#1 Find Medications that Work for You-with Limited Side Effects
For many people with bipolar disorder, discovering the right combination of medications is the most difficult and frustrating part of treating this illness. I know that I spent many years trying to find meds that worked for me and when I did, I became even more effective at managing the illness. It was hard for the people in my life to see what the medications did to my mind and my body as I was trying to find one that worked. It was harder for me to live through it! I’ve now found a medication that works very well for me in certain areas. And believe it or not, I have very few side effects. This can happen for you as well.
Here are tips on how to make the process easier:
- Try Microdosing. Everybody processes medications differently. Our bodies are very individual which is why some people can take a certain drug with no side effects while others, like myself can have every single side effect listed on the drug warnings. There is a way to get around this. My co-author Dr. John Preston introduced me to something called microdosing many years ago. If your body has trouble processing a medication at the recommended dose, you can start with very small doses of the medication (microdosing) so that your body can acclimate to the drug with limited side effects. This is what I did when I started Lamictal- an anti convulsant used to treat depression, rapid cycling and psychosis. It took six months for me to get to the right dose, but for the first time in my life I was able to tolerate a drug. If you’re someone who has a lot of trouble with side effects, make sure you talk to your doctor about microdosing.
- Understand the Medications You’re Taking. I remember being on six medications when I was first diagnosed. I had no idea what they were for. I just know that they all seemed to make me more ill than I was before I took the medications. This was because my doctor kept trying new medications – one on top of the other -instead of working with me to find what really worked. I would never go through this now. I know too much about medications and know what questions to ask. It’s important that people with bipolar disorder as well as the people in their lives understand exactly why a certain medication is used.There are four classifications of medications you need to understand:
Mood Stabilizers — in general terms these include lithium and the anticonvulsant medications such as Depakote, Tegretol and Lamictal. These are the first medications used when a person is diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
Antidepressants: Prozac, Effexor, Zoloft, and Wellbutrin are commonly used antidepressants . The most important thing to remember is that antidepressants are not a first-line treatment for bipolar disorder. In fact, they need to be used very carefully as they can cause mania and rapid cycling. If you’re on an antidepressant and have trouble with mania or rapid cycling, you must talk with your doctor about the mania.
Anti psychotics: Zyprexa, Risperidone , Seroquel and Abilify are commonly used anti psychotics. There is often a lot of confusion around antipsychotics as people with bipolar disorder are not always educated to the fact that most people with the illness have psychosis! These drugs are life savers for people with severe mood swings as they not only suppress psychosis, but can also keep a person out of a dangerous depression or manic episode.
Anti anxiety: And finally, there are the benzodiazepines (anti-anxiety medications) such as Klonopin, Valium and Ativan. I know that Ativan is a lifesaver for me. Unfortunately, these drugs can be addictive which is why the amount prescribed is often limited.
If you are on any or all of these medications, you need to know why. If you’re a family member or friend, and you suspect that the person you care about is on the wrong medications, educate yourself so that you can ask the right questions and get them the help they need. My co-author Dr. John Preston has written a fantastic book called The Medical Treatment of Bipolar Disorder that covers the medications used to treat bipolar disorder in detail. It’s available at bipolarhappens.com. I feel that all people with the illness as well as their family members need this book. It answers all of the questions that doctors don’t have time to answer. Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder also has an entire chapter devoted to medication and side effect management.
- Reduce symptoms naturally. I found that the best way to live with bipolar disorder medications is to take as few as possible with the smallest doses possible. I’m not saying that you should decide what dosage to take. I’m saying that the more you can reduce symptoms naturally, the less medications you will need. This is the entire goal of The Health Cards. The more I can control my symptoms on my own, the less need there is for heavy doses of medications. This naturally leads to less side effects.
- Keep Trying. I found a medication that worked for me on my 23rd try. Hopefully you will not have to go through this! But I’m so thankful that I kept searching for something that would work. Doctors are so much more informed these days. They seem to understand that side effects are not something we can simply live with. Drug companies are working on creating medications with less side effects-especially when it comes to weight gain. There will be new medications on the market in the future, so there is always hope that you will find something that works.
One Final Tip:
Accept that medications are the most effective treatment of bipolar disorder symptoms. This may be difficult, especially if you don’t believe in medications or have a lot of trouble with side effects, but facts are facts. People who have the right meds lead more stable lives. All comprehensive plans need medications as a foundation. I’m proof that you can manage the illness without meds, but why do this if you don’t have to? It’s far too difficult with less positive results. Today, medications take care of about 50% of my symptoms when I watch my triggers. I know for sure that my lows are not as low and my highs are not as high because of the Lamictal. This makes it a lot easier for me to manage the remaining symptoms.
Never Give Up! No one really wants to take medications for the rest of their lives. I know that I don’t. But I’m willing to do it. The relief I get from the two medications I can tolerate is a gift. Medications are very large part of my treatment plan, and I know that using them along with my other strategies makes my life a lot more enjoyable and stable. If you struggle, or you know someone who struggles with the reality of medications, just remember my story. It took me years to find a combination of medications that helps manage my symptoms. I honestly didn’t think medications would ever work for me, but I was wrong. Never give up. A Newsletter on Sleep
The next newsletter will explain why regular sleep is so essential to bipolar disorder management. In the next week before you receive the information, watch your sleep patterns – What makes it difficult to sleep? What makes you sleep too much? The newsletter will help you find these answers in depth.
Julie
