I have bipolar disorder. I sleep more than anything. Have always thought that it was from the meds.?

My meds include lithium, effexor and occasionally klonopin. Now I am starting to wonder if all of this sleepiness is actually depression. I am also very hateful, impatient, and could kill someone as look at them. (this morning had to turn off the radio because the radio host was "way too happy for me"" Isnt that awful!! I was also on seroquil a couple months ago but went off it cause I swore THAT that was what was making me sooooo tired!!!! No better without it.....probably a little worse. Dont know which way to turn at this point! Been on drugs for about 6 years. I have a handicapped Mom and a sister with cancer. How can I help them if I cant even help myself??????

I have some experience with this and you don't want to be taking advice from just anyone here on Yahoo when you are dealing with psyche drugs. You must commit to finding a better doctor that will help you manage them and get the dosing right. For the rest of your life! Don't let anyone here tell you to "just get off the meds" PLEASE. Incorrectly medicated BP can be very dangerous. Take the pressure off of yourself by letting other family care for your ailing mother and sister. They will be ok. Begin consistent ongoing behavioral management therapy NOW! Do you want to change or just wallow in it. Enjoy what God has given you in this life such as children and grandchildren. Count your blessings not your curses. -Much Love!

It could be a number of things. It could be your meds. I take risperdal at night which makes me super sleepy. It could also be the disorder. Either way you should talk to your psych just to see if any adjustments can be made.

p.s. I get mad at overly happy people too when I'm in the mood.

Except for the Klonopin, the drugs shouldn't make you very sleepy. Yes, it might be depression. But why don't you ask your doctor?

You need re-evaluation of meds, but they alone almost never help all that much with BPD. Counseling/therapy is just as important as meds, if not more so.

Talk to your doctor. You may need a change in medications, if they dont seem to be working your probably right.

I also have bipolar and have been diagnosed and on meds for about 14 years now. Currently I am on a variety of meds which include effexor and klonapin. I know that when I take klonapin I use it for antianxiety and it always puts me to sleep. I only take it for attacks so that I dont become dependent upon it. I have also taken effexor for about 6 years now. The current doctor I see is starting to ween me off of it because he says that current studies lean towards not using it for bipolar patients. I also know that when I get off of it for a day or so I become really depressed and sick.
Honestly, I have been on and off of so many different medicines throughout the past years with varying effects. I have learned that I have to trust how I am feeling and tell my doctor EXACTLY what is going on. If this is a recent way of feeling for you, it may be that you are going through one of your mania cycles and into your depression cycles or vice versa. It could also be that you are under so much stress that you need to adjust your meds to compensate.
I think that my best advice is to call your therapist or your psych. Tell them what is going on and see if they can help you to adjust your meds as soon as possible.
Good Luck!

Yeh, I know what you mean. I've been thru something similar with Seroquel - trying to reduce because it just must be the cause of sedation. Only, I didn't make it below 50mg because I would either get noticeably depressed or life would get all happy sparkly.

Have you tried Lamictal yet? It's the anticonvulsant with the strongest antidepressant properties. I take it and Lithium (plus despised by needed Depakote). Li augments Lamictal like it does any antidepressant. Talk to your pdoc about it if you haven't yet. Another option would be to go over 200-300mg of Seroquel. It's supposed to get less sedating at higher doses and to have a stronger antidepressant effect. Personally, I'd give Abilify or Geodon a shot before that.

okay i have had similar problems, not with prescriptions drugs though. you have to get clean. remove yourself from you enviroment! move if you have to. get clean start excersizing. that helps me get clear headed and keeps me sane. use your anger and the bad feelings to push yourself when you excersize that is your road to recovery. work on you first then you family second. you have to take of you sometimes. the drugs are definatly making you tired klonopin will knock a horse out. get off that stuff. i went through similar. now i have changed all that and i have a great husband and kids. i wentfrom living in a truck to buy my first house at 20. You have to want that change. say to yourself enough is enough i want a better life throw the drugs away and tell your mom you want help. talk to your family and us them as support. tell them you want change and they will help.

To begin with, get some help. Not for you, for your mother and sister. Friends who can help out, other family members. Be honest, tell them you're overwhelmed by the situation. It isn't your responsibility to be their primary care providers, give yourself permission to ask for help and take care of yourself first.
Next consider exploring different medication options with your psychiatrist (or god forbid you're only working with your general doctor, get a psychiatrist). Different medications work for different people and sometimes you have to go through them all to find the ones that work. Once you find them there is no guarantee they will still work later on. One set of drugs that work for a person for years can suddenly stop working, or the dosage may need adjustment.
Finally, if you aren't seeing a therapist/counselor- get one. Treatment of bi-polar with medication has been shown to be far more effective when combined with therapy. If you are worried about the cost look for a clinic with sliding fees.