Medication recommendations???

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-29-2004
Medication recommendations???
2
Sun, 09-11-2005 - 1:23am

Hi,

First time posting here.

I need to get a new doctor and try some new meds, I think. I have been going to my primary care doc but I know more about meds than he does. Has anyone had any success with Lithium?

I have been on Zoloft for a few years. Is it possible that a medication can work for you for a while then just not be effective anymore? I feel like it used to work but hasn't in at least a year. I also have anxiety/OCD issues that I do believe the Zoloft helps with but I just don't think it is helping with the bipolar situation. I have been in a "down phase" for a while.

The Zoloft does ground me in reality which is supposed to be a good thing I'm told. Great. So, now I realize that I have plenty of things to be greatful for yet I still don't want to get off the couch. I realize that I am educated and attractive and should NOT be crying for no reason but I still do. Quite honestly, I don't think being "grounded in reality" in so great. I miss the days when I needed only 1-3 hours of sleep (instead of the 12 I want now) and shopped like crazy and had so much fun chasing Major League Baseball Players around that my life was more interesting than fiction novels. That was fun! This reality is not.

I want my credit cards back. I want to feel energetic and happy. And dammit I still want to marry a baseball player!!!! That life was fun. This is not. I think I need new meds.

Any suggestions?

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-18-2003
Sun, 09-11-2005 - 2:17pm

Hi Sunny


If you are only on Zoloft and have been dx'd as having bipolar disorder, I would suggest going to see a pdoc (psychiatrist). If you feel you have been in a downward spiral and the Zoloft is no longer helping, you may need an adjustment of some sort.


I was dx'd as having chronic depression for years, and my 'highs' were just me coming out of the depression. I had started seeing a different tdoc about 2 years ago and about a year ago she started noticing symptoms that caused her to refer me to a pdoc - I too was, at the time, using my family doc. My family doc had me on wellbutrin. The pdoc first dx'd me as having depression with mixed episodes. Very similar to bipolar, but not quite. We went through a birage of meds because I was having reactions to a lot of them. Then, pdoc changed my diagnoses to bipolar a few months back, we managed to find a combination of meds that helped, but not totally. He kept me on the wellbutrin, added seroquel, trileptal, trazodone, and occasionally xanax. With continual changes to the seroquel, I remained on that combination until just a little over a week ago. My depression really got the best of me and I bottomed out. Tdoc intervened and got me to pdoc within 24 hours. He changed my dx to bipolar I and started me on Depakote. Now, a week later, I feel better than I have in I can't remember when and hoping the trend continues!


It took pdoc all that time, with the constant battles with depressive episodes and continuing tweaks to my meds, and finally my tdoc saying to him "It's just not working......she's getting worse." for him to finally change me to depakote. That and Lithium are probably 2 of the longest lived meds for bipolar, but I think that a lot of pdocs try all the newer stuff first for whatever reason before they resort to either

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-01-2004
Sun, 09-11-2005 - 5:06pm

Sunny,


Welcome to the board I'm glad you found us, this is a great group and a wonderful place of support.