|
|
|
Bursts of Normal 
(Editors' Note: Bipolar disorder is often misdiagnosed at first and using antidepressant medication alone is not recommended for bipolar patients because the drugs may flip a person into a manic or hypomanic episode. for this important distinction). Getting control of my bipolar hasn't been easy. I see my doctor regularly and have used the services of a psychopharmacologist at times to further refine my medication routine. My mood swings haven't disappeared but rather occur less frequently and less severely. My mind still operates in cycles but the peaks have been scaled back and the depths have shallowed. I have been on an ever-evolving litany of medication for nine years now. That first episode led to me being placed on the father of all mood stabilizers, lithium. At other times I also take Abilify, Klonopin, and Ritalin. And that's just what I'm taking now. Over the years I've subjected my body to the SSRI's like Prozac, the tricyclic Elavil, Desyrel, the atypical antipsychotic Geodon, benzodiazepines like Dalmane and a host of others - all in search of the perfect cocktail. Keeping my medications strait and keeping my head strait is chore. It's a lot to remember and it sucks. Forgetting a dose here and there will sneak up and bite me in the ass. In 1998, for instance, I became lax with taking my pills and soared into a manic state that culminated in my lock-down in mental hospital. It was a hard and demoralizing lesson. But I'll get back to that later. << Previous Entry | Next Entry >> |
|
 Bursts of Normal: The Archive
|
|
© 2005 WebMD Inc. All rights reserved.
WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See additional information.
Print This Page
Email a Friend
Can I interest you in a cocktail?
