Medication side effects - how to deal?

Hi, hope someone out there has some good advice on medication side effects. I'm currently on an anti-depressant and mood stabilizer. They really help my moods but I have trouble falling asleep at night and when I finally do, I wake up every hour or so. Since the mood stabilizer has been added, I crave carbs all the time and I'm gaining weight. The other issue is that I'm always tired, lack of energy tired. I can't even get myself to the gym anymore. I play softball, but my focus is starting to shift away from that as well. Any suggestions?

do you know any nurses or anybody going to school? we have drug books that have info on this subject-there's a person janurse on this site maybe she knows meds-I don't know meds but I can tell you what works for me..

hello ssgiggler I have bipolar also
of which i have just "dealt with" on my own
other than the paxil I took for years, i think honestly it quit working on me years ago and since then i couldn't quit taking it for the side effects
of withdrawals (electric shocks)

i am on pain pills , now i am thinking I am premenopausal as well,
what next?
how do you juggle all these ailments at one time? plus the normal stress of living in the world? trying to take care of things.

I have been so depressed for past 3 days i have not been able to do anything
I need to track my progress each day last week I did good this week I am in the dumper
any words of advise ladies?

oh i wanted to ask you ss giggler what types of mood stabilizers and stuff do they have you taking?
they have given me depakane or something like that?? depakote?
have to look at label
ever heard of it?

i have not yet tried it cuz i thought i could manage on my own #1 and #2
i am on pain pills and in chronic pain and was afraid of side effects

if this depressio ndoes not ease up then i may just go ahead and try them.

so confused, any advise?

Hi Pegasus,

I've been on Zoloft for years, misdiagnosed with major depression. Once I hit premenopause, the bipolar went into full swing. I couldn't function 80% of the time and had to talk to my counselor almost every day. Finally, I was diagnosed with Bipolar II and Lamictal was added to my meds. It has helped greatly with my moods and the psych dr. is trying to get me off the zoloft. I have heard of Depakote but don't know much about it. I've been on Paxil - horrible and on benzidone (or something like that). The problem with the Lamictal (taking for 2 months) is that I am starting to have crazy muscle pain, lack of energy and tired. Now that I'm not so depressed, I can't seem to do anything because of the side effects. I go to the psych dr. monday. You should try the pills, you will know within 2 weeks usually if they are going to work. For me, it only takes 4 days. As far as my pms time, I just do the best I can to deal with it, my mood swings are horrific but getting a little better. I'm thinking about a hysterectomy. Dealing with everything? It's a struggle everyday, I just keep telling myself its better than the alternative. i don't have a huge support system, but my counselors are great! And, believe it or not, my 19 yr old son has been tremendous in understanding the disorder and not judging me. Hang in there and try the pills, what can it hurt?

ssgiggler

i also am bipolar. im on lamictal paxil xanax as needed and ambien because yes i cant sleep my brain just keeps running and running.. it has worked for me over the past year. i feel stable for once.. depakote made me gain wght and loos my hair so we switched. but it does take a bit to get it into your system until you see any change and they might end up adjusting it too get the right levels you need.. tell you dr every thing dont hold they do not judge but want to help you.. hang on there.

try high potency omega 369's. i was on olanzapine and it really did a number on me. i think it was the omega 3's that got me back on a routine. sleeping pills are good but becareful if they are addicting. try the herbal ones instead. I didn't realize that my body needed them for me to fall asleep. I wanted to get off them after a year or so and I gradually reduced the medication by cutting the pills in half and quarters. Without doing so I would be awake all night long and then sleep all the next day.

Give you're body a chance to adjust and go slow with the medication.

dear ssgiggler, one idea is to look up the meds online and see if the side effects match up with your meds and your effects. always check with you doctor or provider. also give it a couple of months. except for the eating part. you may have to substitute carrot sticks and celery LOL for the cravings meds can do that to you unfortunately. if it is real bad and weight is an issue you may have to switch meds, but think, is a weight gain worse than the effects of the illness or disorder you are combating? this is a careful study and must be discussed with your doctor. always take your time and be wary of quick changes. being tense and nervous about it will only make it worse.

all my best with hope for you and faith and loving kindness and know you are in my prayers, a prayer warrior praying for you.

well, I went to my appt yesterday. My Med doc sent me for a bunch of lab work to see if there is something medically going on and to check certain levels that may be effected by the meds. We decided not to increase the lamictal for now and just decrease the zoloft. We will discuss it again after the blood work comes back. I just hate all this muscle pain, its becoming harder to deal with and getting worse. hopefully the lab work comes back soon - its raising havoc with my anxiety and depression

As far as the weight gain, its an indirect side effect. The medication itself does not cause the weight gain, but because it levels my mood I can't always resist the cravings - and it doesn't make me feel bad at the time. She said she will help me with that issue at our next appt if its still an issue.

Believe me, this medication is the best so far and I'm not willing to go off it right now. My doc suggested it but I told her I would rather get the lab work first. I don't want to go back to feeling like I was, ever!

thanks for the support stanisz, hope all is well

ssgiggler

dear ssgiggler, you and your doctor sound like you share good communication and your doctor is taking a path of wisdom and strength with you. i am pleased to hear about the blood work, that sounds thourough to me. i myself am only to happy to bear up with my side effects to avoid the effects of my illness/disorder whatever i have because i was soooo miserable and my meds give me a life. i would rather weigh a few pounds more and have a tremor than feel the way i did before. i am so grateful to my Lord and God that He has led the researchers to find these meds for us so that we no longer suffer as in the old days and not that long ago.

i feel sad that i suffered for years litterally. and while raising my kids too. what a way to live life and yet somehow we all survived. but that is no longer the case. there are options for people like me and i am thankful. let us know how things go. to be honest, i did not hear that lamictal and zoloft are weight gainers so what your doctor says makes perfect sense to me and i have been around these meds for 30 years and i find it interesting. thanks for sharing that info.

as far as the pain, i will pray that it will subside with time for you and maybe the blood work will be revealing. who knows. take it easy. maybe a gentle walk at an high energy time of day will relieve the tension? i don't know it is something i might try. i walk it off every day i can and it really helps me, but that is just me. and i like to be cautious about giving advice.

all my best with hope and faith and kindness to you, a pray is said for you dear giggler, your prayer warrior

Thanks so much stanisz, what you said is very inspiring. The pain is not much better but seems to be centralized on my right side today. I'm having a heck of time using the computer mouse and keyboard. I keep trying to get out and walk at night when its cooler, but I'm so drained and achy its just not working. I feel so bad for my baby Max (9 yr old dog) because I can't walk him. Can't wait for the results of the blood work to see if I can be "fixed", lol.
Oh yeah, hopefully they aren't side effects from the lamictal because i'm doing well on it and don't want to come off. Hope all is well, we are strong and can win the battles!

ssgiggler

dear ssgiggler, hmmm, that's odd pain on one side of the body, i am glad you are getting blood work done. i guess you are a walker with a dog, that's what keeps me walking is my little pup, 2 year old shih tzu. he is getting fixed on the 23 of next month. it just took me awhile to find a money friendly place to do it. and to save up for it too! what kind of dog is Max, not that it matters!

you are a warrior, dear giggler and you are right now battling for your wellness, and the weather and your body are fighting against you. you have my thoughts and prayers for strength and power to make it. for some reason you are going through this right now. i hope each day gets better than the last. may you have the perseverance to continue on if it doesn't right away. you check in with you doc in a couple of weeks?

i am in another state caring for my aged mother. i flew up here and will stay all together 10 days and then fly back. i have fibromyalgia as well as bipolar, so i have chronic pain and i can really relate to your pain especially when i travel. and computers make it worse for me too! all i can do is manage my symptoms and pace myself. i don't give up my activities, i just do a small amount of them and then take frequent breaks. and my walks are always gentle and no more than 30 to 40 minutes slowly at a time. no power walks for this lady.

all my best thoughts of hope and faith and prayers for your wellness, your prayer warrior...

Hey, I've had bipolar since I was young but only accepted 3 years ago. I've been taking Lithium for a long time but have been through so many medications - antiphychotics, anti-pressants. I took one that was called Effexor and at first it was okay but then it got to the point I couldn't sleep at nights and I lost my appetite. If I ate it was junk food and I gained a lot of weight. I would hear things and see shadows it was scary.

I don't know how long you've been taking the medication, but I would tell your doctor who prescribes the medication. Usually they will keep presribing until you have a good fit. It took 3 years for me. I now take Lamical with Lithum and Trazadone.

Good lunch!

I take Seroquel and Lorazepam at night and sleep pretty good. They are the best combination for me so far.

I Don't know about side effects so much as a doctor would or some research on the internet, But I am being treated for bipolar disorder and as my best friend kept telling me as me and my doctor were trying different meds out, I don't have to settle. They CAN get it right, side effects and all, it does not have to be a trade off. I did not believe him and was very upset at his opinion and interference. But he was right. After trying out many meds, (one that stole my sex drive for a year for example) I found a new doctor and went on 300 mg of wellbutrin with 7 mg of abilify. It has changed my life DRAMATICALLY. I can smile again, the crying jaggs are gone. I just send a lot of love your way that you find the right fit for you.

so I got the results back on my blood work, ugh! First, let me say that the muscle pain is attacking my whole body - different spots and times of the day. It's driving me nuts. My lab work came back showing a slight UTI (which I've never had before) and elevated blood sugar (for the 3rd time). Instead of getting answers, just more questions and problems. My med doc and regular doc are having a difference of opinion and I'm at a loss. I can't afford to keep going to all these appts and counseling and prescriptions. My reg. doc advised that I lower my lamictal until we find out what's causing the muscle pain. I started lowering it on Sunday. I've tried to contact my med doc but haven't gotten a response yet. I'm already on a lower dose of zoloft and I'm so afraid of having a bipolar relapse episode with everything that's going on. I'm kinda lost at the moment and don't know what to do. I have to pick up a prescription tomorrow and get a lab slip to be checked for lyme. I just feel like every time things seem to get a little better, I fall right back into the hole again. Not sure how much longer I can deal with all this and life and work and........

ssgiggler

dear ssgiggler, you can do this one minute of the day at a time. remember you are taking it one step at a time, my dear beloved sufferor. the UTI might be the cause of so much pain no? they can be very overall painful i know. just take it easy and relax as much as possible resting in the Higher Power's healing energy. let us care for you where you cannot or do not have the energy right now. do not stress yourself right now to avoid throwing yourself into an episode, even if the meds are right you must be careful to avoid stress. you can do a lot to avoid elevated blood sugar with your diet and i am sure that in time the doctor will educate you. there is also a lot of into on line. i know because i have the same issue.

please relax and meditate on healing energy, breathe and imagine wellness as often as you can during the day. this is key to maintaining your position right now. please try not to stress and keep in touch with us. i am watching these posts to see where you are at day to day and i will be responding at least 2x a day for you. i am in your corner.

all my best with lots of prayers for you my dear one, your prayer warrior

From Mood Disorders to Bipolar Disorder