Medication for Bipolar: Can a person heal from bipolar?

I had a co-worker with bi-polar and she generally did great with the meds, but there were absences. She had a longterm marriage. I believe bi-polar is permanent, but as with other conditions, your diet, lifestyle, etc makes a difference in how it goes. A short list of meds may be more beneficial as you avoid needing meds to treat side effects.

Dear One Human Family ...

Thank you, Joe L. Loved your reply to my comment. Would like to purchase
your book. Working on my own novella, based on true stories of mood
disorders associated with the family disease of alcoholism & chemical
(including medically prescribed) dependency across three generations of my
family. Thanks for letting me know of your work. I look forward to reading
it. The working title of my novella: "Soul Trek..."Almost 2/3 done with it.
Any tips on publishers, editors, or agents helpful to you? Thanks again &
bravo!
Trudy

Dear Trudy,

I am using KDP, Amazon's publishing platform. Amazon is the leading self-publishing company in the world, from my research.

I have much to say about my experience with KDP. Some of that information is in a book I published on Amazon in the past month as part of my efforts to rapidly prototype TOT - Tools of Transformation.

I love your book's title and premise. If and when you feel comfortable, let's confer by phone, as there is too much to share in this kind of forum.

Loving regards,
Joe

I applaud you hanging in there and staying with the meds . From what I know Bi Polar is a permanent condition but like other conditions can kind of wax and wane and be impacted by many things like diet, stress, sleep, life changes, pregnancy etc.. The fact you have gone 6 weeks , an extra week without any issues is not an indication of a cure as much as the medication likely still hanging around a bit and after 5 years having a great impact from the sounds of it.

I know it sucks to take medication. But it sounds like its working for you.
Some people struggle to find a medication that works and sometimes never do.

I would urge you to talk to your provider about this as well.

Hang in there 🙂

I know your wish to get of the meds. Be careful. Have a backup plan 🥴

Thanks to Joe L. Still writing the book. Will finish by the end of this
year. Look on the Internet for the pen name Toby Goodfriend & the title,
"Soul Trek: Three Generations". Appreciate your interest & your patience.

Here are some key points about medications for bipolar disorder:

Mood Stabilizers: Mood stabilizers like lithium, valproate, and lamotrigine are often prescribed. They help smooth out the highs and lows of bipolar disorder.

Antipsychotic Medications: Atypical antipsychotic medications, such as aripiprazole and quetiapine, can help manage manic, episodes and sometimes depressive symptoms.

Antidepressants: In some cases, doctors may prescribe antidepressants, but these are often used cautiously alongside mood stabilizers to prevent triggering manic episodes.

Personalized Treatment: Bipolar disorder varies from person to person, so treatment plans are highly individualized. Finding the right medication or combination of medications may take time.

Regular Monitoring: It's essential to work closely with a healthcare provider to monitor medication effectiveness and make necessary adjustments..

Lifestyle Support: Medications work best when combined with therapy, a healthy lifestyle, and a strong support system....

I wrote previously on this thread that I had come to the conclusion that I have neither Major Depressive Disorder nor Bipolar Disorder.

I assembled a great deal of research supporting that contention and presented it to my mental health provider and to my PCP. They accepted my findings enough to help me go forward with discontinuing my medication until I can’t go any further or I am off all of it.

I have not done this recklessly. I am on parole from a crime committed when I was on lot of medication. I am monitored very closely. Here is my progress so far.

I am down to five meds, six if you count Testosterone supplementation. My meds are 40mg of Latuda to help manage the discontinuation symptoms. Lithium 450mg down from 900mg, no longer at therapeutic levels. Bupropion 225 mg from 450mg and Venlafaxine 225mg, also down from 450mg.

The testosterone is to offset the effects of the antidepressants that block testosterone production or uptake, I can’t remember right now.

It’s been three months since we started and I feel the best I have in my entire life. One big downside is that I don’t sleep more than three hours at a time.

The lack of sleep makes sense considering I am still on two powerful stimulants, Bupropion and Venlafaxine. I discontinued all of the sedatives I was taking right away. I still take .50 of lorazepam when ever my family is making me crazy.

It is very important to note that when I was examined as a teen and again in my mid twenties neither the hospital or the psychiatrist I saw for nine years diagnosed me with anything. I was told I was highly sensitive to emotions and external inputs. The psychiatrist helped me learn to deal with it.

It wasn’t until age forty three that I received a diagnosis of MDD and age fifty that they changed it to Bipolar Disorder. Nothing worked to relieve my symptoms, they just worse. Until I started digging.

Before I could convince my docs I had to change my diet radically. From a typical American diet to one more like one could create for themselves. No sugar, no highly processed foods, no take out and zero fast food.

I also began exercising, now up to three hours a day of weight training and cycling. Might seem extreme. However, when you consider most Americans are awake sixteen hours a day devoting three of those hours to moving so as to not ingest poison everyday, seems like a good trade.

I expect to be off of all of the fourteen drugs by end of the year. Maybe not, but I will certainly be on less. The exercise and better diet are a win either way.

The biggest benefit is I have my full range of emotions back. Yeah, it’s a lot of work. But I have a life after fifteen years of hell. I have a chance to make amends to those I’ve hurt and if I still need meds I’m okay with that. The best part I can now remember the gentle loving man I have always been. I’m not a monster, there was something terribly wrong. Maybe just maybe this time less is more,

Thanks for listening.

May you have sunshine and cool breezes all your days.

Sounds like a good plan. I think I was misdiagnosed with bipolar, too. I was never on more than 4 meds simultaneously and am now down to 200 mg/day of Lamictal. I, too, feel in good shape mentally. I was on Zyprexa for ten years with devastating side effects (severe weight gain and came close to becoming a diabetic). Withdrawl from it was not fun, but worth it.
Glad to hear that the decent human being in you is shing thru. Best of luck as you progress toward your state of grace.