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Click on below for a list of Bipolar drugs Medications for Bipolar Disorder Other names: Bipolar Affective Disorder; Bipolar Affective Mood Disorder; Bipolar I Disorder; Bipolar II Disorder; Manic Depression; Manic Depressive Disorder; Manic Depressive Illness; Mood Disorder
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Why is this medication prescribed? Prazosin® is used alone or in combination with other medications to treat high blood pressure. Prazosin is in a class of medications called alpha-blockers. It works by relaxing the blood vessels so that blood can flow more easily through the body. High blood pressure is a common condition and when not treated, can cause damage to the brain, heart, blood vessels, kidneys, and other parts of the body. Damage to these organs may cause heart disease, a heart attack, heart failure, stroke, kidney failure, loss of vision, and other problems. In addition to taking medication, making lifestyle changes will also help to control your blood pressure. These changes include eating a diet that is low in fat and salt, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising at least 30 minutes most days, not smoking, and using alcohol in moderation. How should this medicine be used? Prazosin comes as a capsule to take by mouth. It usually is taken two or three times a day at evenly spaced intervals. The first time taking prazosin, you should take it before you go to bed. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take prazosin exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of prazosin and gradually increase your dose. Prazosin controls high blood pressure but does not cure it. Continue to take prazosin even if you feel well. Do not stop taking prazosin without talking to your doctor. Other uses for this medicine Prazosin is also used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH, noncancerous enlargement of the prostate), congestive heart failure, pheochromocytoma (adrenal gland tumor), sleep problems associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD; an anxiety disorder in people who experience or witness a traumatic, life-threatening event), and Raynaud's disease (condition where the fingers and toes change skin color from white to blue to red when exposed to hot or cold temperatures). Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this medication for your condition. This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. What special precautions should I follow? Before taking prazosin, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to prazosin, alfuzosin (Uroxatral), doxazosin (Cardura), terazosin, any other medications, or any ingredients in prazosin capsules. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients. tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention: beta-blockers such as propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran, in Inderide); medications for erectile dysfunction (ED) such as sildenafil (Revatio, Viagra), tadalafil (Adcirca, Cialis), or vardenafil (Levitra, Staxyn); and other medications for high blood pressure. tell your doctor if you have narcolepsy (a sleep disorder that may cause extreme sleepiness, sudden uncontrollable urge to sleep during daily activities) or if you have or have ever had prostate cancer or liver disease. tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while taking prazosin, call your doctor. if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking prazosin. If you need to have eye surgery at any time during or after your treatment, be sure to tell your doctor that you are taking or have taken prazosin. you should know that this medication may make you drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive a car, operate machinery, or perform dangerous tasks for 24 hours after the first time you take prazosin or after your dose is increased. ask your doctor about the safe use of alcoholic beverages while you are taking prazosin. Alcohol can make the side effects from prazosin worse. you should know that prazosin may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting when you get up too quickly from a lying position. This is more common when you first start taking prazosin, when your dose is increased, or when another blood pressure medication is added to your treatment. To help avoid this problem, get out of bed slowly, resting your feet on the floor for a few minutes before standing up. If you experience these symptoms, sit or lie down. These symptoms may also occur if you drink alcohol, stand for long periods of time, exercise, or if the weather is hot. If these symptoms do not improve, call your doctor. What special dietary instructions should I follow? Follow your doctor's directions for your meals, including advice for a reduced salt (sodium) diet. What should I do if I forget a dose? Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. Check with your doctor if you have missed two or more doses. What side effects can this medication cause? Prazosin may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms or those listed in the SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS section are severe or do not go away: weakness tiredness headache nausea Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: hives rash itching difficulty breathing fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat chest pain painful erection of the chicken that lasts for hours What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication? Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication. In case of emergency/overdose In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911. Symptoms of overdose may include the following: drowsiness decreased reflexes dizziness lightheadedness fainting What other information should I know? Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your blood pressure should be checked regularly to determine your response to prazosin. Before having any laboratory test, tell your doctor and the laboratory personnel that you are taking prazosin. Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription. It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies. This branded product is no longer on the market. Generic alternatives are available. Last Revised - 03/15/2015 Source: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a682245.html#other-uses
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The Dangers of Abruptly Stopping Antidepressants Written by Kimberly Holland and Valencia Higuera Feeling better? Think you’re ready to stop taking your antidepressant? Don’t. It may seem like you no longer need the medication, but in most cases it is contributing to a happier state of mind. That’s why it’s important you stick with the treatment prescribed by your doctor. If you think you’re ready to stop taking an antidepressant, ask your doctor to create a plan of action that can help your body slowly adjust to being without the medicine. Antidepressants help balance brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. These brain chemicals affect your mood and emotions. An imbalance can cause major depression or anxiety disorders. Antidepressants correct this imbalance, but it can take four weeks or more to notice any improvement. Source: Medically Reviewed by George Krucik, MD, MBA on May 14, 2015 If you feel like stopping your medicine because of bothersome side effects, remember that finding the right treatment often takes a lot of trial and error and some tweaking. Don’t stop taking the medicine until you have spoken with your doctor. It might seem like you don’t need the medication anymore, but if you stop taking your antidepressant the medicine will leave your body and your symptoms might return. Quitting without consulting your doctor can be dangerous — even deadly. It can also trigger potential side effects, including withdrawal and relapse. If you relapse and start taking an antidepressant again, it can take weeks for the drug to re-balance your moods. Side Effects of Quitting Medication Quitting “cold turkey” may cause major withdrawal symptoms. A sudden drop of your medicine may also worsen your depression, send your symptoms on a downward spiral, or set your treatment back several weeks or months. Here are some possible effects of quitting your medication suddenly: You get sick. Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome, also called antidepressant withdrawal, occurs when a person abruptly quits antidepressants. Many people who experience antidepressant withdrawal feel like they have the flu or a stomach bug. They may also experience disturbing mental thoughts or images. You set back your treatment. Untreated depression can set back your treatment plan. It can also extend a depressive episode, make relapse more likely, or cause a worsening of the disease. You contemplate suicide. Not being properly medicated may increase your risk of suicidal thoughts — and increases the risk that you’ll act on those thoughts. Ninety percent of people who commit suicide are depressed or have another mental health disorder, says the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Other conditions get worse. Stopping an antidepressant might worsen other conditions you have, such as chronic headaches, chronic pain, or insomnia. Additionally, untreated depression can make it harder to treat some conditions. Since your doctor has balanced your antidepressant prescription with any other medications you’re taking, stopping the antidepressant can negatively affect this balance. Additional side effects or complications may result. Other symptoms of antidepressant withdrawal include: anxiety fatigue nightmares trouble sleeping depression and mood swings loss of coordination muscle spasms dizziness difficulty balancing nausea vomiting flu-like symptoms headache Antidepressants and Pregnancy Just found out you’re pregnant? That’s no excuse to stop taking your antidepressants. According to the Mayo Clinic, women who stop taking antidepressants while pregnant are more likely to suffer a relapse during pregnancy than women who continue taking their prescribed medication. Let your doctor know about your change in circumstances. They may decide to take you off your medication or lower the dosage. You can also take a different antidepressant, one that’s safer for pregnant women. Talk to Your Doctor The best way to stop taking your antidepressant is to slowly taper yourself from the medication under a doctor’s supervision. This involves slowly lowering the daily dose of medication until you are completely off the drug. Improving your overall physical and mental health can help you come off an antidepressant with few complications. Talk to your healthcare provider about incorporating these lifestyle changes: exercise meditation getting plenty of rest not abusing alcohol and drugs eating healthy, balanced meals reducing stress No two people will respond to quitting antidepressants in the same way. Doctors have no way of knowing who will have withdrawal symptoms and who won’t. Antidepressants help return a balance to mood-influencing chemicals in the brain. Some people will respond poorly to the rapid change in chemicals, while others will show almost no response. Talk with your doctor and don’t gamble on your health and wellness. -
By Abigail Elise @theabigailelise on April 21 2015 12:56 PM EDT Depression Awareness Week is sponsored by the Depression Awareness Alliance. Reuters Depression Awareness Week runs April 20-26, a seven-day observance run by the Depression Alliance and dedicated to spreading awareness of the mental disorder. Depression is often characterized by low moods, low self-esteem and a loss of interest or pleasure in activities one typically enjoys. Depression is an often misunderstood disorder, but organizations like DoSomething.org and the National Alliance on Mental Illness hope to help people understand what it’s like to struggle with the disease. Last year, game developer Zoe Quinn launched interactive fiction game “Depression Quest” on Steam, a game that helped players understand what it was like to engage in everyday activities when dealing with depression. Want to learn more about depression? Here are 10 basic facts: 1. Approximately 20 million people in the U.S. suffer from depression every year. That’s more than twice the population of New York City. 2. One in four adults will suffer from an episode of depression before the age of 24. 3. Women are twice as likely to suffer from depression as men. 4. Symptoms of depression can vary, but typically include feelings of guilt and hopelessness, sleep disturbances, appetite changes, difficulty concentrating, lack of energy and fatigue. 5. St. John’s Wort, a flowering plant and medicinal herb, has been shown to help with depression in typical cases. 6. More than 350 million people of all ages suffer from depression worldwide. That’s more than the entire population of the United States. 7. The World Health Organization predicted depression will become the second biggest medical cause of disability in 15 years, second only to HIV/AIDS. 8. Depression often occurs when other psychiatric health problems are present, such as post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. 9. Most prescription antidepressants increase the user’s serotonin, dopamine or norepinephrine levels. Some of the most popular antidepressants are Prozac, Zoloft, Lexapro and Effexor. 10. Many famous, creative people suffered from depression, including Robin Williams, Mark Twain, Edgar Allan Poe, Vincent van Gogh, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Jon Hamm. Think you may be depressed? You can take this quiz or call the National Depression Hotline. Source: http://www.ibtimes.com/depression-awareness-week-2015-10-facts-about-depression-symptoms-medication-more-1890701 -
Hi, I have been on Pristiq for 3 weeks now. Lots of side effects that have not subsided yet (spaced out, very tired and wired at the same time, anxiety and tremors, headaches, palpitations). Some days are better than others and on those days I have a bit of hope as far as my depression/bipolar goes. But the past few days I have been in a much deeper depression and I am losing hope again. The side effects are bad as well. My questions are: Is it possible that the med simply has not kicked in yet? Is there hope that it might? Is 3 weeks long enough to know? and Is it possible for these side effects to diminish? Any responses are welcome and appreciated! Thanks, Jen -
This is my first actual post of my thoughts and feelings in this forum, and I apologize if its in the wrong place to post, as I am new to forums... posting blogs etc. So here goes... in the past few months, progressively getting worst, I feel so lethargic, lazy, and have no goals...which makes me feel lost and hopeless probably for the last few years and getting worse. I don't know who to turn to, i have a roommate but I honestly think he don't understand my type of depression, however lately has been a little more "forgiving" and does not get on my case when i don't do my share of the work around the house... so to escape i get so involved in computer games (actually I feel its a safer alternative than some other options) but their are days that go by that i don't care about anything or even shower, cause I don't plan on leaving the house. for instance it has been about 2 weeks now since I have even walked outside, let alone drive my own car. His (my roommate's) car is broke down and he drives mine leaving me with no vehicle, so that gives me an excuse to not even feel i have to get outside. anyway, I started a new antidepressant a week ago called Viibrym, week 2 is 20mg and so far i don't feel much difference, but i know it takes time for the effects to work, as i have been on antidepressants since I was 18 now am 47 y/o. The Pdr also gave me Abilify and said to try it after I see how the Viibrym works. (Kinda scares me some, because of the TV ads and side effects plus all the other meds I take...I feel I take way too many Medications and somehow they have to interact with each other...the list is too long for me to type out and I hate typing...but I will try. Meds I take: Metformin, Altace, Zocor, TalwinNx, Celebrex Also I take: Viibrym, Valium, Adderall, Sonata I am starting to have side effect of a light dizzying shock-like sensations in my head mostly and throughout my body, either from withdraw from Lexapro or its the Viibrym, not sure. either ways its annoying and hope it subsides very soon. back to what I was saying is, life is so meaningless to me and I have no sense of direction and lost the motivation to do much of anything. my memory is shot...so if my post here is understandable it will be a miracle. so I don't know if anyone can relate, but if u can, I just need someone to talk to that can understand where i am coming from. (I know I need to get back to therapy but I cant afford it right now, let alone my winter heat bills and everything is just piling up and i am sinking deeper... Also I forgot to mention, I have lost so many ppl (family and friends) this last 4 years, I am just weary of everyone dying around me...always in wonder if my number is up soon, I usually say sooner the better, but I want to make sure anyone reading this is thinking I am suicidal, as I am not, but I do think of death on a daily basis. I have attempted suicide in the past, (many years ago) but failed and ended up in the hospital, so I gave up trying and feel it must be my deal in life to suffer thru it... Well, I think I have blabbered on enuf and if anyone has any suggestions or ideas, I would love to hear them...even if you can just relate, it will help me not to feel so alone and stuck in this downward spiral. Thanks in advance for reading this, if u get this far. Peace to all...Tom
