Med Lists are a Good Thing

If you are Bipolar, especially if you are newly diagnosed there is something that I highly recommend you do: keep a list of all medications you have been prescribed for future reference. I have not done this and I regret it. I wish someone would have told me that it is a good thing to do. I went through a number of different psychiatrists until I found the right fit and it took me a few years to find the right Doctor. My current doctor has often asked me if I would like to try a different medication and sometimes I would know I have been on that medication before and other times I wouldn't be able to remember. So I highly recommend you make a list, keep a list and make sure you don't loose it. And don't just keep a list of the names of the drugs, keep a list of the dosage. Sometimes a former doctor might not have gone on a high enough dose on a drug for it to really impact your mood problem. Also write down the reason why you stopped this drug. This is what I can remember:

Celexa

Wellbutrin
Lexapro - 15mg and then adjusted to 7 mg then adjusted to 3.5 mg and then the 3.5 mg every other day. Medication wasn't working for depressive symptoms and was very difficult to go off of. I had serious serotonin withdrawal.

Abilify - didn't work at all

Geodon - went on it and it caused me to pass out so I discontinued use

Prazonsin - this is a blood pressure medication and it is also used to get rid of nightmares. I went on it to get rid of nightmares. Later on I went off of it because on of my other medications were helping to get rid of my nightmares.

Seroquel - worked great on my mood and helped my sleep, but I began to have symptoms of Tardive Dyskinesia so I had to discontinue use.

Lamictal - Not working to stabilize my mania.

Trazodone - stopped working for helping with my sleep.

Depakote - not working to stabilize my mania and was my very first mood stabilizer.

Risperdal - tried it to aid in sleep. It was short lived and didn't work.

Topamax -worked and even helped with my migraines, but I have horrible sexual side effects. No libido at all. After months of being on this drug I couldn't stand the side effect anymore.

Lithobid - Worked fine, but I couldn't take decongestants with it and I have bad allergies. I went off of it and it was supplemented with something else.

Ativan - was given this when I was in the psychiatric hospital.

Vistaril - this is a histamine based anxiety drug. It stopped working after many months of use.

Valium - given this during a hospital stay when I had a bad reaction to a new medication to help me relax.

Lunesta - Tried this for sleep and it didn't work.

Rozerem - Tried this for sleep and it worked for about a month and then stopped working.

Effexor 75 mg *currently on this medication.

Lithium ER 1500mg *currently on this medication and it has been adjusted/increased several times.

Neurontin 900mg *currently on this medication.

Ambien 10 mg * currently on this medication and been on it three other times.

Klonopin 1 mg *currently on this medication

Good luck to you as you make your lists! I hope it looks better than mine.

- Forever Bipolar