Venting about medications

Thanks ladies, I actually took a sleep aid last night and slept through the night. Tonight I am reducing the dosage too 400mg just to make sure this manic episode has passed. I had no problem at 200mg dropping 70 some odd pounds since 6/22. When I started I was losing about 2 to 2.5 pounds a week do to the amount I had too lose now mfp has cut my kcals from about 1730 to 1500 a day. So I understand the weight will come off slower since I am now within 40 to 50 pounds away from my desired weight instead of over 100lbs. Yeah for me certain Bipolar meds are difficult to handle and control the cravings. But since losing the weight lower dosages seem to be helping maintain my balance while weighing over 300lbs I would have to take far more for the same affect.

JeromeBarry1 wrote: »

It beats reading about VLCD master cleanse. Hang in there, bub.

Thanks friend, I did go around 800 kcals yesterday thinking I was going to awake once again in the middle of the night eating crap. But today I will keep them around 1200 to 1300 as I prefer not to take Ambien no more than a couple nights a month. Like you're eluding too some folks get so upset with themselves after a few days of eating beyond their kcals and then starve or do excessive cardio. I think I have grown to accept I will have bad days and not only do too medications, but say the upcoming holidays. I no longer allow a bad day or week to throw me off my new eating habits as I did in previous attempts to lose.

passenger79 wrote: »

I'm on Seroquel ( Quetapine) in UK. In space of 3 months my dose was increased from 25mg to 300mg and it's likely it ll keep increasing as I'm nowhere near stable.
So I hear you. I 've put 10lb on I 've lost pre Q through drowsy/ no sense of being full binging / massive cravings and then another 20 lb because I felt so *kitten* for being diagnosed Bipolar I just comfort ate and rapidly cycling is making it difficult to stick with a set plan. So it is hard as it takes extra strength to concentrate on your health when you are trying to get stable. I don't have any amazing advice just wanted to show my support and you ll get there ,stay strong x

Thank you, I just want to say being stable will happen for you.

Unfortunately, there is no simple proven blood test out there to give people who suffer from mental health issues a medication that will help it is trial and error at this point. I too was very upset when first diagnosed. The advice I would give is this if the Quetapine is working stick to it, as being stable is the most important thing. I like you am a rapid cycling Bipolar 2. If after several months "should know within 6 to 8 weeks" at the 300mg dosage you are still cycling as often talk to your doctor. There is no point staying on a medication that is causing unpleasant side effects that aren't addressing your Bipolar.

Also, do not fall into the trap I did when first diagnosed. I was with several horrible doctors who would just prescribe another medication to counteract the side effects of one drug. My wife and I trusted our doctors 1000% in the beginning that was a mistake on our part. But unfortunately, there is no handbook for being Bipolar. Think of it like if a doctor told you that you had cancer and were going to die in 6 months, you would get a second opinion wouldn't you. When and if they put you on multiple medications they do not always tell you what those meds side effects can be alone much less combined medications. You can do your own research online about the medications, or ask your pharmacist/chemist. They know far more about side effects and combinations of medications and so forth then many doctors. But do your research, keep a journal about your moods and if anything could have triggered them. For me, it is sleep, if I do not have a regular sleep pattern, that usually triggers a manic episode. Show the journal to your doctor, the more information they have the better they can help you.

One other note, I highly suggest talk therapy with a counselor who is familiar with Bipolar. Your doctor should be able to recommend one just "any" therapist will not work. Doing talk therapy has helped me recognize when I was either entering mania or a depressive episode and it allowed me to increase my dosage of a medication " Depakote or Seraquil" temporarily to head it off and not let it consume me for days or weeks. There are two really good groups on Facebook, my wife is in one called Bipolar Spouses and I am in Bipolar marriage/partnership support group. my group is where you will find both types people with Bipolar and loved ones learning how to separate the illness from the person they love.

Iwantahealthierme30 wrote: »

Ive been having luck with 1660 and just a little bit over or under, still losing 1.5-2 pounds a week What are your stats?

I am 5ft 9.5 41yo male weight is 237ish as of this morning. Activity level set at sedentary with a 2lb a week loss goal. Last few weeks been going back and forth a couple pounds. Gained 4 or 5 since upping my dosage. This morning I was down 1.4 or so from yesterday morning. I am sure I just have food in my system and maybe a little water weight. At the 1700 kcals in the beginning I was losing on average 3.2 pounds a week. But I had over a hundred to lose so that isn't uncommon. Now with less to lose the weight loss has slowed and that is fine with me. I am not discouraged by it as I would have been in the past.

AliceDark wrote: »

Have you thought about going to maintenance until this episode is over and you can go back to your lower dose? Even if you have a few weeks not losing, it might put you in a mental place just to NOT be gaining. I think there's a huge psychological difference between "I'm trying to lose and going over, so I'm failing at my goal" and "I'm trying to maintain and I'm hitting my goal, so I'm being successful."

I checked my maintenance calories and it is between 2400 and 2430 on the two sites I checked so I suppose I am doing decent. I am sure the increase in the scale is water weight and the food type and it not really going through my system yet. Great advice, thank you