Posted by Starlight on September 10, 2004, at 14:54:26
Hi,
I went to my new Pdoc yesterday and am thinking that she's the wrong one for me. I'm Bipolar III currently take 75 mgs of Effexor, 300 Lamictal and 1800 Trileptal. I've had some hypomania, but my hypomania isn't unmanageable at all. I do have occasional anxiety, but so far no drops into depression. No one in my family has been diagnosed with Bipolar but me, and for me it was kindled by wellbutrin (supposedly).Here's my frustration. I don't want anymore drugs, nada. I sleep fine, work fine, still have creative energy, and good stable relationships with people. I'm aware of my problems and willing to address them head on.
The thing that I'm really wary of is that she seems to want to push the drugs. Now she's pushing abilify for some anxiety. Initially when she was talking about putting me on Effexor she was pushing Provigil as well and telling me that she's found that to be a good combination.
This is the second time that she has said to me, "Do you know how many different drugs that the average bipolar person takes? Seven." She said it in the last two appointments that I've had. It seems like a signal that she's wanting to push the drugs and seems to discount my lack of willingness with the whole stigma argument.
But it's not the stigma, it's the side effects. You start looking deeper at these drugs and the side effect panels, and I want my treatment to be as efficient as possible. I'd rather self medicate with pot which isn't going to make my hair fall out or give me electric shocks if I quit or any of the other side effects that are included in these drug profiles. But being put on another drug that is going to affect my brain long term and have strong withdrawl effects isn't acceptable to me.
Comments? Is she just pushing drugs? Wanting me to take 7 drugs?
Disclaimer: I know that alot of you take multiple drugs and there are many different levels of these illnesses. I would describe mine as being fairly mild.
Thanks,
Starlight
poster:Starlight
thread:389268
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040909/msgs/389268.html