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snowflake231Senior Contributor
So I have bipolar 1. I've been on regiment of medication. I'm going through a mixed episode. My medication is not controlling the symptoms. I can't add any new medication due to allergic reaction. I can't increase the medication I'm on as it would require me taking it in the morning and it knocks me out cold so I would not function at all through the day. What do I do?
In response to: I've reached a dead end medication vice
snowflake231Senior Contributor
@Dimity
so I saw my dr and we decided to stay on the antidepressant even though he wanted for me to go off it but I don't want to as the depression symptoms are more challenging than the manic. So at the end we decided to stay on it. He increased the dose of one of my antipsychotic so that's good.
he doesn't want to risk me taking the anticonvulsant due to Steven Johnson syndrome so that is unfortunate.
I ve also rang the local hospital mental health triage yesterday and they interviewed me over the phone and they are making a referral to case management to hopefully get some support finally.
I also visited the local bipolar support group yesterday and it was really good. I really enjoyed myself and I would like to go again.
I also enrolled in mental health recovery thing at sane and MindSpot. These are online support services and I don't know properly what they are but I guess I'll find out.
see how much you can achieve when you are manic.
In response to: Re: I've reached a dead end medication vice
DimitySenior Contributor
That's brilliant @snowflake231 . Well done. It's good you knew how to contact all of those services, that's half the battle.
I hope the increased antipsychotic will be OK and you can take it at night. It should take the edge off and help you sleep a bit longer. In my experience the slow careful titration of which medications and hoe much makes a lot of difference in bipolar
1 but the sense of urgency when we're unwell means we have to start somewhere with something that may not be ideal in the longer term.
Several months ago I relapsed and had a psychotic break after surgery. I'm now back on the maintenance dose of my antipsychotic but wanting to ward off depression. My psychiatrist wants to avoid antidepressants and has suggested an anticonvulsant.
In response to: Re: I've reached a dead end medication vice
snowflake231Senior Contributor
@Dimity
Yeah playing around with meds can be frustrating. Hope your doctor can find the right combo for you.
In response to: I've reached a dead end medication vice
AuntJobiskaSenior Contributor
Firstly, it’s hard to give advice on a forum that is so paternalistic we’re not allowed to be specific about medication. Secondly, an allergic reaction is a specific IgE type reaction to a specific ingredient. So unless you have tried every single medication available (we’re talking literally dozens) and have had a severe allergic reaction to them all, you don’t know that you will have an allergic reaction to a new medication, because each medication is different and so will require you to have a new different specific allergic reaction to that new medication, too. So basically from a medical perspective, your story does not make sense.
I’d start by confirming with your doctors that you have had an IgE mediated true allergic reaction, and to exactly what medications, because I suspect there’s some bullshitting going on, because your story just isn’t making medical sense! I’m saying this because lots of people think they’re allergic to meds when they’re actually not, when it comes down to it.
Adverse reactions… they’re common, but they’re not allergic reactions!
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Help us push aside the stigma and discrimination surrounding complex mental health and change the way people talk about, and care for, mental illness.
SANE acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present.
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