Welcome to Fluther. I hope you like it here. There are a number of people who will have something to say about this subject.

There are as many medication combinations for bipolar as there are bipolar patients. I highly recommend this website. It uses everyday language to describe some of the medicines, the effects, and the side-effects.

I love your avatar, by the way.

I happen to be bipolar myself. I was diagnosed 11 years ago, and I’ve been on a lot of different medicine combinations. It took probably 6 or 7 years to find a good combination that keeps me stable. Even now, we have to change dosages every once in a while.

I wish you the best of luck.

I have something to say about it. This is not information you want to get on an anonymous question and answer website. Go back to your psychiatrist.

Whilst Rarebear raises a good point, I would like to say that sometimes – particularly in the UK – no, especially in the UK, those working in the field tend to get it right, but tend not to help further by administering appropriate medicine or dosages or both. My girlfriend has plenty of experience with this kind of problem. That said, there is nothing to prevent anyone from offering suggestions such as that provided by Hawaii_Jake, whereby bigpapa916 can go back to an appropriately qualified person to discuss what options there are and if they are likely to help.

Obviously though, common sense does need to prevail, you can’t just go popping random pills because someone else says they work. What doesn’t need to happen though is for this kind of problem – and it certainly is a problem more for the sufferer than for those who are supposed to provide the ‘cure’ – to go unnoticed simply because people slam the door shut on possibilities. Something that is all too easily occurring in the UK – and definitely due largely to government interference and administrative cock ups.

Still a good point though.

I doubt it would hurt at all to go to that website suggested by Hawaii_Jake and definitely discuss anything you’ve found that may help with an appropriate figure of authority on the subject of medicine for this issue – as I’m aware doctors are just as prone as psychiatrists for doling out meds. Do take care of yourself – I may not know exactly how tough things can be for someone who is bipolar, but I know from others that it’s definitely not a pleasant experience.

I understand where you guys are coming from. I am not looking to “POP” pills, I need some ideas to bounce off my dr, cause he insists on giving me the same meds, with different results

@lightsourcetrickster I have to say that you stressing the point about the UK being like that is wrong because I am from the UK and I know several people that have had brilliant treatment with the correct medication and the correct dosage which led to them being able to live a normal and happy life. If you think the UK is bad for medical help then you should try other countries where you only get help if you have enough money.

To the OP I would also look at forums dedicated to bipolar and spend an hour or so reading what people on there say and even jot down some of their ideas and take them with you to your doctor.

I think it is a good idea to research on your own. Then run it by your psychiatrist. I have been on great meds that had very little side effects. The one was just weight gain, but I could care less if I felt better. There are a number of different types, I personally would never take Serequel but know some who do, who like it. It can be a bit of a trial and error process. @lightsourcetrickster Is it just your area that is like this? Quite scary since you have mentioned it a lot. My moving there is not sounding so great after all. What do you mean by follow up and dosages?

A friend of mine is using Lamictel effectively in addition to Seroquel and Prozac. You might wnt to look into that.

It is very common to have to try a few different drugs before finding what works best for an individual. This is true with many or the psychiatric and neurological mediciations. The best advice is probably to have a doctor who listens to his patient, and believes the patient’s account of how the medication is affecting them.

I don’t think there is anything wrong with reading up about the different meds available for a bipolar diagnosis. A lot of times doctors prescribe what they are accustomed to prescribing, and don’t always know the full breadth of medication available. I mean this for everything, not just psychiatric problems. In the end these are controlled medications and require a doctor to prescribe them, so it isn’t like a patient is going to read up, run out and buy the drug, and pop the pills haphazardly.

I was in a long relationship with someone who finally was diagnosed.
So from the perspective of the other side of it, make sure you see a therapist and med dr that you are comfortable with and open and honest with. Track your moods so you know how and what to provide for feedback.
It takes many years of this to find the one that works best for you. It can also change as you change. I have seen many cocktails that work and many that dont or their side effects create other issues.
This is why you have to take your time, chart, and work with it. Find a good support group, structure and therapist that works well with you.
They have started also to use some meds that were developed for ADHD to help with a Bipolar’s focus.
There still are triggers that will allow things to break through.
Keep up the good work.

@TheProfoundPorcupine You could have your people call my people and they could do lunch and exchange notes if their mental illness didn’t get in the way that is?
Unfortunately I know far too many people who haven’t had a very good experience with mental health care that warrants me knowing any better. As for trying other countries for such issues, I don’t have those issues, but I know plenty who do.

There are more than 250 different combinations of meds used to treat bipolar and that number goes up every month. I learned this at a meeting of my bipolar group, when a psychoharmacologist gave a presentation.

It’s not just the meds, but the formulation of the genetic that can change how the med works or doesn’t work. Either you research this and become an expert, or at least knowledgeable, or you rely on other experts.

I you can’t work with your current expert, you may want to find a psychiatrist you can work with. A good psychiatrist will tell you how long it takes to see if a med works (as much as three months). They also know side effects are the main reason people don’t take meds. If the side effects are too bad, then you lay down the law with your shrink. Tell him to wean you off and try something else. Never go off cold turkey.never go off without telling your shrink.

In addition, always tell your shrink about your self medications, like herbal meds (such as st johns wort), pot, illegal drugs and alcohol. He needs that info in order to calculate drug interactions.

P,ersonally lithium and comical worked for me. But everyone is different. I’m part of a study to see if there ar genetic markers to see who lithium will work for. In the future then may be able to do a here test and prescribe. But now it’s trial and error. Please stick with it.

My only suggestion is to ask your Dr about Lamictal. May or may not be right for you, but worth asking about. Good luck with your search. Trying to find the right combination of meds is exhausting.