Bipolar medication side effects: Trading one problem for another.

Posted by Elaine R. @mrser52, Jun 22, 2019

I feel that my bipolar medications work but I just can't deal with the side effects they cause, they are just as bad as my bipolar problems. So the answer I came up with is just stop taking my medications. So I stopped them, I don't care anymore.

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No, he dose not know that I stopped it. Bipolar meds just don't work for me so I am all done with them.

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@mrser52

No, he dose not know that I stopped it. Bipolar meds just don't work for me so I am all done with them.

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I'd really encourage you to touch base with your doctor about what you experienced and to ensure your taper off the medication goes safely and smoothly, @mrser52. I think that doctors get that medication side effects are sometimes too much to tolerate.

Do you have access to a support group for patients with bipolar disorder? If not, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) may have local support groups they can connect you to, 800-950-NAMI, info@nami.org.

What other ideas have been given to you by your doctor — or have you seen in your own experience -— for managing your symptoms?

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They have talked about ECT's , I can't do them because of my brain tumor. There just isn't anything more that I can try, because I have tried them all over the course of 30 years.

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Meditation has helped me... just throwing that out there. 🙂

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They just don't work for me.

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Dose anyone know if it is safe to have ECT treatments when you have a intracranial meningioma brain tumor?

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@mrser52

Dose anyone know if it is safe to have ECT treatments when you have a intracranial meningioma brain tumor?

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Hello @mrser52

While I don't have an answer to your question I do recommend that you consult with a highly experienced neurologist before proceeding with ECT treatments. If you are near a university medical center or a Mayo Clinic that would be your best place to get a second opinion.

Just wondering if the ECT is being recommended for long term depression. If so, what other depression treatments have you tried?
Also, have you had surgery for this brain tumor?

Please remember that "an informed decision is the best decision", so get plenty of information and opinions from highly reliable sources.

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@hopeful33250

Hello @mrser52

While I don't have an answer to your question I do recommend that you consult with a highly experienced neurologist before proceeding with ECT treatments. If you are near a university medical center or a Mayo Clinic that would be your best place to get a second opinion.

Just wondering if the ECT is being recommended for long term depression. If so, what other depression treatments have you tried?
Also, have you had surgery for this brain tumor?

Please remember that "an informed decision is the best decision", so get plenty of information and opinions from highly reliable sources.

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It is for my Bipolar 1 server depression. And medications don't work for me, they make me worse or the side effects are so bad. and I have not had surgery for this they are watching it. I did have 5 radiation treatments for it in December 2017. and it is stable. I will have another MRI in August 2019. It is Pine Rest Mental Health Hospital in Grand Rapids MI. that want to do the ECT's,

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@mrser52

It is for my Bipolar 1 server depression. And medications don't work for me, they make me worse or the side effects are so bad. and I have not had surgery for this they are watching it. I did have 5 radiation treatments for it in December 2017. and it is stable. I will have another MRI in August 2019. It is Pine Rest Mental Health Hospital in Grand Rapids MI. that want to do the ECT's,

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Thanks for the added information, @mrser52. Have you sought any other opinions regarding ECT treatments and how they might affect the intracranial meningioma brain tumor?

If not, I would certainly encourage you to do so.

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I called my neurosurgeon's office and I am waiting for a call back.

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