Emotional Backdraft

Since my early teen years I have been on medication for mental illness. At about the age of 18 I had had enough! I didn't like the effects; I was always sleepy, irritable, emotionally numb and physically sick. For a brief stint in my twenties I tried Depakote, but once again I hated the side effects. By the age of twenty eight I realized something was really wrong and I hated feeling so off that I went to the doctor. Then came the diagnosis and the pills. At thirty I was taking FORTY pills a day. Now I am taking much less, don't suffer as many side effects, and am happy with the meds and the doctor who prescribes them. On my first visit with Dr. R. he told be that living with Bipolar was very treatable with fewer medications and in fact he had several patients who lived with Bipolar that only needed a sleeping pill! That is not the case with everyone, but it gave me hope.

Here are my medications:

Nuvigil-600mg through out the day (this is a very high dose)
this is a stimulant often prescribed to those with sleep disorders.

Nexium-40mg in the morning
for acid reflux

Atarax-30mg through the day
helps with mild anxiety

Geodon-160mg at night
anti-psychotic

Celexa-80mg at night
antidepressant

Trileptal-1200mg at night
anti-convulsive and mood stabilizer

Vitamin E-400IU

EPA & DHA-2 a day

Vitamin C-1000mg

Muti Vitamin with Chelated Minerals-1 a day

This is MY medicine regime for now. It works for ME. I am not a doctor and do not have the capability to give you advice on your medication. This is here for your reference.

On the note of vitamins I STRONGLY suggest speaking with your doctor before starting a vitamin regime. Many of the additives and minerals can have a strong reaction to psychotropic medications. St. Johns Wart and Ginseng are two common ones that I watch for.