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BonsaiGuy
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Help Feb 06, 2019 at 07:45 AM
  #1
Hello Everyone!

I have a quick question that involves the symptoms of Bi-Polar disorder (specifically the major mood swings). I have recently (4 weeks ago) started getting help for my disorder and am taking prescribed medications (listed below). My question is for those who are prescribed similar medications is this. How long from when you started taking these medications did you start to notice a significant impact on your symptom, specifically the mood swings or the ups and downs?

I've heard that it can take on average 8 weeks or longer. I have noticed my mood swings diminish to a degree. Less mountain tops and valleys and more up and downs similar to a carousel. I know everyone reacts differently to medications I, but am just curious as to what I have to look forward to.

Thanks for your insight.

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Dx: Bi-Polar II, PTSD, ADHD, SUD
Rx: Methadone 100mg, Lamictal 300mg, Abilify 10mg, Buspar 40mg, Clonadine 0.3mg, Trazodone 50mg, Nexium 20mg, Allegra 180mg
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Default Feb 06, 2019 at 08:00 AM
  #2
Hi there. I have bipolar II, and for years I was not medicated properly. I would have really good periods but then have really bad ones. I was in the hospital for the last time 15 years ago and they put me on cymbalta, lamictal and geodon and I swear in three days I felt so much better. I was discharged. I am not saying that its typical or normal for that to happen but it was for me. I have also found a lot of people with bipolar do much better on SNRI's rather than SSRI's or tricyclics. I am not a doctor its just something I have noticed over time with a lot of bipolar people in my life. I do not have any scientific evidence to cite for you its just something I have noticed.

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Default Feb 07, 2019 at 08:14 AM
  #3
The first mood stabilizer I was on, Lamictal, I recall taking several weeks to kick in, though that was over a decade ago.'

I apologize for this being really off topic, but I was wondering how you got prescribed 75mg of methadone? I'm on 20mg and was told by my pain doctor that, by law, I can't take more because of its equivalency to morphine and the caps on that. Maybe it is a state law? I'm afraid of needing more in the future, and wonder whether there's any way around the 20mg max.

If you prefer to keep this private, feel free to PM me.

Thanks.

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Bipolar 1
Lamictal: 400 mg
Latuda: 60mg
Klonopin: 1 mg
Propranolol: 10 mg
Zoloft: 100 mg
Temazepam: 15 mg
Zyprexa 5-10mg prn

(for Central Pain Syndrome: methadone 20 mg; for chronic back pain: meloxicam 15 mg; for migraines: prochlorperazine prn)
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Default Feb 07, 2019 at 12:31 PM
  #4
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gabyunbound View Post
The first mood stabilizer I was on, Lamictal, I recall taking several weeks to kick in, though that was over a decade ago.'

I apologize for this being really off topic, but I was wondering how you got prescribed 75mg of methadone? I'm on 20mg and was told by my pain doctor that, by law, I can't take more because of its equivalency to morphine and the caps on that. Maybe it is a state law? I'm afraid of needing more in the future, and wonder whether there's any way around the 20mg max.

If you prefer to keep this private, feel free to PM me.

Thanks.
@Gabyunbound

It sounds like you are taking Methadone for a chronic pain issue. I take Methadone to assist in recovery from a 12 year opiate addiction (medication assisted treatment). If you go to my profile or read some of my posts you will see what I mean. It may seem like 75mg is a lot, but depending on the patient, it's actually a pretty low dose.

Even though it would probably be looked at as an alarming amount of overkill for a chronic pain patient (which is why there is a cap), it's actually a fairly low does for someone, like me for example, who had a 2 gram per day black tar heroin/ fentanyl habit. Even given all that, I still have to go to the clinic every day, I have to get blood work done once a week, meet with a doctor every other week, and get urine tested at random sometimes every other day. I believe the suggested therapeutic dose for opiate addiction MAT is 80mg (give or take), but I have seen fellow clinic patients with single doses as high as 250mg-300mg taken consistently every day. Honestly, this is why we have to go to the clinic every day. Giving out a month's worth of Methadone with that high of a dose is simply begging for an addict to overdose. I am actually working really hard to slowly bring down my dose and hopefully never touch an opiate again.

I pray that you will never be in a position that you need such a high dose. In reality, I don't really feel it anymore. It just keeps me from being sick which assists me in getting my life back on track.

Thank you for asking that. I have no problem talking about it, so feel free to PM me if you wanna talk or have any more questions.

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Recovering from the past. Growing in the present. Planting seeds for the future.

Dx: Bi-Polar II, PTSD, ADHD, SUD
Rx: Methadone 100mg, Lamictal 300mg, Abilify 10mg, Buspar 40mg, Clonadine 0.3mg, Trazodone 50mg, Nexium 20mg, Allegra 180mg
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Default Feb 07, 2019 at 12:39 PM
  #5
Congrats Bonsai man. You are a strong person.

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Default Feb 08, 2019 at 06:59 AM
  #6
Quote:
Originally Posted by BonsaiGuy View Post
@Gabyunbound

It sounds like you are taking Methadone for a chronic pain issue. I take Methadone to assist in recovery from a 12 year opiate addiction (medication assisted treatment). If you go to my profile or read some of my posts you will see what I mean. It may seem like 75mg is a lot, but depending on the patient, it's actually a pretty low dose.

Even though it would probably be looked at as an alarming amount of overkill for a chronic pain patient (which is why there is a cap), it's actually a fairly low does for someone, like me for example, who had a 2 gram per day black tar heroin/ fentanyl habit. Even given all that, I still have to go to the clinic every day, I have to get blood work done once a week, meet with a doctor every other week, and get urine tested at random sometimes every other day. I believe the suggested therapeutic dose for opiate addiction MAT is 80mg (give or take), but I have seen fellow clinic patients with single doses as high as 250mg-300mg taken consistently every day. Honestly, this is why we have to go to the clinic every day. Giving out a month's worth of Methadone with that high of a dose is simply begging for an addict to overdose. I am actually working really hard to slowly bring down my dose and hopefully never touch an opiate again.

I pray that you will never be in a position that you need such a high dose. In reality, I don't really feel it anymore. It just keeps me from being sick which assists me in getting my life back on track.

Thank you for asking that. I have no problem talking about it, so feel free to PM me if you wanna talk or have any more questions.
Thanks for answering my question, BonsaiGuy, I really appreciate it. You're right, I should have checked around for answers before asking.

I do so hope I never need to take more. I have Central Pain Syndrome, an all over beyond excruciating burning-like feeling in my whole body. I tried some 4 or 5 meds before settling on Methadone, which finally worked.

I admire you getting off drugs, you're amazing. I just can't imagine the strength it must have taken to do that. I greatly admire you and I wish you the best of luck.

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Bipolar 1
Lamictal: 400 mg
Latuda: 60mg
Klonopin: 1 mg
Propranolol: 10 mg
Zoloft: 100 mg
Temazepam: 15 mg
Zyprexa 5-10mg prn

(for Central Pain Syndrome: methadone 20 mg; for chronic back pain: meloxicam 15 mg; for migraines: prochlorperazine prn)
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Default Feb 08, 2019 at 07:14 AM
  #7
Unfortunately I don't have a lot of advice to give to you, BonsaiGuy. Like you wrote, it depends on the person and on the medication you're taking. I have personally felt the effects of my meds almost right away, but I was taking a very low dosage (it wasn't for Bipolar). Other people take longer. I think the dose you're taking can have a great impact. I'm glad you're getting the treatment you need and deserve! I hope you'll feel better soon. Feel free to PM me anytime. Let me know if I can do something to help you. Wish you good luck! Let us know how it goes. Sending many hugs to you
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Default Feb 08, 2019 at 10:28 AM
  #8
Im not really on the same meds as you except lamictal. That was just added since my last major episode as well as going back on depakote and at a larger dose. Those took about 5 weeks before I stopped bouncing between manic and depressed in the psych ward. Then I had a full week of normal and sunk back down to mild depression. Im feeling better now after 8 weeks total but Im still a little nervous as my sleep is not so good the last few nights and I feel a little more happy than normal.

Some meds I have had reactions to within a week and others have taken much longer so it definitely varies depending on the person and the med. There is always the possibility that what you are on wont be quite enough or right but that definitely takes at least the full 8 weeks to figure out if not longer unless you react badly before that and have to change.

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Default Feb 09, 2019 at 10:07 AM
  #9
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gabyunbound View Post
Thanks for answering my question, BonsaiGuy, I really appreciate it. You're right, I should have checked around for answers before asking.

I do so hope I never need to take more. I have Central Pain Syndrome, an all over beyond excruciating burning-like feeling in my whole body. I tried some 4 or 5 meds before settling on Methadone, which finally worked.

I admire you getting off drugs, you're amazing. I just can't imagine the strength it must have taken to do that. I greatly admire you and I wish you the best of luck.
@Guiness187055 - Thank you for your kind words. That really made my morning, friend. Sometimes people in recovery meetings give me slack for being on a "crutch"... I've been trying to get clean for 5 years and never made it past the 60 day mark. Think about that... Since age 16 I was never myself past 60 days and those are the worst days. I'm coming up on 7 months and my life has never been better. My relationships are strong, I have a routine, accountability, I try to help others. My wife is incredibly supportive of my program and our marriage has never been better. So if it's a crutch, I don't really care because I have my life back.

@Gabyunbound - No problem at all. I am actually really glad you asked. Even if you did google it, I think is better to ask someone who's been there. Thanks for your support. Just to be clear, I definitely am not criticizing your medication choice or dosage at all. I hate it that now that there's an "opiate epidemic", chronic pain patients all of a sudden have a drug problem. I actually think that when taken correctly, Methadone is one of the most effective and safest opiates out there. If it's taken with a doctor's supervision and working, than it is doing it's job. No disclaimer needed. You're doing great and I wish the absolute best for you. Also, your doctor may be OK with giving you Gabapentin as well or something else for the break through pain.
Good luck!

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Recovering from the past. Growing in the present. Planting seeds for the future.

Dx: Bi-Polar II, PTSD, ADHD, SUD
Rx: Methadone 100mg, Lamictal 300mg, Abilify 10mg, Buspar 40mg, Clonadine 0.3mg, Trazodone 50mg, Nexium 20mg, Allegra 180mg
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