Hate side effects of meds but cant cope without them

[SchrodingersFanny]

I have bipolar. I take lithium and venlafaxine. I stayed away over night last night and forgot my meds. I hate them, I struggle to lose weight (I am 2.5 stone overweight), I sweat so much that even super deodorants don't help, I am always hungry and thirsty, I have bad breath (lithium makes me dehydrated I think).

But tonight I completely lost it with dh, screaming crying, throwing things and shouted so much I wet myself (no pelvic floors from 2 DC).

I hate the fact that in order to be sane and functioning I have to be fat, sweaty and feel like shit.

I sympathise - I take, and have taken, various MH meds with similar side effects. Is it worth going back to your GP/psychiatrist and exploring options? I'm sure I heard of an alternative to Lithium that's fairly new.

oh, i am so sorry you are going through this - i sympathise, i am on citalopram and i have put on so much weight since i have been taking them :( I didn't know that people still took lithium though! Could you talk to your doctor and ask for a medication review? Do you have any counselling at all?

I have just started some therapy, I see my perinatal psychiatrist this week. I have been on lithium for 3 years. It does keep me stable. I thought most bipolar drugs had side effect of weight gain. I know olanzipine does.

I think they think it is a small price to pay for being well. But I hate being so fat.

I also have bipolar and take apiprazole and depakote I am 2 stone overweight since starting meds and I drool Ihave terrible handwriting owing to hand tremors and I sleep loads. But like you the minute I forget a dose I'm a wreck its so hard isn't it?

Just looked it up for you and it seems that lots of alternatives to Lithium are being used - mainly because lithium can't be used for more than 10-15 years. Definately worth getting a medication review, I'd think. How are you doing now?

Oh and my psychiatrist recently tried to put me on lithium but I refused so it is still prescribed.

My psych wanted to put me on lithium as well. I called him a dinosaur. he didn't appreciate it.

I'm on quetiapine and lamotrigine. I find the latter effective and pretty much side effect free (apart from the start when it was very trippy and made me want to hurl.) Quetiapine though makes me constantly hungry. I'm about 2st overweight and can only keep it at that level by exercising every day. I find it hard to get up in the mornings and can feel pretty zonked.

I've had times when I've got pissed off and stopped taking it, but wham, off I start cycling again, so I'm back on them again. It's a PITA isn't it.

I rather take lithium than antipsychotics. Lithium makes me tired but AP's makes me even sleepier and I did gain weight. I have tried quite a few of them and "the best one" was apiprazole, although it gave me involuntary movements. .

I am probably quite lucky that I haven't got too many problems with lithium (yet). I am also lucky, because I just get episodes and between I can be healthy for years. I tend to stop meds after being stable for a while.

I really feel for you, Bipolar too and find it hard to comes to terms with the side effects I get through my meds versus me being well. I'm still not stable yet and have recently undergone some changes in meds yet again so getting new side effects and don't even know if the combination I am on will work.

My psych has also suggested Lithium to me on a couple of occasions but I have refused as my Auntie has been on and off it for years and it has wrecked her body, not saying that would also happen to me but it is the last thing I would try.

The mood stabiliser I am on is Depakote, I think it is meant to be the least weight gaining one, I have put on some but am trying to keep on top of it with diet and exercise. Lost a lot of my hair though which is a common side effect, the condition of it is awful too.

Like you I sweat terribly, have done for years and have tried various things but nothing really works that well, the 72hr powder type is probably the best and I find swapping and changing brands regularly helps a bit. I have ruined so many tops through sweating and staining them.

I agree with others that you should really ask for a med review.

Hope you are feeling better today, xxxx

I'm seeing psych tomorrow will talk to her about it. It doesn't help that I can't really exercise because I am still recovering from a broken foot.

I'm just fed up of the side effects, I feel fat and sweaty and horrid. Emotionally I feel better today after taking meds gain.