for an educational website that has a section on weight gain with bipolar meds.  

[jimgreg]

would ur doc put you on klonopin 0.5 mgs 3 aday this would help with the anxieties part..although klonopin won't touch manic or mania..the drugs that ur on looks like they would calm you down.!! have you ever been on lithiem..alot of us here are on it..it does wonders for my hi end of bp.................good luck too you                  james

[irishwriter]

sounds like you really need to sit down with pdoc and come up with a regime of drugs that suit you. other than that the more helpful things are reading about what'w going on with you as understanding it makes it easier to deal with and some good books have good medidation exercises as well (the mindful way through depression). kay redfield jaimeson's book 'an umquiet mind' is also an excellent read. get plenty of excercise and and try to eat healthy foods. hope this is of some help to you.