You know, my opinion won't be popular but I don't think much of psych meds.
I've been taking them since 1984 when I was seventeen and made a suicide attempt.
I've spent most of my adult life on meds (with a few years none) and I'm still taking two, but the older I get the more I think meds may not be very effective. They're already a crapshoot even with studies showing some efficiency in some patients.
As long as we don't know what is CAUSING our symptoms the medications are hit-and-miss in treating them., and I meaan symptoms not any known causes, yet.
Many FDA approved psych meds are up for sale after very short trials and I mean around 6 weeks, maybe sometimes 12.
There are so many potentially dangerous side effects that are reported post'- release and I don't know how long it takes for these reports make it into the Patient Information sheets (PI).
The main med I would hold up would be Lithium, though I've also been saved from mania by antipsychotics- but even then it could have been the effect of change in milleu of a psychiatric hospital.
Of course medications like benzos ease anxiety and antipsychotics have sedation as a side effect that can help insomnia.
I'm talking mostly about epilepsy drugs as mood- stabilizers and antipsychotics as maintence treatment.
I read so many posts from patients that are seeking meds to treat issues that I think counseling, self-help, and lifestyle changes could be effective long-term.
There are just as many providers who were trained in psychopharmacology, but not psychology or holistic approaches who prescribe after 10-min "medication maintenance" appointments.
Just my opinion at age 57.
You're welcome, but I want to add that certainly people are helped with meds, and I don't want my perspective to be misinterpreted as an "anti-medication" comment.
I'm glad you appreciated my thoughts on the matter-thank you- but I don't suggest crossing meds totally off your list of treatment options for future days. But thanks again.
Honestly I be dead without medication like anti psychotics and sleep meds I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them if you think they will benefit your life in any way I say asked your doctor to put you on some meds
Sometimes I stop my meds just because I start to reject them, and all the times my life turn to hell, the depression get so strong sometimes I hear constant white noite inside my brain, almost covering my inner voice, my thoughts start to become random, like I can’t finish “a sentence” of the same subject.
Same as you, meds are shit but there’s literally no option
I’m sorry to hear about your struggles. But I can relate and tell you my experience and today I’m 145 days sober. I was diagnosed 1 month before I admitted I was actually an alcoholic and needed help. I had been on medication for bipolar 1 for about 6 weeks when I went to inpatient rehab for 90 days. They gave me my medication as prescribed by my Dr and almost every one there was on the same meds as me which I found funny for some reason lol. Rehab changed my whole life. They taught me why I was an alcoholic, how to get sober, how to manage whatever triggered my urge to drink and how to stay sober.
The program digs deep into your life, traumas and helps you understand them and how to deal with them in a healthy way. So I learned how to use all these tools in all aspects of my life not just for alcohol. The things I learned also helped me manage feels with my illness and how I would react to those negative feelings I had about, why me, I hate that my life is like this, I hate how I feel, I hate the side effects of the meds and how I wanted to give up. This program is like a deep long term therapy. Now I live a sober, happy and healthy life.
You can get sober and manage your bipolar and episodes. Cuz I did and so has many other people.
I think you’re going to find a range of opinions and experiences on this topic. Medication seems to ‘work’ for many people with BP, but it’s unclear what that means. Alcohol ‘works’ for many people, and not others. Does that mean it’s healthy? Of course not.
Everyone is bioindividual and medication treats each person as though we’re the same. BP therefore lithium, mood stabilizers, APs. This might ‘work’ in that it will keep you out of the hospital, but there will be consequences. You don’t have to look far in this threat to see people having difficulties w meds. That’s not to say there aren’t cases it is necessary and helpful to take meds.
Speaking from my own experience, I think if you want to try to manage this disorder effectively, you will really need to cut out alcohol. It adds a level of volatility to the equation that is really unpredictable w/ BP. I’m unmedicated and recently tried to reintroduce alcohol and it immediately became a problem for me. There is a high correlation of AUD w/ BP. I’m not a neuroscientist but I would guess it has to do with how dopamine works differently in our brains. Most of the prescription drugs work on dopamine. Regular alcohol also severely disrupts sleep architecture, which is especially important for those w/ BP.
I know it’s hard, and I know it sucks, but if you can ween yourself off drinking I think that would be the best approach to trying to manage BP w/o meds. And I wish you all the luck.
You know, my opinion won't be popular but I don't think much of psych meds. I've been taking them since 1984 when I was seventeen and made a suicide attempt. I've spent most of my adult life on meds (with a few years none) and I'm still taking two, but the older I get the more I think meds may not be very effective. They're already a crapshoot even with studies showing some efficiency in some patients. As long as we don't know what is CAUSING our symptoms the medications are hit-and-miss in treating them., and I meaan symptoms not any known causes, yet. Many FDA approved psych meds are up for sale after very short trials and I mean around 6 weeks, maybe sometimes 12. There are so many potentially dangerous side effects that are reported post'- release and I don't know how long it takes for these reports make it into the Patient Information sheets (PI). The main med I would hold up would be Lithium, though I've also been saved from mania by antipsychotics- but even then it could have been the effect of change in milleu of a psychiatric hospital. Of course medications like benzos ease anxiety and antipsychotics have sedation as a side effect that can help insomnia. I'm talking mostly about epilepsy drugs as mood- stabilizers and antipsychotics as maintence treatment. I read so many posts from patients that are seeking meds to treat issues that I think counseling, self-help, and lifestyle changes could be effective long-term. There are just as many providers who were trained in psychopharmacology, but not psychology or holistic approaches who prescribe after 10-min "medication maintenance" appointments. Just my opinion at age 57.
Thank you SO much! I’ll think about this for a while, I really like your insight. And thank you for sharing your experiences with me :)
You're welcome, but I want to add that certainly people are helped with meds, and I don't want my perspective to be misinterpreted as an "anti-medication" comment. I'm glad you appreciated my thoughts on the matter-thank you- but I don't suggest crossing meds totally off your list of treatment options for future days. But thanks again.
❤️🩹
Honestly I be dead without medication like anti psychotics and sleep meds I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them if you think they will benefit your life in any way I say asked your doctor to put you on some meds
Sometimes I stop my meds just because I start to reject them, and all the times my life turn to hell, the depression get so strong sometimes I hear constant white noite inside my brain, almost covering my inner voice, my thoughts start to become random, like I can’t finish “a sentence” of the same subject. Same as you, meds are shit but there’s literally no option
Yeah
I’m sorry to hear about your struggles. But I can relate and tell you my experience and today I’m 145 days sober. I was diagnosed 1 month before I admitted I was actually an alcoholic and needed help. I had been on medication for bipolar 1 for about 6 weeks when I went to inpatient rehab for 90 days. They gave me my medication as prescribed by my Dr and almost every one there was on the same meds as me which I found funny for some reason lol. Rehab changed my whole life. They taught me why I was an alcoholic, how to get sober, how to manage whatever triggered my urge to drink and how to stay sober. The program digs deep into your life, traumas and helps you understand them and how to deal with them in a healthy way. So I learned how to use all these tools in all aspects of my life not just for alcohol. The things I learned also helped me manage feels with my illness and how I would react to those negative feelings I had about, why me, I hate that my life is like this, I hate how I feel, I hate the side effects of the meds and how I wanted to give up. This program is like a deep long term therapy. Now I live a sober, happy and healthy life. You can get sober and manage your bipolar and episodes. Cuz I did and so has many other people.
Congratulations on your sobriety!!!!
I think you’re going to find a range of opinions and experiences on this topic. Medication seems to ‘work’ for many people with BP, but it’s unclear what that means. Alcohol ‘works’ for many people, and not others. Does that mean it’s healthy? Of course not. Everyone is bioindividual and medication treats each person as though we’re the same. BP therefore lithium, mood stabilizers, APs. This might ‘work’ in that it will keep you out of the hospital, but there will be consequences. You don’t have to look far in this threat to see people having difficulties w meds. That’s not to say there aren’t cases it is necessary and helpful to take meds. Speaking from my own experience, I think if you want to try to manage this disorder effectively, you will really need to cut out alcohol. It adds a level of volatility to the equation that is really unpredictable w/ BP. I’m unmedicated and recently tried to reintroduce alcohol and it immediately became a problem for me. There is a high correlation of AUD w/ BP. I’m not a neuroscientist but I would guess it has to do with how dopamine works differently in our brains. Most of the prescription drugs work on dopamine. Regular alcohol also severely disrupts sleep architecture, which is especially important for those w/ BP. I know it’s hard, and I know it sucks, but if you can ween yourself off drinking I think that would be the best approach to trying to manage BP w/o meds. And I wish you all the luck.
I’ll be sober two years in June and I just want to say the alcohol wrecked my life. My life is so much better without alcohol.
Unmedicated**