A/P ? & Forgetting ??

Avatar for firstglimpse
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Registered: 04-08-2003
A/P ? & Forgetting ??
4
Fri, 12-30-2005 - 4:16pm

Are anti-psychotics part of the cocktail or something to only help bring you out of mania? H is already sick of the Seroquel & I think I am too, but it is the only drug he's on right now and who knows how it would work in combo with stablizer & a/d??

As for forgetting, how much can/will you forget from a mixed-manic episode? H has the 2nd opinion appointment today (required by his work to return) and he's scared as he cannot remember his feelings from the past 6 mos & events are not very clear. He doesn't seem to be mourning OW and I believe he has really forgotten how he's felt about her, but that seems so strange at the same time. Could it be wiped out so cleanly & so quickly?

He seems fairly normal today, depressed, by more himself. I cannot believe the hold he has on me. When he's cycling I want to escape, run away as hard & fast as possible - but the moment I see any of his 'normal' self I am butter on a hot stove. Even when it is only a peek into his normal self. This was one of the biggest reason I fought for him to come home. As it would have been so easy to walk away in the midst of the pain - but I knew/know one day this other man will emerge and my backbone will crumble. Whenever this 'normal' personality is here it's like I forget all the pain so quickly and do not revisit it again until he starts to cycle again.

Thanks,
Bonnie

Oh yeah, Marraige Counceling starts on Thursday!!




Edited 12/30/2005 4:17 pm ET by firstglimpse



"Only when we are sick of our sickness shall we cease to be sick."

~ Lao-Tzu, from The Tao Te Cheng
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Registered: 05-22-2004
Fri, 12-30-2005 - 5:19pm

Hi Bonnie,

I don't know what to say about the anti-p., but my DH was taking one, but now he's not. He is on a mood stabilizer, and a AD, which I really think the AD has done the most for him. When he was on the AP, he felt kind of "out of it", those are his words, now he feels great.

He can remember everything from his manic times, but he says that it doesn't seem like him, but a different person, and some things he is not proud of doing, and can't believe he did what he did, but he remembers everything though.

Don't know if this helps you or not, but I really think it is so important that your DH get on a AD. It think it would really help him. I know exactly what you mean about forgetting about the bad times when the good times are happening!!!

Take care, and Happy New Year!
Lori

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Registered: 04-07-2002
Fri, 12-30-2005 - 5:40pm

Antipsychotics can be part of the daily cocktail and should be in many cases. I have almost always taken an AP with my stabilizers. In my experience, though, the so-called atypicals like Geodon and Zyprexa are the ones to go for, not the old-fashioned ones that leave you stoned all the time and cause weight gain (I take Geodon, which is probably safer than Zyprexa).

And, in any mood episode, you can forget quite a bit. I remember very little of what went on during my major episodes. For the times I was on good meds, though, my memory is quite sharp. I'd say be patient and look for the right treatment to come along.

In the meantime, {{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}

Express!
Beth "Petrouchka"

Avatar for lizmc3
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Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 12-30-2005 - 7:07pm
I've been on medications for bipolar for over 10 years. Many different ones. I've always blamed my poor memory on them. It's more of a shorter term memory problem than anything else I think. I used to be pretty sharp but find it hard to focus on old thoughts/memories/feelings. I have to write stuff down all the time and put stuff on post it notes. I sometimes wonder if it would be worth it to get of all these meds to be able to remember stuff again.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Tue, 01-03-2006 - 7:51am

Sometimes a/ps need to be a part of the medication cocktail permanently. It all depends on the person.

As for me, yes, I've forgotten some of the things I've done while manic...but they come back like a flashback many times and trigger me. Watch for that. It causes me to get depressed.

I don't take an a/p currently, but I needed them (Seroquel for a long time) to keep me sane. Literally. I hated it, hate hate hate hate it! But I had no choice at the time.

It definitely slows you down...its the purpose of the med. Once your dh can get with a good pdoc, they can try others. For now, stay on it. Coming off it, and being on an a/d could trigger mania.

As for the OW, don't think he's forgotten all about it, or is not mourning it. I did, but very very quietly. He's trying, and that's what matters.

Hugs,

Keli