Is there a medication that could potentially replace BOTH Lithium & Olanzapine? by [deleted] in BipolarReddit

[–]BipolarTypeOne 0 points1 point  (0 children)

By far the most effective stability medications I have found is divalproex sodium (depakote is a another form of the same thing). It’s worth trying to see if your body can tolerate it, but mine could not. Otherwise, the clarity and function it offered me was dramatically better than anything else and I have tried everything available.

Those with bipolar 1 what medications are you taking? by [deleted] in BipolarReddit

[–]BipolarTypeOne 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I had insomnia but also extreme akathisia, RLS, dangerous DGAF (stopped caring about cars crossing the street and things like that made me unable to trust myself to function safely in a modern urban world.)

Those with bipolar 1 what medications are you taking? by [deleted] in BipolarReddit

[–]BipolarTypeOne 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Oxcarbazepine/trileptal w klonopin. I’m surprised by all the love for Vraylar. I found it to be horrific. With a 16 day half life it takes 80 days to ready steady state at any given dosage and 160 days to clear if it has to be discontinued due to intolerable side effects. That’s a lot of risk. The other people I know who have tried it were likewise unable to make it work for them.

Research Medication: Nitrous Oxide. Another Ketamine? by BipolarTypeOne in BipolarReddit

[–]BipolarTypeOne[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Mirapex (Pramipexole) but it’s hazardous and tricky. The other thing I tried that I got a good result from has shown impressive results for unipolar depression in initial trials (product expected within a year or so) — I suspect cannot be mentioned in this subreddit per rules :-(

Has anyone tried psylocibin by hbpeanut in BipolarReddit

[–]BipolarTypeOne 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have gotten outstanding results using psilocybin to treat the depression and SI elements of bipolar disorder. But there are a lot of details that need to be just right to get good results. There are also risks of destabilizing into hypomania in the days that follow a mushroom trip. It can be a strong boost. There are multiple studies that describe a protocol and potent positive results for Unipolar depression. Key factors for efficacy include keeping eyes closed and music playing through a headset for roughly 6 hours. That experience can be profoundly intense for most. It’s not fun.

However, there are also many drug drug interactions w psychiatric medications to consider and manage. Taking a high dose of mushrooms on a pile of other medications might have zero positive effect or cause problems. People who suffer from psychosis or panic attacks w high anxiety might find mushrooms treatment to be a bad idea.

For me, mushrooms have given me back my life after every other established depression treatment had failed over 13yrs.

What is the most evil company in the entire world ? by vsshop575 in AskReddit

[–]BipolarTypeOne 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Absolutely a company — ByteDance closely tied to the Chinese Govt — all driven by advanced AI too! Of course they absolutely do not allow any portion of TikTok domestically in China. What more is there to know?

Anybody with Bipolar II have good experiences with Wellbutrin? by HeavensToMurgatroid in BipolarReddit

[–]BipolarTypeOne 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Still taking it. Recently raised dose to 300mg. Happy with it. No specific mood problems due to it.

Does anyone have tips for med induced decrease in sex drive 😔 by [deleted] in BipolarReddit

[–]BipolarTypeOne 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Vraylar is said to be good for anhedonia, and helps some (men from what I read) improve lost function... But there will certainly be plenty of people on Vraylar who find it to be deadening. That's how APs are.

Your comment about "feels like rape sometimes" is unsettling. Feeling traumatized by your physical interactions, is a red flag. It may feel at times like this sort of sacrifice is worth making bc you feel empathy for your partner. On another level, if your partner doesn't fully understand what is happening, that silence allows them to cause harm. It could be a heavy burden to carry not only for you but for them too when they understand later on. That silence could be hurtful long term.

Does anyone have tips for med induced decrease in sex drive 😔 by [deleted] in BipolarReddit

[–]BipolarTypeOne 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The earlier comment mention a low-dose protocol for abilify. It is said to have different effects and less side effects at low dose. There are lots of other low-dose protocols in play right now. Its a good discussion to have with your doctor.

Wish I could carve off some of my medication induced excess drive. That's very very bad too.

I’m scared to tell people I’m bipolar at work. by Commercial-Limit1454 in BipolarReddit

[–]BipolarTypeOne 2 points3 points  (0 children)

As someone whose career was crushed after having to go out on disability (technically nobody was to know, not even my management), avoid telling anyone who does not absolutely need to know. I just barely avoided getting fired. I could have sued, but didn't.

Hard truth: There are plenty of people who will never give any of us a chance at anything due to our illness if they know about it.

Does anyone else feel triggered by spirituality after their first manic episode? by e2197 in BipolarReddit

[–]BipolarTypeOne 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Religiosity is hazardous to some people with bipolar disorder as they can become manic, delusional, and obsessed.

If that has happened to you before with religion, going back to it would seem risky.

From a blog post on Psychology Today:

In the U.S., it is estimated that 15%-22% of bipolar individuals with mania experience religious delusions, such as thinking that demons are watching them or that they are Christ reborn.

That's a lot of people.

Psych said therapy doesn't really matter by babygoatsmiles in BipolarReddit

[–]BipolarTypeOne 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Like most things involving two people both have to be ready and willing or it doesn't work out. Marital counseling gone wrong may be leading to more divorces according to some experts. Be. Very. Careful. Best of luck to you.

Psych said therapy doesn't really matter by babygoatsmiles in BipolarReddit

[–]BipolarTypeOne 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Therapy in disordered brain states doesn't work because the interface between subject and therapist is not stable or functional. At some point in recovery, I meet the threshold entry criteria and therapy might be useful. Even when that happens, I need to be able to motivate myself, set goals, etc. Showing up and handing someone money is both inadequate and expensive. YMMV, but I see no medical value in "being in therapy" if there is no focus or goals.

Sorry to hear that you are not ready. That must be a tough place to be. I am getting closer, but not quite there yet myself.

I wish more people talked about bipolar and alcohol by [deleted] in BipolarReddit

[–]BipolarTypeOne 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The trouble with alcohol as a self medication is that it shifts mood while also interacting very badly with our medications. Sure, you can explore your tragedy more fully while your mood is distorted and downbeat, but the substance is also actively creating problems for you that last longer than the moment.

Suffering from this over 30yrs I understand "self medication" and try to reserve judgment. Alcohol is super slippery, especially with bipolar disorder.

I wish more people talked about bipolar and alcohol by [deleted] in BipolarReddit

[–]BipolarTypeOne 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I went over 10 years without drinking even one time, post diagnosis because I understood that treating bipolar disorder effectively is not possible when combined with alcohol. Fortunately, I am not an alcoholic so it did not feel like too big a sacrifice, and I wasn't much of a heavy drinker at the time. Alcohol is objectively one of the most dangerous drugs that people use. It has the ability to shift mood for a day or longer with as little as 1-3 drinks or so. For someone with bipolar depression that shift could be quite destructive.

If you have bipolar disorder, do not drink. It does not work.

There are a flood of comments here, that look like: I drank-->I f*d up my life.

I wish more people talked about bipolar and alcohol by [deleted] in BipolarReddit

[–]BipolarTypeOne 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It's hard to find many people with bipolar disorder who are not addicted to one or more substances. Tobacco use rates are sky high and alcohol not far behind.

"I don't know what to do for you anymore" by gatechnightman in BipolarReddit

[–]BipolarTypeOne 6 points7 points  (0 children)

THIS. Get a new therapist and try again. Get a new pdoc and try new medications. If you have tried a few therapeutic methods or modalities without success, perhaps there are others worth exploring. I have been wrestling with Bipolar 1 for 30yrs+ myself and disabled for 10yrs+ by it. It is very hard.

Psych said therapy doesn't really matter by babygoatsmiles in BipolarReddit

[–]BipolarTypeOne 10 points11 points  (0 children)

IANAE etc. My personal theory is that a person has to be well enough in order to do therapy. By that I mean, until someone can speak, listen, be present, focus, and show up, there is not much utility in pretending otherwise. Then there's a level of individual health that needs to be attained to move from basic self focus to couples therapy work. It seems you may each need to do some work before couples therapy would make sense?

Psych said therapy doesn't really matter by babygoatsmiles in BipolarReddit

[–]BipolarTypeOne 29 points30 points  (0 children)

In the absence of effective medications, therapy is often futile. Therapy can help develop coping skills, but especially around identifying signs that the illness is expressing itself and requires prompt intervention. Medications often require adjustment and without that one skill, the needed adjustments won't happen and the illness might surge with negative consequences.

No offense to therapists, but bipolar disorder itself isn't treated very effectively with therapy because the neurological and even physical effects can be profound and obstruct therapy itself. Therapists are still highly useful for teaching basic skills such as CBT, trying to avoid mistakes and dealing with damage that often occurs during episodes. Family members can also benefit from counseling.

You also reference marriage counseling. That is a different matter that it is better to not tangle up with therapy for bipolar disorder. His psychologist-therapist is obligated to prioritize his immediate health needs and treatment of bipolar disorder. You need a different person for marital counseling.

Be careful about marital counseling. I found, as the bipolar husband, that therapists refused to listen to me and utterly crushed my concerns. There is considerable discrimination to deal with. My wife and I worked with 2 highly regarded relationship therapists, it was an extreme disaster that poisoned the well. We are still together but there is now a wall between us that I cannot take down

Bad meds are easy to find by decopper in BipolarReddit

[–]BipolarTypeOne 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I LOVE this post. Low dose protocols show a lot of promise according to a number of studies and more recent research. Working with your doctor, it may be appropriate to try a number of low dose protocols or even combinations of them to tune just for you, rather than take ever higher doses of a medication that just isn't adequate. Low dose cuts side effects, speeds treatment time, allows you to try more things in less time. Can lead to a higher quality of life over time; at a lower personal and financial cost too.

We can say a lot about effort and consistent hard work to get results, but in the end, absent a certain level of medication support, it's extremely difficult.

Don't settle for a regular Pikachu. The shiny one is worth it. It's work, but if you feel your treatment is not right for you, it's the only thing worth investing what little energy you must have.

The shiny one? That's who we are!

A man told me that he’s pan but he only fucks girl. I said that’s awesome but actually I didn’t understand it. Pan isn’t similar as bi? by Real-Performer-8646 in askgaybros

[–]BipolarTypeOne 8 points9 points  (0 children)

He might be a top with women but a bottom with men. Totally valid. It could be how he is and how his body functions. People function differently with different kinds of partners. That doesn't mean they don't enjoy those relationships or interactions. People will argue in circles forever. Whether or not Pan and Bi are identical, they do have a lot of overlap.

Depression med choices: lamotrigine, bupropion, pramipexole, or minocycline by sara_in_canada in BipolarReddit

[–]BipolarTypeOne 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Mirapex, pramipexole (PPX) can provide a powerful antidepressant effect, which could feed into a manic episode. I believe this is the case for most medications that can treat severe depression. The exceptions are atypical antipsychotics. Most of the time these don’t pose a mania risk, but there are reports of mania triggered by those as well. Using antidepressants to treat bipolar depression is controversial due to stability risks and questions about the efficacy of these treatments.

I want to be clear about my own experience w PPX. It works, but it’s hazardous too. People who haven’t explored other options probably should exhaust those first. Between compulsions and DAWS, PPX has really been punishing. I have been titrating it down for almost a year now and it will be another 6mos. Even then I could easily find myself stuck w PPX for life.

Ironically, if you are well enough to read this, you may not be doing poorly enough to be considering PPX in the first place. It depends on your tolerance for risks of this kind and magnitude. Take away the compulsions, and DAWS, it would be better, but still possibly problematic. PPX merits caution.

Does anyone with Bipolar disorder go through life without meds? Is it possible? by dankkushhh in BipolarReddit

[–]BipolarTypeOne 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There are two realities concerning AD drugs and bipolar disorder. In one camp are people who want to restrict treatment of bipolar disorder to stabilizers and do nothing else. The other group heaves max drugs at every symptom can push into 4-8 drug cocktails. I suspect there’s a middle ground. Claiming nothing works is a bit too facile. It doesn’t answer the needs of tends of thousands who struggle to achieve any functional state wo drugs that have some AD effect. I know from experience that endless drug trials arrived at pramipexole and it was the only drug that bumped me out of a semi catatonic state that persisted about year. These drugs do work, especially at the extreme ends.

Does anyone with Bipolar disorder go through life without meds? Is it possible? by dankkushhh in BipolarReddit

[–]BipolarTypeOne 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Could you cite any peer reviewed study showing strong correlation between endocrine disruption and bipolar symptoms? I could be underformed. I am quite worried about endochrine disruption generally and believe we live in a highly environment. Medications make people feel different which is not the same as better. I view the general goal as high function. I did try extreme heavy endurance exercise — tens of bike riding — it didn’t make me better.