{"id":7354,"date":"2013-04-07T17:04:09","date_gmt":"2013-04-08T00:04:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bipolarhappens.com\/bhblog\/?p=7354"},"modified":"2018-05-15T09:58:17","modified_gmt":"2018-05-15T16:58:17","slug":"part-2-find-bipolar-disorder-medications-that-work-for-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bipolarhappens.com\/bhblog\/part-2-find-bipolar-disorder-medications-that-work-for-you\/","title":{"rendered":"Part 2: Find Bipolar Disorder Medications that Work for You"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"side<\/a>Strategies to find medications that work with your mind and body:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

# 1\u00a0\u00a0 Microdosing<\/strong>.\u00a0 Everybody processes medications differently.\u00a0 Our bodies are very individual which is why some people can take a certain drug with no side effects while others, like myself can have every single side effect listed on the drug warnings. There is a way to get around this.\u00a0 My co-author Dr. John Preston introduced me to microdosing\u00a0 many years ago. If your body has trouble processing a medication at the recommended dose, you can start with very small doses of the medication (microdosing) so that your body can acclimate to the drug with less side effects.\u00a0 This is what I did when I started Lamictal- an anti convulsant used to treat bipolar depression, rapid cycling and psychosis.\u00a0 It took six months<\/strong> for me to get to the right dose, but for the first time in my life I was able to tolerate a drug.\u00a0 If you’re someone who has a lot of trouble with side effects, make sure you talk to your doctor about microdosing. This is especially true if you are concerned about the rash associated with Lamictal. The rash is extremely rare-\u00a0 there are less serious rashes that respond very well to microdosing.<\/p>\n

#2 Understand the Medications You’re Taking<\/strong>. I remember being on six medications when I was first diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 1995.\u00a0 I had no idea what they were for. <\/strong> I just know that they all seemed to make me more ill than I was before I took the medications.\u00a0 This was because my doctor kept trying new combinations\u2013 one on top of the other -instead of working with me to find what really worked.\u00a0 I would never go through this now.\u00a0 I know too much about medications and know what questions to ask.\u00a0 It’s important that people with bipolar disorder as well as the people in their lives understand exactly why a certain medication is used. Ask questions:<\/p>\n