BellaOnline Forums Health and Fitness Mental Health Bipolar - fatigue, meds, weight - vicious cycle

I take Klonipin and have been for years. It is a addictive drug. The reason the Dr. gave it to me is for sleeping. I take only 2mg, don't know if they make any higher, and I am asleep with in 30 minutes. I go into a deep sleep for about 4 hrs and then I can wake up easily. If I don't get a full 7-8 hrs of sleep in then it affects me the next day, usually in the afternoon.
This is a narcotic and it is really interesting how it works on different people. I am also just starting with phyciatrist and therapist. They say I have Bipolar,Unipolar mainly, but I was just reading about ADD in adults. I could relate to most of the things they were saying about that!
I haven't been on in a while but hope to keep up to learn more about these subjects. My Dr. is still trying different medicines.
I just want to know what is wrong with me!

I take Klonipin, too (or rather the generic Clonazepam) 0.5 mg.
But I take it for panic attacks.

I take Ambien and Seroquel to help with my insomnia. We found that if I took a full dose of Ambien I would sleepwalk terrible, but the Seroquel could not get me to sleep. By taking 1/2 ambien and a seroquel I can get to sleep and stay asleep- and don't have the sleep walking side effects.

And now I take Lexapro for the depression. I do have some weight gain, but it is worth it to me to be able to function during the day.

It is really about what you are willing to trade off.

Hi, I have bipolar for many, many years. For your depression ask your doctor about Wellbutrin XL. I have been taking it for 5 years - works great! Keeps the weight down. I am 122 and never gained a pound - unless I eat Italian pastries!
bye
susje

HI Rose I am sue, have you taken any other medications? I am asking because I have taken many until the doctor found the right one for me. I am taking Carbamazipine, Wellbutrin XL & Geodon - Geodon is for anxiety and panic attacks.
I have tried Zoloft and I became a vegetable! Becareful with that medicine. Some people it works for other people it does not.
Lithium is the basic and it worked for me for 2 years.
Hope they find the right medications for you. Do not give up there is medication that will help you.
Sue

Sue, believe me I've been on them all, I've been on "head meds" since the 70s, I've been locked up in the psych ward 3 times for being suicidal due to depression. When I do find a medication that quotes," makes me feel better" I stop taking it, the reason I'm not used to feeling that way and it freaks me out.

I am also bipolar, plus ADD and a nice pinch of dyslexia. I'm taking Welbutrin and Straterra. I've tried several mixes and so far this one is the "best." I have the most trouble remembering to take them (thanks ADD). I still have mood swings however, and sometimes feel like I'll never be stable.

rubyzmama,
your original post was a while back, but it really touched me and I wanted to let you know that. I've been very overweight my entire life and a couple of years ago in a manic state which lasted a very long time I was able to pull myself together and loose 94lbs. After getting back with my ex I started to fall and eventually spiraled down and gained it back plus more. That's where I am now. I want so badly to loose the weight. Not sure when/if it will happen again. You're right, it's nice to hear someone else going through the same things.
Liz

Hi everyone! I've just found this forum so I hope no one minds me barging in everywhere.

It took me years to find the right doc who could find the right combo of drugs for me (bipolar). I take 225 mg of Effexor, plus 100 mg of Lamictal. Both those drugs have been a godsend for me. I know lots of people are kind of scared of Effexor - there's a lot of scary stuff out there on the web - but I think it's a great med. I also take Seroquel (100 mg) at night to sleep, but it gives me horrible muscle twitches in the first hour or so, so I take 1/8 mg of Xanax with it, which puts me to sleep right away so I don't feel the twitches. Sometimes I take the Seroquel about an hour before I plan to go to bed, and just stay awake and deal with the twitches, but then I think, why should I torture myself when I can take the Xanax? An eighth of a milligram is a pretty darn small dose. I've been taking this combination for years and years now and have not become addicted to the Xanax, so I think it's okay.

None of these things have caused weight gain, but I think that's because of the Effexor, which often causes weight loss. I think that that may cancel out the weight-gain effect of the other drugs.

I still get lethargic and sometimes take naps, but I plan them so that in a certain amount of time, I have to do something - go to the post office before it closes, for instance. Then I can't just stay in bed for hours.

another thing - be kind to yourself. Yeah, my house isn't as neat as it should be. Yeah, I get really behind on laundry. Yup, I still have my Xmas tree up because I haven't gotten around to taking it down. But that's okay. it's a cliche, but really - don't sweat the small stuff. Give yourself permission to take care of yourself.

Michelle, I forgot to say, I tried Ambien too - and I started sleep-eating! It was so bizarre. I'd wake up in the morning and find that I had gotten up in the night and ate a peanut butter sandwich - and I don't even like peanut butter! and no memory of doing it at all. I blamed my husband the first few times! I've never had such a strange side effect.

I've been on clonazepam for years, like Michelle it's for panic attacks. I've been tried on MAOIs, SSRIs, SNRIs, etc and they don't help ... only harm.
Sleep eating! Wow. That would un-nerve me...