STEPHEN FRY

My son takes depakot and risperidone. He was taking clonidine as well but we just cut that one out the middle of last week. My son was staying very aggitated and the doc said for some, the clonidine can contribute to that. My son is only 11, so he does not have a choice but to take them at this point.
I can tell you that none of the meds have altered his core personality. He is funny, creative, active and has a huge imagination.

So, if this is one of your concerns I don't think you have too much to worry about. You will still be you. It might take some trial and error to find the meds that are right for you, but don't get frustrated. Just communicate with the doctor about how you are feeling and the side effects you might be having so that he/she will know what needs to be changed.

XXX

you know you have my full support!

ksx

Yes I did take medicine after I was diagnosed, I still do. Lithium and Tegretol is the combo which works for me and I have seen the scary side of when some doctors- yes doctors, wasnt me, try to meddle with it. I have nearly died twice and No I do not or ever have attempted take my life. When you are diagnosed and you find the medication mix or just one whatever it is-
Dont let anyone your doctor, spouse, friend, pet cow, tell you to go off it,or add to it- take away from it.. No..... only if it is NOT working or working well enough should you switch or add to. Take it from someone who once had 7hrs to live- think of it as a million dollars that no one else but you can have- stick to your guns. Its your mental wellness and no one should be fooling with it,especially if you know it works. - Let it work and keep taking it.

I am surprised that Stephens video would have these views- I know as well as I know my own name that medications- when they work and yes sometimes getting the right one or ones is tricky for some I am lucky and what I take works and always has. I have seen myself without it- not a road I ever want to travel down again- no being sectioned is not my cup tea and then being smuggled out the country ( yep had to, I am an American and they wanted to lock me up again) When it was THEM who got me that ill! Their advice- you see my husband and I were trying for a baby and they said I had to come off my medication.. I didnt get pregnant- I got sick instead but where where they?? I know now that isnt in my future, not naturally at any rate, I wont have that happen again. I never have had a problem taking my medicine. It to me is like combing my hair or taking a shower- routine. As for talking about it I dont talk alot to people about it, its not their business to know, unless I know them well. My husband who has ADHD ( yeah try adding that to your plate) I love him but he has no problem whatsoever talking about his ADHD- he tells anyone and everyone. Something I do not wish to do. Living with someone who has ADHD is helpful in some ways because he understands mental illness, but harder in other ways because his illness is different to mine, and there are things he does which take understanding etc, things I dont do or have to deal with but he does. I agree with the previous poster, only people who are cowards or just dont see that there is another way to live refuse treatment- imagine your life functioning well- in control, being married or having a partner and not putting them through the throws of mania and depression, and keeping steady work and doing it well. It is possible, you are not doomed to being manic and then depressed and then the other way round over and over.. Medicine does not take bipolar away- but it does make it so you can live your life and be as close to being someone who doesnt have it as you can. Thats how it is for me- as I said I have seen the reverse and I do not want it.

Life was exhausting until I started taking Quetiapine. I would never have gone back to studying and I would have been miserable for God knows how long if it weren't for them. The fact that I think I'm having a weird episode now... might mean I also need other meds. But a few days like today compared to weeks and weeks of instability isn't too bad.

Hi Fletcher,

I was diagnosed after 25 years of struggling in unknown territory of depression and very sparse hypomania. I went to see a doctor to ask for a psychiatrist to find out whether i could have Bipolar disorder. I had. BP2. After some sessions we started discussing meds, I agreed. I was put on Lamotrigine. (it is regularly used for treatment of epileptic disease but was found to positively influence depression). Personally I would advise anyone with these symptoms to consider taking meds. This disease can not be cured by will power alone. Isurvived 25 years of BP on will power, but I was about to loose the fight. Meds give you a fundament to stand on, gaining strength to take on what is still a considerable task to manage a life with this illness. I am becoming more stable although we are still tweaking the medication, and it is such a relief....
My advise: try to be precise in discussion with your doctor what you experience; I keep a mood diary, which is an excellent resource to share with my doctor. That way you get better support.
And never stop your meds or change it without prior consent of your doctor. Sudden changes in medication without proper medical advise dramatically increase the risk of mania or severe depression and may lead to very unfortunate situations. Taking meds is a contract.

Hope this helps
Capt. Slow

i started on sodium valporate slowly increasing untill i was at about 1000mg daily then they added quetiapine and upped valporate to 1200mg then they upped valporate to 2000mg daily still with the quetiapine they started me on lithium on top of other two which we found out i am alergic to so stopped thatand started carbamzapine and now daily i take
sodium valporate 2000mg
quetiapine 100mg
carbamzapine 500mg and thts still not at right level!
lets hope i dont get anythin else added anytime soon! or i will rattle wen i walk!