should i stay on the meds or not?

before i was started on the meds i was like at a constant 2 out of 10...so pretty shit but i was stable at that point. Since the second week of being on the meds i started having very short manic episodes (like only an hour or two) and then also very severe depressive episodes (i was suicidal) that were also just as short.

I told my nurse that i see every week that i was feeling these side effect and all she said was that i should just hold on untill they start working and the side effects wear off. SO i agreed to stay on the meds. But now the suicidal episodes are becoming longer and i keep coming so close to actually doing something. I'm not sure what to do anymore, whether just to try and stay on the meds and hope this passes or whether i should come off them and go back to square 1. My nurse says that I am the best person to decide this but this is my first time on meds and so i'mnot sure if it will pass or not. if anyone has any thoughts i would really appreciate it.

sorry for the long post

take care xx

Quick question: are you sure that a nurse is the best one to talk to you about going on with these meds or maybe changing them?

My wife's going through this struggle, and she changed meds a number of times. From what you're saying, it appears that you've waited enough. And if you feel that these pills are bad for you, and cause you the suicidal episodes, then I guess that you should just look for something else. There are so many medicines available for this, and some of them are good for some people, while other work for other people, and what's very bad for you can do wonders for somebody else.

I guess a doctor is the best one to advise in this matter, not a nurse, no offence for the nurses out there. There is a reason she is called "a nurse" and not "a doctor".

Do you feel you're worse on the meds than without completely? Do you feel any improvement since you're taking them?

Please know that I have also put myself into the hospital seven times, been through twelve doctors and four suicide attempts. I tell you this so you will know that I have been through the ringer and come out on the back side with great results. My deepest hope is that no one I encounter will have to go through such extremes to find the right med program or doctors for themselves. Bipolar disorder is very tough to treat and there is no easy way around this, no set plan for treatment.

My best advice, only let a psychiatrist prescribe psych meds. Family doctors just don't know enough about this no matter how good their intentions. Keep track of your meds on paper and record good and bad results. If you take a med and you know you are having bad side effects contact your psych doc and discontinue with his/her okay and be willing to try something new. You are the best judge of what the meds are doing in your body and you simply must tune into this and make adjustments when necessary. Never just stop taking your meds without telling someone else, if the side effects are serious then go directly to a hospital to keep yourself safe. If you reacted badly to something in the past and a doc wants you to try them again be prepared to say no. You will need a good family doctor to help you with general health issues and regular blood work to be sure nothing you are taking has caused internal problems such as thyroid, blood sugar and liver function. I now see my psych doc and family doc every three months, it use to be every month.

I pray that God will bless all your efforts as He has blessed mine!

D

Dee