Hi, I've suffered from bipolar disorder (rapid cycling) for quite a good few year's (10 years to be precise, though I experienced symptoms at least a good five year's before this)... Over the year's I've tried quite a few mood stabilisers/anti-psychotics (carbamazapine, valporate & Quietiapine... Just to name a few).... Though I've found a major problem from the majority of them, which is that, I seem to suffer from extreme sedative effects (especially with the anti-psychotics) to the point, I struggle to function properly/feel doped up most of the day... Causing me to struggle with day to day activities/tasks ect.
Around 3 year's ago I decided to come off meds completely, for the first time ever.
It took me a while adjusting off medication at first but eventually, on the whole, I like to think I've done fairly well/managed as well as possible whilst off them.
I've recently found myself having to seek for help/ medication once more though, due to finding myself going through a couple of extremely hard personal problems. My appointment is coming up within the next month for me to restart meds. I've been given a few options on what medication the doctor is now willing to prescribe (well, the only medication choices i have left to try, to be fair).... Two of those choices are... carbamazapine once again (due to this being the main one that least affected me in that sense, though i didn't gain much benefit from using it alone & had to add another type of medication into the mix so far down the line resulting in that then knocking me about quite a bit).... & also, lithium is another one that's been mentioned due to myself never trying this at all over these past 10/15 years, believe it or not.
I've heard quite a few times, this choice of drug to be quite a decent mood stabiliser for bipolar disorder & i am finding myself leaning more towards trying this one out, this time around, above all of my other choices..... Though I'm just a little concerned on the sedative side?.... Does anyone know if it causes bad sedative effects at all?.... Any input at all would be great.
Much appreciated! ;)