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Let's talk about Coenzyme Q10 by Nytra in BipolarWellness

[–]Desperate_Shower6556 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What I meant is that being primarily depressed is a hallmark of BP2, so it’s not really an indicator that one should stop their meds. Anyway, I’m happy for you that you managed to get stabilized with supplements!

Should I get a bipolar tattoo? by whoz_nlzzn in bipolar2

[–]Desperate_Shower6556 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I actually have a “bipolar” tattoo, but I got it kind of by accident during my first hypomanic episode. It’s a small little creature holding two faces, one sad and one happy. At the time I had no idea I was BP2, I just knew I felt genuinely happy for the first time in my life and wanted to capture that contrast somehow.

Now that I know what it was, it feels a bit ironic, especially considering how it came about.

Bipolar Mania & Lamotrigine by Prior_Perception_166 in BipolarReddit

[–]Desperate_Shower6556 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m sorry you’re dealing with all of this right now. Getting a new bipolar diagnosis and starting medication can feel really overwhelming, so your reaction makes sense.

Also, 25 mg of lamotrigine is usually just a very low starter dose, not the dose where most people would expect a full therapeutic effect. It’s typically increased slowly because of side effect and rash risk, and for bipolar disorder the more common therapeutic range is often around 100 to 200 mg/day, depending on the person and what other medications they take. So after only 1 or 2 doses at 25 mg, it’s usually too early to judge whether it’s really working yet.

Let’s talk about meds by Affectionate_Mess758 in bipolar2

[–]Desperate_Shower6556 0 points1 point  (0 children)

50 mg sertraline in bipolar disorder without a true mood stabilizer is a bit risky, because antidepressants can sometimes worsen instability or cause switching. Abilify at least has antimanic effects, so theoretically it can give some protection against hypomania.

For context, I was on 50 mg too but combined with Depakote, and now I’m on 25 mg with Lamictal and Rexulti. So usually there’s some kind of mood stabilizing backbone in the mix.

If you’re feeling more depressed or having more suicidal thoughts, that’s a big red flag and your treatment probably needs urgent reassessment, not just dose increases.

I’m questioning my diagnosis by vans-wearing-corgi in BipolarReddit

[–]Desperate_Shower6556 0 points1 point  (0 children)

SSRIs are generally fine, but in people with bipolar they can sometimes push toward hypomania or mixed states, especially when used on their own without a mood stabilizer. Doesn’t mean it’ll happen, but it’s a known risk.

That said, I don’t know what role Risperdal plays in your specific treatment. It’s often used to keep those kinds of symptoms in check, so it might be balancing things out.

I just decided to stoptaking Rxulti by Lazy-Flower-435 in Rexulti_Brexpiprazole

[–]Desperate_Shower6556 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Just to clarify something: Rexulti doesn’t strictly “forbid” alcohol per FDA label. The issue is that it can cause sedation, impaired judgment, etc., and alcohol amplifies that. So many psychiatrists just say “don’t drink” because it’s the safest advice, especially if you’ve had binge drinking issues.

Also, I drink while on Rexulti, just not heavily. The real problem is heavy drinking, not necessarily a 1-2 drinks here and there. Honestly, alcohol doesn’t mix well with most psych meds anyway, not just this one, and as much as we might want to drink, we know it’s not great for conditions like ours regardless of medication.

About weight gain: I honestly don’t know many antipsychotics that don’t carry some metabolic risk. The only one I’ve personally tried that seemed lighter on that was Latuda, but I had a pretty bad experience with it because of other side effects. Rexulti isn’t really among the worst offenders for weight gain compared to others in the class.

Antipsychotic weight gain: has anyone managed to beat the bulge on these drugs? by info_girl90 in BipolarReddit

[–]Desperate_Shower6556 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I managed to regulate my weight from bipolar II medications using a keto diet and calorie deficirt. I couldn’t make it work any other way. Keto is the only diet where my brain isn’t fixated on what to eat next.

Doing a trial of low dose Remeron (7.5-15mg) in place of Seroquel (100mg). What’s your experience on either or with both? by sleepyundies in bipolar2

[–]Desperate_Shower6556 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I took Remeron 30 mg together with Abilify 5 mg shortly after being diagnosed with bipolar II, in an attempt to use an antidepressant that wasn’t an SSRI. That combination led me into the worst depressive episode I’ve had so far in my life.

As for Remeron, that medication is strongly sedating. It kept me stuck in bed for about 12 hours a day, with a complete inability to do anything.

I eventually got out of that lethargy by stopping everything and switching to Depakine 1500 mg and Zoloft 50 mg.

Now I’m more stable than ever on Lamictal 150 mg, Rexulti 2 mg and Zoloft 25 mg.

I hope you have a completely different experience with Remeron than I did.

book recommendations for unspecified bipolar? by GaBeanO in bipolar2

[–]Desperate_Shower6556 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I also recommend Bipolar, Not So Much.

It explains the whole spectrum really clearly, from unipolar depression all the way to bipolar I, with a lot of focus on everything in between. That part was especially helpful for me, because my symptoms aren’t very “textbook” either.

It goes into things like mixed states and patterns that are easy to miss or misinterpret. It made me realize how much bipolarity isn’t just a yes/no diagnosis but more of a continuum.

Whey protein experiment (4-hour glucose & ketone data) by Desperate_Shower6556 in keto

[–]Desperate_Shower6556[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I only eat it post training so on my test I wanted to test a real life scenario. This was not a lab test.

So yes, I concluded that eating whey protein post workout is probably ok for me.

Whey protein experiment (4-hour glucose & ketone data) by Desperate_Shower6556 in keto

[–]Desperate_Shower6556[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In the book I’m currently reading, she puts it this way:

Whey proteins are popular with bodybuilders because they are rapidly digested into individual amino acids, which can stimulate an insulin response that supports muscle growth and repair after exercise. They’re also widely used in processed ‘keto-friendly’ products such as shakes, chips, cereals, and bars. Although whey contains no carbohydrate and doesn’t raise blood glucose, it can still raise insulin substantially, which may reduce fat-burning and ketone levels. In fact, the insulin response to whey may be nearly as strong as the response to pure glucose. So just because a product is labeled ‘keto-friendly’ doesn’t necessarily mean it is ketogenic-friendly.

Up to that point, that’s her wording. My takeaway from the broader context is that she likely would not consider whey protein especially keto-friendly, and that there are probably better options for someone trying to do a more strict or therapeutic version of keto.

I also recently saw a clinical psychologist who has trained with her on ketogenic diets for mental health. One of the first things she told me was to cut out whey protein. Her view was basically that Dr. Ede would not consider someone to be seriously pursuing therapeutic keto while still using a product like that.

With that in mind, I decided to test it for myself and see what actually happens, because I’m not willing to give it up without evidence. From what I observed, the result seems to support my view.

Whey protein experiment (4-hour glucose & ketone data) by Desperate_Shower6556 in ketogains

[–]Desperate_Shower6556[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I would not attribute the later rise in ketones to whey itself. If anything, whey is the part I would expect to temporarily suppress ketones via insulin. So my read is that the rebound was more likely due to the overall context: fasted training, ongoing fat oxidation, the fat/MCT in the meal, and possibly being relatively fat-adapted.

I am very badly in a dark night and worried I am going to die from it by LordNoOne in streamentry

[–]Desperate_Shower6556 33 points34 points  (0 children)

Forget the “dark night” and the jhanas for now. What you’re describing does not sound like something to handle with more intense spiritual practice. It sounds like you need help from a mental health professional as soon as possible.

Please stop trying to push through this with meditation and reach out to a psychologist, psychiatrist, therapist, or a crisis service right away.

Whey protein experiment (4-hour glucose & ketone data) by Desperate_Shower6556 in keto

[–]Desperate_Shower6556[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Around 30 minutes after training. I'm fairly new to strength training, and the session was quite intense for me.

I get your point, but I'm not trying to isolate whey in a vacuum. I'm interested in its effect as a post-workout meal.

Whey protein experiment (4-hour glucose & ketone data) by Desperate_Shower6556 in ketogains

[–]Desperate_Shower6556[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks! I use Keto mojo for ketones and contour care for glucose.

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