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catches the flowers
Member Since Jul 2019
Location: Downtown Vibes, California
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#1
Hi PC Family, I'm wondering what we all expect, or hope to get, from medication? Would it be fewer mood changes...more time between mood changes...less intense moods...an almost complete cessation of BP symptoms? Where do you feel you are with meds? Where would you like to be (or are you where you want to be most of the time)?
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Legendary
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#2
My pdoc says I am now into some kind of treatment-resistant depression thing where it is going to be really hard to keep me euthymic or stable or whatever. That does seem to be what is happening. He has a special word for it but I don't remember it.
Anyhow, I would now just like not to be psychotic every day or manic regularly like I have been recently. And I would love to be not super depressed. But the doc says it is going to be hard. I might have to try Clozaril, I guess. __________________ When I was a kid, my parents moved a lot, but I always found them--Rodney Dangerfield |
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*Beth*, Anonymous46341
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*Beth*
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#3
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A friend of mine just went on clozaril....she is just waking up you might say....gaining insight and experiencing quiet for the first time. If nothing else is working it might be worth it. __________________ Hugs! |
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Anonymous46341
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*Beth*
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#4
I want to get to a point where I can function again and stay out of the hospital
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*Beth*, Anonymous46341
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#5
Mood-wise, I am doing fairly well on my current medication cocktail. Of course I want to maintain this. As for hopes for the future, I would like even stronger stability (the ability to tolerate more stress), that is long-lasting, but really therapy continues to be a part of that for me. Ideally, someday I would like my medication cocktail to be smaller. Specifically, I wish my Seroquel XR dose was lower.
In a dream situation, I wish I could just be taking Tegretol XR for my bipolar disorder, and nothing else, but I doubt that will ever happen. I'm sure I'd still be taking the physical-related meds (Synthroid and maybe propranolol). My thyroid is shot. I accept that. As long as I take Tegretol, my Synthroid dose will surely be high because of the drug interaction. That's no big deal to me, though. Last edited by Anonymous46341; Feb 05, 2020 at 10:25 AM.. |
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*Beth*
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catches the flowers
Member Since Jul 2019
Location: Downtown Vibes, California
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#6
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Anonymous46341
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catches the flowers
Member Since Jul 2019
Location: Downtown Vibes, California
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#7
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Anonymous46341, bpcyclist
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catches the flowers
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#8
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Honestly, I've heard a lot of positives about Clozaril. My pdoc seems spooked by it because of the monthly blood draw, but unless someone has a true needle phobia a monthly blood draw seems worth having a better life. __________________ |
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Anonymous46341, bpcyclist
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Sometimes psychotic
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catches the flowers
Member Since Jul 2019
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#9
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I just posted to Sometimes_psychotic that I've heard good things about Clozaril. Do you know when you will be starting on it? __________________ |
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Anonymous46341, bpcyclist
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#10
So far, I've needed meds as a bridge to get me from acute symptoms back to a state where I have greater awareness and ability to see my mental state more clearly. I weaned off and I'm stable. I'm transforming the factors in my life that contributed to my instability and I hope to manage without meds in the future. I would most definitely be open to meds again in the though should I find myself in a state where I am unable to thrive on my own.
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*Beth*, Anonymous46341
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#11
I'd say 80% of my hospital stays were because of or at least included psychosis. I don't really need something specific for a mood stabilizer, I was stable and high-functioning for months just on a low dose of Risperdal Consta. I'm pretty convinced upping the dose of that would end my current mixed state and prevent my early psychosis warning signs from getting worse, but we'll see about that.
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*Beth*, Anonymous46341, bpcyclist
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catches the flowers
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#12
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I love your attitude. It's flexible and smart. __________________ |
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Anonymous46341, bpcyclist, fern46
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fern46
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catches the flowers
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#13
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I have my fingers crossed for you, spike. Do you know when you might be increasing the dose? Mixed states are the most common way BP manifests for me. __________________ |
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Anonymous43918, Anonymous46341, bpcyclist
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#14
I see my NP in a couple hours and my next injection is next Tuesday. Mixed states are the most common way my bipolar side manifests too, unfortunately.
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*Beth*, Anonymous46341
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Poohbah
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#15
As someone with a history of rapid cycling and mixed moods Im thrilled with how well my current combo of meds is working. Ive not had a full blown episode since May last year and Ive been euthymic and stable for 6-7months.
My pdoc and I (because of the side effects) are weaning me off Seroquel and hopefully I will do well on Saphris as monotherapy. __________________ Pookyl BP1, GAD, Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, Claustrophobia Psych meds: Saphris, Seroquel XR, regular Seroquel. PRN Diazepam and Zopiclone |
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*Beth*, bpcyclist
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*Beth*
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catches the flowers
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#16
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What great news, Pookyl! Having a reliable med cocktail is such a secure feeling. __________________ |
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bpcyclist
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Pookyl
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#17
Thats an interesting question, and Im curious to see other replies as well. I have bipolar 2, so my goal is not going to be to prevent a manic episode or hospitalization. I just want to be able to slow my mind down and enjoy the simple moments in life. Sometimes, I get going so fast that I feel life is passing me by. Im always on the go and have to be doing something whether it be work or pleasure, and I used to think thats a good thing. Sometimes, I even question my diagnosis because those things are fun.
But, when I take medication, I feel more compassion for others and feel connected to those around me. I no longer feel like an island and like I am living just for the moment, but I can find a greater purpose. I just wish they didnt have so many cognitive side effects because it hurts my work performance and ambition. |
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*Beth*, bpcyclist
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catches the flowers
Member Since Jul 2019
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#18
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pacman_789
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#19
Thanks, Beth. Nice to know that others can relate 😊. I question it sometimes since mine isnt as extreme as many with bipolar 1, but I guess its just a milder form of the illness.
Yes I have all of those features you mentioned. The irritability is often unreasonable and makes me difficult to be around at times (bless my wife, she is so patient). |
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*Beth*, bpcyclist
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Poohbah
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#20
Hey Pacman, does your cognition slow down or does it just feel like its slowing down?
The reason I ask is because when I was on a different med combo I felt dull cognitively but testing by a neuropsychologist showed that my cognition was unchanged. But I felt I had to work harder to get the same result. __________________ Pookyl BP1, GAD, Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, Claustrophobia Psych meds: Saphris, Seroquel XR, regular Seroquel. PRN Diazepam and Zopiclone |
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