How many medications do bipolar people usually take?

I have moderate bipolar but I'm currently having some flare ups and am now on four medications not including birth control. How many medications are considered an average amount?

Ever since I was diagnosed (3 years ago) I have only been on 2 at a time- 1 mood stabiliser and 1 anti-psychotic. With the exception of being on both of those and an anti-depressant 2 years ago. But that made me manic so I'm not allowed anti-depressants anymore.

Mood Stabilizer
Antipsychotic
Anti-anxiety

Hey TuesdayC. The most I have ever been on at one time was 5. I recently had to stop taking 1 because of side effects and I am definitely missing the stability that it offered. I used to worry about the amount of meds (thinking that I must really be crazy to be on so many but I've learned to accept it). Do you find that the med combination that you are on is helping?

Peace

Currently 3, but not sure I am on the best mix right now. I need to see a pdoc again. My initial diagnosis was close to 20 years ago but I have been totally cured about 4 times since then, so on and off different meds over the years. Nearly always 2 or 3 prescribed at a time.

PeaceAndHarmony wrote:Hey TuesdayC. The most I have ever been on at one time was 5. I recently had to stop taking 1 because of side effects and I am definitely missing the stability that it offered. I used to worry about the amount of meds (thinking that I must really be crazy to be on so many but I've learned to accept it). Do you find that the med combination that you are on is helping?

Peace

Well I am at 4 which is a new high for me. I do feel pretty great other than some side effects, I just have a hard time knowing if I'm on something that I might not need to be on. I'm not at peace with accepting that meds could help me.

At one point I was stable on only my mood stabiliser (Carbamazepine/Tegretol) and that kept me stable for years at a stretch- six years was the longest time I was stable on only that. However, following a major mixed episode and psychotic break last year, I'm now on two antipsychotics, Quetiapine/Seroquel and Olanzapine/Zyprexa. I also have Procyclidine I can take to counteract a side effect of the Zyprexa (my eyes rolling back or oculogyric crisis) and recently I've also been on Zolpidem/Ambien for sleep.

I'm hoping to slowly come off one of my antipsychotics (Seroquel) though, and only use the Procyclidine and Zolpidem sparingly, as I know I'm on too many meds at the moment, and my pdoc agrees.

I am currently taking 6 to control or try to manage my bipolar

zyprexa
lithium
seroquel
xanax
cogentin
cymbalta[list=][/list]

I'm at my record now, which is 5 medications. Two mood stabilizers, two antipsychotics and one antidepressive. (apart from anxyolitics, hypnotics etc., or it would reach around 8.)

Is this heavy? Yes. But the thing is, this heavy cocktail was built over the years and the meds were added as needed. When my psychiatrist tries to taper down one of my meds too much, I start to show bad manic dysphoric signs.

But from what I see, this is amount of heavy-duty meds is really unusual for Bipolars.

UpDownAround wrote:Currently 3, but not sure I am on the best mix right now. I need to see a pdoc again. My initial diagnosis was close to 20 years ago but I have been totally cured about 4 times since then, so on and off different meds over the years. Nearly always 2 or 3 prescribed at a time.

Bumped up to 4 today.