Posted by TJO on February 5, 2006, at 6:35:54
In reply to Help!! Bipolar, off meds, losing it, posted by catmint on January 28, 2006, at 18:05:38
> I have been diagnosed for 7 years, been on all pych meds for bipolar since. 2 months ago stopped Lamictal monotherapy.
>
> I can't deal with my life. I felt that the Lamictal was only helping somewhat, and stooped for fear of long term effects.
>
Maybe another mood stabilizer would help? I'm bipolar and take Neurontin, 1200 mg.(as well as other meds) It works great.> I'm 39, female, and living as a single parent.
That sounds tough, I'm 38, and female.
>
> Now, I have a mild recreational drug problem, as well as alcohol every day. Ciggarettes, a tumultuous home-life, jobless, facing eviction,scrounging for change, no foodstamps till Feb. 3Are there any hospital day programs near you?? I go to one and they have helped me solve many of my own problems.
>
> Help! Any posts in the next two to four hours are needed!! I need to get some advice.
>Well I didnt see this till Feb 5th, but my best advice is first of all, take your psych meds! Your illness can return if you don't take them, and sometimes if you try to go back on the same meds, they don't work. Sounds like you are self medicating your illness with the drugs and alcohol for now. The cigs-maybe your pdoc will let you take Wellbutrin. It is also used as an anti smoking med as well as for depression. Also try to find a good pdoc. Maybe a social worker or counselor at a local psych program could help you with your housing and home life issues, and help you find access to some more $. Are you disabled by your illness and if so have you filed for SSD or SSI?
>Hang in there,
Tammy
poster:TJO
thread:603849
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060205/msgs/606497.html