You probably won't like this, we shall see

[jst4shanell]

I believe we are seeing this huge TREND in Bipolar diagnosis these days.  I would say in the last 10 years.  People are being improperly diagnosed and it's sad to think people are on medications that could potentially harm them.  In the 90's it was ADD or ADHD.  Did you know that Zyprexa kills 1 in 125 people?  Wow!  That is astonishing to me.  The fact that the FDA knew about this and approved it, is horrible to say the least.  2 million people a year get prescribed that drug, including children.

[paranoid_cataclysm]

I suppose you're right.  You're always really informative and interesting.  I don't even know what my paranoia stems from... I've just been that way my whole life.  I even was fussy as a baby when it came to medications.

[ILADVOCATE]

Best to be informed of medications and their side effects rather than paranoid. If you had pneumonia you'd take an antibiotic but those have side effects. Same even with asprin and Tylenol. Of course there will be safer medications as they go along but that's no reason to avoid treatment for now and remember anything not FDA approved is not guaranteed safe and effective yet. They may find things in the studies (though I would hope not and it doesn't appear so). As for FDA approved medications used off label as mood stabilizers I believe I've posted this list but its of help:
http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/meds/moodstabilizers.htm
Its good to be strong willed but why tough it out when medication can help? If I hadn't taken antipsychotics from age 18 I might very have been institutionalized long term and certainly wouldn't have made it through college and beyond and to where I am today. Why cheat yourself out of a better life?

[paranoid_cataclysm]

I look at it this way.  I believe I'm fortunate in a way to have been as strong willed as I am to have made it as long as I have off medication until they developed safer and better medications especially with my extreme paranoia of them.  It's like that saying good things come to those who wait, I guess.

[ILADVOCATE]

Medications have improved over time. When I started off on medication on old line antipsychotics and a large dose of lithium it felt like I was being knocked out. The atypicals such as Risperdal and Seroquel in combination with Lamictal were much more tolerable. And things have improved from there. Every medication of any kind has long term side effects. The main thing is if they are tolerable from the get go and I certainly believe that's improved over time and will continue to.

[jimgreg]

yes i heard that zyprexa  is not a good drug..but ive heard that about most bp meds also..alot of them have black box warnings on them  like depakote liver problems,,geodon,lithiem,,,these are good meds but in the background you kinda have to 2ndg gfuess everything..including the prior meds that ur on..like alot of us were diagnosed when we were on meds along time.....im on strong opids  and  panic meds now this added to the mix..yes i heard  about zyprexa alot latley...i was great on lithiem and in 7 monthes went sevre toxic..2 x,s the toxic rate...was lucky.....

[LetaB]

  Oops. When I said my kids are "worse" I meant one of them had a condition that was worse than the ones I listed. MY kids are amazing and I love them.