bi-polar medication side effects

katpayne · Newbie Joined: 10 Feb 2006 Posts: 1

I have bi-polar disorder and have been on several medictions over the years to stabalize my mood. I got sober two years ago, and for the past couple of years I have been somewhat stable taking Seroquil, Prozac, Topomax, and Trazadone. Recently I have heard all this negativity about Seroquil, things my Doctors never warned me about. For example cognitive dulling and diabetes development. Lawyers are contacting me to see if I have diabetes and I want to sue the Drug company. As far as the dulling, is there permanant damage.My fiance has said I have been mentally slower. I have tried Lithium without positive results. Is there another/ better drug without these side effects? How much do we really know about seroquil?

derrickM. · Silver Member Joined: 16 Dec 2005 Posts: 181

You shouldn’t be so frsutrted about Seroquel especially if it is doing you good. I think that tis is the most important, that you are symptoms free.

As for the side effect, other drugs are no better that seroquel including Lithium and many others.
The thing is that some previous reserches found that seroquel was the least dangerous. It belongs to a class of drugs called atypical antipsychotics and they are all known as well as the antidepressants, and others to cause possible severe side effects like weight gain, diabetes, impotence and raised prolactin, cognitive dulling, and heart rhythm irregularity.

So, it is not just seroquel but all of these drugs act that way because they mess around ( work) with neurotransmitters in the brain.

You see, seroquill was found to be the mildest of antipsychotics, that it doesn’t raise prolactin and is the least susceptible of causing EPS- various uncontrolled movements that could occur from antipsychotic drugs.

Do you happen to sleep to much since you’ve been put on seroquell. It is what it does actually. It is considered as one of its flaws but if the drug is doing you good and is rare to help you with the symptoms, I would say to stick with it and of course have regular follow-ups with your doc.

I think that once you have managed to bring the symptoms under control, you should be put on the lowest effective dose to maintain it but your doctor would know best.

Were there any other drugs you tried to maintain the symptoms of bipolar? How are you coping? You are very lucky to have such an understanding girlfriend. Greetings to both of you!

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Danny · Supporter Joined: 23 Jul 2005 Posts: 346

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I have to do a research about metabolic changes of pregnancy. Ineed your help , please.

Leovinus · Newbie Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 3

I am bipolar, and had been doing fine with just Lithium and Effexor, but in the past year or so I started having trouble with nightmares. So my doctor added seroquel, and it really works. I guess my only bad side effect is that I have a harder time waking up the next day. But oh well. All my other medicines make it hard to wake up anyway, so what is another drag on my eyelids?

Somebody mentioned the huge weightgain, and I think my wife would agree with that. She is also on seroquel, and she gained weight after she started taking it. In fact, she gained it so fast that she thought she was pregnant, and she has the sort of stretch marks that a pregnant lady would have. But I think she thinks that the benefits outweigh (no pun intended) the negatives. And I agree. I would rather her have a little belly than be crazy.

jyelland07 · Newbie Joined: 07 Sep 2007 Posts: 1

Hi Everyone. My name is Johnny and I have experience Bipolar symptoms since I was 15. I was not officially diagnosed until about 6 months ago. I am currently taking 150 MG x 2 of Wellbutrin XL, 300 MG x 4 of Gabapentin, 300 MG x 3 of PMS Lithium-Carbonate, and 1.5 of non-medicinal Melatonin for severe insomnia. I feel that I am having more mania episodes lately and feel extreme irritability. It affects everyone around me and I am lucky to have such a caring and understanding partner. I am looking for something else to help stabilize my moods and lower my mania episodes. My doctor had prescribed me Risperdol, but that stuff is horrible! I lost my sex drive, was sedated to the point i was a vegetable, and I gained weight! I am very self-conscious about my weight and that did not help. Almost as soon as I discontinued to the Risperdol I started dropping weight and losing inches like crazy. I am looking for suggestions of something that I can take with my other meds so I can live a healthier and more stable life. I refuse to take anything that is known for weight gain. Thanks everyone Smile

p.s. for now I take 0.5-1.0 MG of Lorazepam to control severe mania episodes, which appear to becoming more frequent Sad

bi-polar medication side effects

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