My husband starts to feel good and he makes adjustments of his medications. Taking half his lithium or halve his paxil or both.

He goes into an episode, but does not feel depressed. He just makes everyone around him crazy with his brilliant ideas.

Dave, I’ve long realised that I have to strictly control my regimen of medications (I suffer schizophrenia but it has the same necessities as bipolar). My ‘normal’ daily routine means that I take my daytime meds at night and vice versa, you see I do street and online ministry during the night and sleep during the day.
I remain episode free but unfortunately because I also have developed a malignant brain tumour I sometimes find myself admitted to hospital (although my doctor now accepts that I do NOT wish any more treatment for cancer). This is where the trouble always begins.
You see I find stress is a major trigger to my episodes, and hospital is a major stress point for me. Why? Because even though my doctors detail my medication schedules on the admittance chart, hospital staff will not give me the correct dosages of medication at the times I’m used to. I’ve been told that a delay of 8 hours wouldn’t be enough to cause an episode, but I know that when I am highly stressed my medication is metabolised differently or sometimes not at all, so it hasn’t the desired effect. Not surprisingly within a day I find myself battling episodes and unfortunately as I’m listed as a ‘psycho’ (as I noted on my chart the last time) they take no notice of my asking for my medication to be given as directed by my doctor, instead they start talking of changing this obviously ineffective medication.
Please understand I am not ‘bashing’ doctors, I am complaining about a medical system that does not seem to realise how important keeping to medication schedules is. I’ve not had an episode for over 5 years when I manage my own medication, yet last time I was in hospital for 2 days I had 3 notated episodes because they messed around with my medications.
I know of others in Australia who have suffered similar problems. Yes, it is important that medication for another problem shouldn’t be given (in my case it was an infection), but it is imperative when medication for psychiatric disorders is being used that it be maintained as the patient is used to taking, not as the hospital feels it should be. God bless.

Jim,

I don’t take antidepressants anymore and have never been a big drinker anyway, but once a week usually on a weekend I will have a drink. I can only drink one though as the second just makes me feel sick to my stomach. I have never had any problems with pickng up the habit and if I miss a weekend it is no big deal.

I do know that many people with this illness have had drinking problems and in which case should not ever drink as it becomes a bad habit for them to kick and they don’t know how to say NO after the first drink. (WHICH CAN BE LETHAL to someone on our type of meds) I lost a good friend to this HE WAS ONLY 33 years old.

BP

Dave-My 7 year old son takes 250mg Depakote, 1mg Risperdal. I’ve tried many stimulants to control his hyperactivity and have had no luck (very bad reactions when mixed). For the past 2 1/2 years he’s taken Adderall, but it was stopped when he started the Depakote due to its lessening effects. I just started the Adderall back up again, because his hyperactivity, impulsivity and not being able to focus are getting worse. What types of reactions should I be watching for–negative and positive? Are there any medications that should be tried with the Depakote/Risperdal for such behaviors that don’t have such harsh side effects (i.e. depression, threats of killing himself or others, just a plain mean streak).

Thanks Dave,
My husband will begin Tegretol tomorrow. I’m a little scared and so is he but we know he needs this so much. Hopefully, he can tollerate this and it will help him. Thanks so much for each days notes.

My boyfriend takes his medicine religiously every night. A drink or two every other night doesn’t seem to make any difference. As long as you know when to stop you should be ok. I think when you are on medication the alcohol goes to your head faster than when you’re not. Anything within moderation. Of course it depends on the individual. From my experience I also find that a good square meal before going to the pub helps a lot.

Hi Dave,
Thank you so much for your emails. It has really helped me get an understanding of people with bipolar. My partner of three years over the last few months has been having a major episode. Unfortunately, he refuses to take any bipolar medication whatsoever. Says he’s tried them before, and they all react badly with him and make him worse. Won’t be a medication guinea pig. Only takes valium – sometimes, to take the edge off things. Any suggestions?
Fingers crossed, Lyn

DEAR LINDA:

Your daughter can buy continued health insurance from her past employer through something called COBRA. She should call the human
resource dept. at the last job to ask about it. The problem is that you have to pay for it (and it can be expensive). A point to consider is that it would be MORE expensive if she didn’t take her meds and got into a bad episode and needed to be in the hospital. Hospital bills are HUGELY expensive. Also, everyone should have health insurance; you never know if she’ll get pneumonia or appendicitis or any number of medical emergencies…

If her Dr. and/or therapist feel that your daughter shouldn’t work
for any period of time due to the
stress, she should apply for disability through Social Security right away – the sooner you apply, the sooner it gets approved. Then she’ll have monthly checks coming in. There are lawyers that can help you through this process, but sometimes the doctor will know how to get it going (the Dr. will need to write a letter, anyway, about her condition and why she can’t work).

After being on disability for a while, she’ll be eligible for Medicare, which will help with Dr. bills, hospital stays and meds. There’s a waiting period for this, though, so the sooner
you start the process, the better.

I’ve been on disability for 10 years now; I get monthly checks and I have Medicare, so I can pay my doctor bills and pay less for meds (a LOT less).

In the meantime, the Dr. may want to prescribe a less expensive med
for bipolar (Lithium is very cheap and it works well for me). That’s something to discuss with the Dr.

I hope this helps!!

Good luck, Sue

Dave, This is really one of the great articles… I don’t know that bipolar should be a noose around someone’s neck limiting them from realising their potential IF they manage it properly. I read, for example, that Ted Turner of CNN fame also has the condition. Aside from being good about taking medication, I would really like to understand what other strategies people are using to manage bipolar and, like Turner, realise their full potential

SHINGAI- It pretty much is a noose, and when the last person who cares finally gets pushed too far and leaves, the chair is kicked out. Stay by their side!!!

After being married to my husband for 28 years and living with him for 23 without medication, I really see what a hell he put the children and I through.

Living with a Bipolar without the medication is horrible, not so much the high and low but the attitude they have about life, their family, their whole demeaner stinks to high heaven.

My husband also gave me the crap about “I tried it when I was younger and it did not work”. You need to understand that they feel more alive and in control when flying around and making everyone miserable around them. They like the control trip it puts them on. They love turning everything that happens back on to you somehow. The screw up and it is your fault and you need to apologize to them for whatever the situation is.

Finally his mother and sister hopped on him big time about his behavior and holier than thou attitude. He started his meds and I realized what a nicer marriage we would have had, had he taken responsibility for HIS problem.

my husband is taking symbyax, and he was doing so well for 3 or 4 weeks he didn’t drink beer. then sunday we were at a dinner party and i couldn’t keep him away from the bar! i don’t know how many he had but he’s been a jerk ever since and it’s thurs. he just came home tonight with a case of beer. he left to go pick up dinner and i put it in the freezer! ha ha. but i think i’ll get it out so he doesn’t get incredibly mad. he doesn’t see how he gets when he drinks and he won’t listen to me or anyone else. he thinks it’s fine i don’t know what to do!