What Medications For Bipolar & Anxiety Work Best?

[Loveneverfails]

I am asking because I have a psych appointment on Thursday and I'm hoping to go in as well informed as possible. I was treated for bi-polar as a teen, my guardian decided that was what was wrong with me and filled out the paperwork. I was told what to say and I did so.

The meds I was on then (there was a whole string of them) didn't tend to work, but I think that was because I was being abused and I've read bi-polar symptoms are magnified by stress and abusive situations. I've taken the mood disorder questionnaire several times and don't test positive for bi polar but do test positive for depression and know I have been in a year long state of depression/irritability since my assault (obviously something I'll have to discuss with my psychiatrist.)

Anyway I've been reading in this section about different medications (the ones I used as a teen are no longer commonly used apparently) and it seems like a lot of them have really bad side effects. I was wondering if people could tell me in their experience what medications for bi-polar and anxiety they've tried that had the best results?

 

[Sazza]

Hi, how did you get on and have you been prescribed anything? Mood stabilisers are typical used to treat bipolar but they do come with there side effects.

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

Have you been diagnosed as having Bipolar Disorder? I know you talk about a questionnaire...

I found that once my bipolar symptoms were under control my anxiety was easier to manage. But everyone is so different in terms of medication and treatments.

 

[Sazza]

Ever taken Quetiapine Ayesha? I have just been prescribed it for suspected bipolar.

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

No I've never taken Seroquel. I take Saphris and Lamictal and Xanax. But I found that once my head got clearer from all the mood swings that other areas of my life improved (home, marriage, school). Saphris helps me sleep every night. Now I can focus more on trauma during therapy.

 

[Loveneverfails]

I was diagnosed bipolar 2 and was prescribed lamictal. I unfortunately have no money and can't borrow any to fill my prescription so have been waiting until monday. But my mother it turns out has been on the same drug so I have high hopes for it.

 

[Tribulations]

Seroquel did not work for me, nor did depacote (cannot remember the spelling). Both made me very suicidal when I was taking them as a teen. I actually tried to off myself with said prescriptions as well as the other ones in that toxic cocktail they prescribed for me. Whether this differs between adults and adolescents I'm not sure, but that was my experience with those two.

Take it for it what it's worth, but don't close yourself to opportunities. Just because it did that to me doesn't mean it will to you. The depacote I had to get blood drawn consistently though that was kind of a pain.