Tired Of Antipsychotics and Antidepressants

Although when I find myself in super Depressive states, I can have some paranoia and delusions, I rarely get those. For the most part, I don't deal with that part of Bipolar Disorder. A lot of my problems cause me a great deal of anxiety and I'm tired of doctors prescribing me Antipsychotics and Antidepressants for this because it doesn't treat the issue. It seems like doctors think putting you to sleep is the way to go but the trick is, you gotta get there first. A lot of Antipsychotics/depressants give me schizophrenic episodes during sleep, which prevents me from sleep.

I'm starting new therapy at a new place and I hope they don't put me on either of those. Sorry, I just had to vent. I really need help. I cussed out 2 strangers this week and have been hurting my mom's feelings with my snappy attitude lately. I just want thorough help and these medications aren't doing it.

My main problem is sharp irritation that mostly feels uncontrollable and sometimes, it's due to extreme worry.

virtualinsanity wrote:Although when I find myself in super Depressive states, I can have some paranoia and delusions, I rarely get those. For the most part, I don't deal with that part of Bipolar Disorder. A lot of my problems cause me a great deal of anxiety and I'm tired of doctors prescribing me Antipsychotics and Antidepressants for this because it doesn't treat the issue. It seems like doctors think putting you to sleep is the way to go but the trick is, you gotta get there first. A lot of Antipsychotics/depressants give me schizophrenic episodes during sleep, which prevents me from sleep.

I'm starting new therapy at a new place and I hope they don't put me on either of those. Sorry, I just had to vent. I really need help. I cussed out 2 strangers this week and have been hurting my mom's feelings with my snappy attitude lately. I just want thorough help and these medications aren't doing it.

My main problem is sharp irritation that mostly feels uncontrollable and sometimes, it's due to extreme worry.

I can understand your frustration. I know it sounds like common sense and maybe you have already. But maybe you can communicate how you feel to your doctor (or psychiatrist preferably). If you find it isn't getting you anywhere maybe you can search for another pdoc, one that can listen and respect your needs. (Which seems like you may be looking into, or at least therapy which is awesome.) It isn't worth putting up with, especially if you aren't seeing any improvement or positive results. I'm not sure if you have tried a mood stabilizer (and I am not a pdoc so I can't give much advice), but maybe something to bring up with them if you are interested.

I wish you best of luck and keep us posted!

Antipsychotics, through their dopamine antagonism mechanism, act as good antimanic mood stabilisers. During both mania and psychosis, the neurotransmitter dopamine is at dangerously high levels. Antipsychotics antagonise (block) some of the dopamine receptors and thus help to prevent both mania and psychosis.
Your psychiatrist isn't saying that you're psychotic by prescribing you antipsychotics.
Antipsychotics have more purposes than their namesake purpose of preventing psychosis.
Most people with Bipolar (especially type I) are on a conventional mood stabiliser (Lithium, Valproate etc.) AND an antipsychotic.
Antipsychotics can have some nasty side effects (sedation, constipation, weight gain), and in my opinion - it is better to try a conventional mood stabiliser alone first, but they are sometimes a necessary evil.
Before I was put on Seroquel (an absolute lifesaver, for me) and was on lithium alone, I had two manias, two mixed episodes and a depression in the space of NINE DAYS.
Seroquel gives me much more side effects than the lithium does, but I realise that it, in combination with lithium, has kept me stable for over a month (a long time for me).
Antipsychotics get an unfairly bad reputation due to the side effects of the more potent ones like Zyprexa and Clozapine (sometimes necessary for some people). The reality is that any side effect an antipsychotic can give you (except movement disorders/dyskinesias), a conventional mood stabiliser can too (conventional mood stabilisers can also cause hair loss, kidney and thyroid problems etc. - something antipsychotics don't do).
All medications, even Tylenol, have side effects and it's about weighing up the pros and cons.
Don't let one bad experience on an atypical antipsychotic put you off an entire class of drugs. It's a bit like saying "I'm not taking Lamictal because lithium made me feel numb".
Antipsychotics are literally lifesavers for many of the users on here.

virtualinsanity wrote:I'm starting new therapy at a new place and I hope they don't put me on either of those.

Then tell them not to put you on those.
I stopped passively just doing what they told me to do years ago. I just started seeing a new shrink after being off meds for years, and I told her upfront that I won't take Lithium, anything I've taken previously (and why), and that if anything is sedative I will stop taking it.

You're in control of your life.
You tell THEM how to treat you.
It's not progress unless you're happy with the results.

Thanks for your replies. I think the issue, as I've posted in my other thread is I'm not Bipolar Disorder but Borderline Personality. I rarely experience mania and my Depressive states don't last long at all. I was prescribed an SSRI that I'm gonna try half a pill today to see how that works but you're right.

I'm gonna tell them that I think I'm misdiagnosed and that I won't take certain medicines anymore. The issue is, I want to play it cool or they will think I'm an addict looking for a specific drug.

Please ignore the utter nonsense I wrote above.
Antipsychotics are evil BULLS***! Lol

David1999 wrote:Please ignore the utter nonsense I wrote above.
Antipsychotics are evil BULLS***! Lol

What's wrong? Did something change for you?
I'm on Effexor right now and I feel like total CRAP.

LilithxScorpius wrote:

David1999 wrote:Please ignore the utter nonsense I wrote above.
Antipsychotics are evil BULLS***! Lol

What's wrong? Did something change for you?
I'm on Effexor right now and I feel like total CRAP.

I realised that all the sedation, constipation and appetite increase I've been experiencing was due to my Seroquel.

LilithxScorpius wrote:Thanks for your replies. I think the issue, as I've posted in my other thread is I'm not Bipolar Disorder but Borderline Personality. I rarely experience mania and my Depressive states don't last long at all. I was prescribed an SSRI that I'm gonna try half a pill today to see how that works but you're right.

I'm gonna tell them that I think I'm misdiagnosed and that I won't take certain medicines anymore. The issue is, I want to play it cool or they will think I'm an addict looking for a specific drug.

You should tell your doctor this very thing so that they can weigh this in into your problems you are experiencing. Be very honest, almost blunt. Let us know how things go for you. I hope everything works out for you.