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A lot of the medications given for Bipolar are also used for epilepsy. If you have questions about why your doctor is prescribing them then ask the doctor about them.
As someone who has lived with a bipolar spouse for 23 years my counsel would be, take the meds. However, having said that, do educate yourself about the medication proposed and the effect your doctor anticipates it will have. Forewarned is forearmed. It took several months for us to find the right meds and dosage and in all honesty , our relationship would not be possible without them. Remember it's not just about you, but also your family, friends and co-workers and everyone your life touches. For us, meds act like a pressure cooker, they keep the lid on but sometimes the vapour escapes. Just a bit of steam.
Have you taken meds before? Is it just the thought of the meds being normally for Epilepsy that has you anxious?
I struggle with BP. My torment is the suicidal depressions and the Mixed Episodes where I sometimes feel that my brain is literally splitting down the middle and I have no idea which end is up or which direction to turn.
I also struggle with Generalized Anxiety, which makes the BP even worse at times. I got the brain swirling of the BP going and then the major anxiety & panic attacks jumping in sometimes.
So, I get anxiety about taking meds. I've been so anxious over taking meds that I've literally bawled & prayed before swallowing any new ones. It's a tough road to travel trying to find meds that will offer some amount of relief and yet not cause bad side effects. I've been through many many med trial and errors.
The other person who replied is a spouse of one with Bipolar and though they mean well, they are biased in that they don't struggle with the insidious illness itself. So, the point of telling you that it isn't about you solely isn't exactly fair because deep down you know that your shifts in mood affect everyone because they affect you worse.
It is about you and what you are seeking. If you are seeking balance and stabilization, moods not to swish and sway so rapidly or so dramatically then meds and therapy are advisable. If you are seeking some sort of relief of your symptoms, meds and therapy are both advisable.
If you are just anxious about taking Epilepsy meds, keep telling your psychiatrist. If you are willing to take other meds but are not sure about Epilepsy meds, keep telling your psychiatrist but work with the doc and give something a fair shot because you owe it to yourself to find some sort of relief.
i agree with above. There are soo many different medications these days. Give them a chance. You will be suprised at how much better you feel. Think of it like having a thyroid condition, which I do too. I have to take a synthroid everymorning forever. or like a birth control pill that you take every day
