I don't want to take medication and other questions...

I was just diagnosed as bipolar today and was put on depakote. I don't want to take it. I've read that weight gain is a side effect and I have worked very hard to lose weight after having a baby and don't want to gain any back. Is it bad to refuse medication? I mean, am I going to get worse?

I am a college student and recently decided to drop my current classes because I don't really care about them anymore. If I take a month or so off and try again, will I just want to quit again when I get depressed? Maybe I just won't go back because I have trouble working anyway so a degree won't do me much good.

Also, I have been told to stop drinking alcohol. I haven't had any today, but my thoughts are racing really badly. Is a little alcohol to stop that so bad?

Thanks.

I have a lot of issues with taking meds as well. I've finally accepted that i need to take the antidepressants, so i take those, but when it comes to antipsychotics, at this point in time, i refuse. period. for a few different reasons. One, i have been having my symptoms (hearing voices, seeing things, etc.) almost all my life and i am use to them. For me, it is a comfort to have these hallucinations and delusions, and when i was on meds for them in the past, and they went away, i became very depressed. I couldn't stand being without them and i felt like i wasn't myself. Also, i am just wary of all these drugs....especially the new ones. They still dont know much about them and how they react in a person's body and i'm afraid they are slowly poisoning me, like i might develope a brain tumor from them or something. Also, i hate the side effects. There are only two antipsychotics i can take that wont cause weight gain (abilify and Geodon) and i've already tried those...
I absolutly refuse to take any meds that will cause weight gain. I've been bulimic, so i've had a huge issue with weight and such. I know that if i took some medication that made me gain even a few pounds, i'd have a relapse of the bulimia.

I've heard that depikote often causes weight gain. You should tell your pdoc about your worries with weight gain and ask if there is any other kind of medication for your condition that will not cause much or any weight gain.

Most everyone conciders it bad to refuse medication and says that meds are the only thing that will help, but unless you are going to be a danger to yourself or others without meds, i think it's really up to you if you want to take them or not.


why have you been told to stop drinking alcohol? is it because of the meds you are on? i really dont think it's a good idea to drink any if you can control yourself. It wont make things any better in the long run. Alcohol doesn't mix well with medication. It might even be dangerous with some kinds of meds..i dont know about depikote.

i don't know about the college classes. I think that is really up to you and you need to make the best choice you can. It's possible you'll waqnt to drop out again when you get depressed, but sometimes that's how it is with severe depression--people cant work/go to school because of their condition and it's not your fault.

good luck.

-becka

Everyone seems to think that drugs are the only answer to mental problems. I see them as helping many people. I see them as being quick and easy. I did take a lot of meds for many years, both with and without alcohol. Today, I'm free of my meds for mental illness (bipolar) and free of alcohol. My life is good and has been good for a long time. However, part of my recovery program is writing in a journal everyday and exercising every day. Many people can't or will not do such things.

Many, many medications for mental illness cause weight gain. I gained over 100 pounds with my meds. I've since lost it with exercise though. They told me not to drink and take meds--I did both anyway. I probably have a lot more brain damage as a result. It is best to not drink alcohol with your meds.

College is your own business. But, I believe that any college experience will help you get better types of jobs. That is jobs that pay better, have more benefits, and have better working conditions. I went to college and was able to get a decent job with many benefits. many of my friends did not attent college and they live a much harder life than I do. But, you need to do what you have to do.
Good Luck,
Jim S