hello I am new to the forum and was asking for any advice!

[Cynnieb4]

Okay so my name is Cynthia and I was recently diagnosed for bipolar/ mania in oct 2009. Here is what I am taking


Depakote 500 mg morning and at night
seroquel 100 mg 2 at night and one in morning
risperdone 2mg 1 morning 2 at night



So basically my story in a lumpshell, I was hospitilized in november after losing my baby to a chromosome defect. They labeled me as having a nervous breakdown. I was in there for fourteen days. I was having images and my thoughts were pretty vivid at the time I was not suicidal and not having any thoughts until this medicine. They have reduced my doseage and I am doing better, but i still feel like I don't need it. I feel as though somedays it makes my thought process worse. Is there anyone else out there with this effect?? Any advice on how to approach my doctor? Thanks

[JennyDots]

Hi! Response to psychiatric medication is highly individual. If something isn't working for you, talk to your doctor, because there are a lot of options, including - hopefully - the medication(s) that will be right for you. It takes a LOT of patience, sometimes, which is really hard... but hopefully it will be very, very much worth it.

Hang in there, and take care of yourself. You are recovering from a tragedy that few people could understand. Be gentle with yourself. Do something special for yourself today.

Jenny

[ILADVOCATE]

Depakoate is a mood stabilizer. Risperdal and Seroquel are both antipsychotics. If a person is psychotic they require an antipsychotic. Bipolar with psychotic features is one form of bipolar. You could ask your psychiatrist what specific form of bipolar you have and if you require an antipsychotic at this time. They could decide from there. As for mood stabilizers, atypical (the current generation) antipsychotics are approved for usage as mood stabilizers as well. They can have cognitive blunting effects. Depakoate can cause this fairly regularly. I know I had a better response to Lamictal but each person responds differently to each medication. If you want some consumer friendly but clinically accurate websites on bipolar and mood stabilizers go to the welcome page. You could read this information and discuss it with your psychiatrist and work with them to see which medication combination would be most helpful for you.