Hi lisaali,

I was diagnosed with "rapid cycle" bipolar about 7 years ago. The medication I'm on now is Lithium 900mg, lamotragene 150mg 2 x day, lofeperamine 140mg am and 70mg pm and thyroxine 100mic.

This cocktail works for me now but it took around three plus years to get it all together. The right combination will come together for you, it just may take a bit of time. Hope this helps a bit.

Take care,

John

elcoops,
I'm sure your right. There have been times that I did well with a particular dose of medication for awhile, but then my body would adjust and I'd have to change up again. My doctor recently lowered my dosages of depakote and seroquel, but said that if that did not work she planned on starting me on lithium. I have never been on lithium. How has it worked for you. Will I be groggy all the time?

Hi, since being on lithium my moods have just about evened out. Initially I had the shakes, lost my appetite a bit and it gave me the trots. I had to have fortnightly blood tests for the first two to three months to guage how the lithium was effecting my liver functions etc. After that I now have a blood test every six months. I do still have the odd period of mania and I do get low, but it's nowhere near as frequent as it was before I started lithium. The main problem I have found is that I can't just pick up a medicine from the chemist for flu or suchlike. So many drugs react with lithium that you have to check with your pharmacist every time you need an over the counter remedy. Personally I think that lithium has done me nothing but good. I know it won't be the same for everyone but I've deffinately found my experience with lithium to be a positive one.

Take care,

John

I am really sick and tired of been sick and tired. Maybe Im just human everytime I feel to happy to sad to whatever is because im mentally sick? I am tired of the meds of blaiming everything I do on the freaking bipolar disorder. I wonder if am just my self...what is normal????????? I need to know what is to be normal...

I was diagnosed bipolar 10 years ago. It's been the fight of my life. Tested like a rat. In and out of hospitals. And many other bad things I would rather not discuss. You have to ask yourself are you a survivor or a victim. I hope you choose surviver.

P.S. Nobody is normal. I like to think we are colorful.

hi lisali

I too was diagnosed 2 years ago....I have recently had an episode or relapse, I'm really not sure....but I agree with how you feel right now...it's nice to know I'm not alone.

Thanks
Becky

I am 54 years old, and was diagnosed in 1983. Yes this "disorder" is a PITA.

I take 400mg x 4 a day of lithium, and it usually keeps me functioning in the real world. I still have manic episodes occasionally, especially if I have diarrhea for extended periods or am in a situation where I am sweating excessively for several days.
Stress seems to be a trigger for those little joy rides as well.

I am concerned about the long term effects of the drug, but I'm reluctant to try experimenting with anything else. I'm afraid of having an episode that wold interfere with my job, as well as the strain that they always place on my wife.

What's an old hippie to do?

I have probably been Bipolar most of my life. I have accomplished alot before being "officially" diagnosed back in 2003. I have a Master's degree in Business, I spent 10 years in the Army National Guard as an Officer and Aviator. I had the opportunity to work for a Fortune 35 company as a computer programmer.

After being diagnosed, my life took a turn for the worse, I lost my job as a computer programmer, and my wife and I was forced to file Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. I have been hospitalized two times for mania, and currently I am working as a Pharmacy Technician in the retail world. I am currently back in school for Medical Records, and I will finish in March.

As you can see (at least in my case), being Bipolar isn't all that bad. If you can get past the stigma of having a mental illness, you can do positive things.

Right now, I am taking Lithium 1500mg, and Abilify 5mg. I am working my way through a bout with mania right now, and hopefully it will get back to normal soon.

Hope this helps.

I hope this helps.