I am trying to find the right medication for many disorders please help!???!
Question: I am trying to find the right medication for many disorders please help!!?!?!?
I have bipolar, anixity, major depression, ocd, and adhd (but instead of getting hyper i get very depressed)!. When I was a teenager I was on paxil but I was susidal now i am not, but the mood swings are much worse and uncontrolable!. I have 2 children a 3 yr old and a 2 yr old (who i am STILL going through postpardum depression with)!. my doc tryed putting me on lamictal but it gave me a rash!. i am just starting on topamax and paxil but do not want to continue the pixil because of the withdraws and what i have heard about it!. any suggestions!?!?!?Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
First allow me to say that I am not a health professional; but I am a well informed consumer!. I would encourage you to become as informed as possible yourself!. I share your diagnoses with the exception of OCD and ADHD!. As far as the Lamictal is concerned, it's good you stopped!. A rash can be very serious!. I've never taken Topomax but from what I've read, it's one of many anti-seizure meds out there which target specific neuroreceptors!. Hopefully Topamax is working for you!. It sounds as though your doctor has prescribed it to prevent mania on the bipolar spectrum!. This is important because certain antidepressants, including Paxil, can trigger mania if used alone without a mood stabilizer!. I have never taken Paxil, but I have read that it is prescribed for patients with depressive disorders as well as anxiety and OCD!. If I were you, I would not worry about the withdrawal at this time!. Withdrawal off of almost any medication for a mental disorder should be done carefully, slowly, and under the care of your health provider!. I would add that there are many medications out there which can potentially help with all of your complaints; perhaps helping more than one disorder in one pill, perhaps just one for one!. Don't be afraid of taking a combination of many medications!. And don't be discouraged if it takes a while to find the right ones for you!. It takes time, particularly if you suffer from more than one diagnosis!. A good health care provider will go over all of the options with you and explain the logic behind their gameplan!.
*I'd like to note that as far as I know through my own studies, Topamax is not a front-line medication used for Bipolar Disorder!. Typically, these 'atypical' medications may be used in combination with one or more of the front-line mood stabilizers such as Lamictal, Lithium, or Depakote!. It may be worth discussing this with your physician!.
I can tell you that I am currently stable while taking a combination of meds:
Lamictal as my front line mood stabilizer
Seroquel as my atypical adjunct to the Lamictal (because this drug targets a different group of receptors and Lamictal takes a while to work)
Prozac: a SSRI antidepressant
Wellbutrin: another antidepressant to join up with the Prozac because it targets different receptors and is more 'activating'!. It also helps me keep away from the cigarettes!.
Klonopin: for anxiety
Please keep in mind that I'm learning about this, myself!. I would welcome any input or criticism from you or other readers!.
I have learned from a wonderful book called "The Noonday Demon - An Atlas of Depression" by Andrew Solomon, NOT to plan on going off of my meds when I feel better!. The brain is plastic, but we still have a lot to learn about how well it can repair itself and make new connections!. So far as we know at this point, it is very dangerous for a person with mental illness to go off of their meds!. So, please be careful about dropping the Paxil!. At the very least, discuss an alternative (or alternatives) with your doctor!.
Best of luck!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
*I'd like to note that as far as I know through my own studies, Topamax is not a front-line medication used for Bipolar Disorder!. Typically, these 'atypical' medications may be used in combination with one or more of the front-line mood stabilizers such as Lamictal, Lithium, or Depakote!. It may be worth discussing this with your physician!.
I can tell you that I am currently stable while taking a combination of meds:
Lamictal as my front line mood stabilizer
Seroquel as my atypical adjunct to the Lamictal (because this drug targets a different group of receptors and Lamictal takes a while to work)
Prozac: a SSRI antidepressant
Wellbutrin: another antidepressant to join up with the Prozac because it targets different receptors and is more 'activating'!. It also helps me keep away from the cigarettes!.
Klonopin: for anxiety
Please keep in mind that I'm learning about this, myself!. I would welcome any input or criticism from you or other readers!.
I have learned from a wonderful book called "The Noonday Demon - An Atlas of Depression" by Andrew Solomon, NOT to plan on going off of my meds when I feel better!. The brain is plastic, but we still have a lot to learn about how well it can repair itself and make new connections!. So far as we know at this point, it is very dangerous for a person with mental illness to go off of their meds!. So, please be careful about dropping the Paxil!. At the very least, discuss an alternative (or alternatives) with your doctor!.
Best of luck!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
My first suggestion!.!.!.!.sit up straight with your feet on the floor and take several slow deep breaths in and out :-)
I'm going to try to sort this out for you a little bit!.
-major depressive episodes are part of the bipolar disorder
-you probably have ADD - inattentive type (instead of ADHD)
- OCD is a type of anxiety disorder (you could also have something like panic disorder or generalized anxiety disorder)
-it is very common to have more than one psych diagnosis and many overlap
-ADD often leads to depression
-ADD and BP can be hard to distinguish from one another
-being bipolar, you are possibly more vulnerable to post-partum depression than somebody without a history of mood disorder!.
-anxiety is extremely commonly associated with both mood disorders and ADD
**********************************
You've got to get this under control, for your sake and your kids sake!. It isn't easy, meds aren't fun, but this can be done!. You must be open to trying different things in order to find what works for you personally!.
Withdrawal from meds like Paxil are not a big deal if you are weaned off slowly!.
Paxil can be very helpful for OCD and other anxiety, as well as depression!.
With BP they will most likely never have you on an antidepressant without a mood stabilizer (which topamax is)!. I recently heard something about that particular medication not being effective in bipolar patients if it is not combined with an antidepressant!. I dont have the source in front of me though, so don't quote me on that one!.
The BP needs to be stabilized before the ADD is addressed (if they are thinking stimulant)
If the paxil did not work when you were a teenager, tell your doctor that!. There are many antidepressants to choose from!.
If you are uncomfortable with anything, bring it up to your doctor!. I can not stress the importance of this enough!. You are a partner with your dr in your treatment!. It is your body and you have a right to speak up, be heard, and have all questions answered!.
There are other classes of meds that your doctor may want to try!.!.!.such as antipsychotics (I know they sound awful, but they are actually very useful medications and are often added to other meds while treating BP)!.
Do not go by what worked or didn't work for other people!. Your body has a unique chemistry and the only way to find what works or doesnt, for you personally, is through trial and error!. Medication management is an ongoing thing, but absolutely crucial if you hope to obtain and maintain stability!.
I have BP (heavy on the depression), ADHD, generalized anxiety disorder & a few others thrown in for good measure :-)
I've been on almost 20 different meds and right now seem to have hit on a good combination for me:
Wellbutrin XL (atypical antidepressant), Seroquel (antipsychotic), Adderall (stimulant), Lamictal (mood stabilizer), and Ativan (anti-anxiety)!. Even though it is working, my doctor and I constantly monitor and frequently make adjustments!. I am very much of the belief that taking the lowest effective dose is always a good idea!.
You may not need so many!.!.!.or you may!.!.!.but it's very important to be open to doing whatever you need to do in order to be well!.
I wish you luck, peace of mind, and happiness!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I'm going to try to sort this out for you a little bit!.
-major depressive episodes are part of the bipolar disorder
-you probably have ADD - inattentive type (instead of ADHD)
- OCD is a type of anxiety disorder (you could also have something like panic disorder or generalized anxiety disorder)
-it is very common to have more than one psych diagnosis and many overlap
-ADD often leads to depression
-ADD and BP can be hard to distinguish from one another
-being bipolar, you are possibly more vulnerable to post-partum depression than somebody without a history of mood disorder!.
-anxiety is extremely commonly associated with both mood disorders and ADD
**********************************
You've got to get this under control, for your sake and your kids sake!. It isn't easy, meds aren't fun, but this can be done!. You must be open to trying different things in order to find what works for you personally!.
Withdrawal from meds like Paxil are not a big deal if you are weaned off slowly!.
Paxil can be very helpful for OCD and other anxiety, as well as depression!.
With BP they will most likely never have you on an antidepressant without a mood stabilizer (which topamax is)!. I recently heard something about that particular medication not being effective in bipolar patients if it is not combined with an antidepressant!. I dont have the source in front of me though, so don't quote me on that one!.
The BP needs to be stabilized before the ADD is addressed (if they are thinking stimulant)
If the paxil did not work when you were a teenager, tell your doctor that!. There are many antidepressants to choose from!.
If you are uncomfortable with anything, bring it up to your doctor!. I can not stress the importance of this enough!. You are a partner with your dr in your treatment!. It is your body and you have a right to speak up, be heard, and have all questions answered!.
There are other classes of meds that your doctor may want to try!.!.!.such as antipsychotics (I know they sound awful, but they are actually very useful medications and are often added to other meds while treating BP)!.
Do not go by what worked or didn't work for other people!. Your body has a unique chemistry and the only way to find what works or doesnt, for you personally, is through trial and error!. Medication management is an ongoing thing, but absolutely crucial if you hope to obtain and maintain stability!.
I have BP (heavy on the depression), ADHD, generalized anxiety disorder & a few others thrown in for good measure :-)
I've been on almost 20 different meds and right now seem to have hit on a good combination for me:
Wellbutrin XL (atypical antidepressant), Seroquel (antipsychotic), Adderall (stimulant), Lamictal (mood stabilizer), and Ativan (anti-anxiety)!. Even though it is working, my doctor and I constantly monitor and frequently make adjustments!. I am very much of the belief that taking the lowest effective dose is always a good idea!.
You may not need so many!.!.!.or you may!.!.!.but it's very important to be open to doing whatever you need to do in order to be well!.
I wish you luck, peace of mind, and happiness!.Www@Answer-Health@Com