Taking Equetro

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I was diagnosed Bipolar over 20 years ago. As many who have this "disease" I have been off and on many different types of meds. Many of those meds stopped working, no longer work, or I have an intolerance to. I have been on Equetro, Serequel, and Klonopen now for quite a while with success. I am "older" now and this years has been the worse year of my life with my bipolar. I am scared that it will overtake me again and so am vigilant with my meds NOW.

After a really bad year of trying many different meds and combination of meds, I am finally doing well. However, when I get busy with all my life's responsibilities, I may forget a dose of my meds. This never use to bother me. I would just take the next dose and move on. LATELY though, if I miss even one dose, it is noticeable. Even my husband can tell. What is worse is that it takes days and sometimes more than a week or two to get back to 'normal'.

Naturally I will have this conversation with my doctor, but I am wondering if I am alone in this. I know this is not a brand new drug, but it has not been out long enough to have a generic and I wonder if there is anyone else taking Equetro and if they have the same reaction to a single missed dose?

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1

Hello, Miche! How are you?

I can tell you from other posts that have been made on here, as well as my e-husban's experiences with mental health medications that you are not the only one. Many people experience such a problem, if they miss a dose. Your body becomes dependent on the medication and the way it balances your brain chemicals, so it basically forgets how to balance them on its own and will react badly to missed doses.

If you have a smart phone, I recommend downloading a medication reminder app. There are many available for free and you can set them for your own medication schedule, so it basically nags you, whenever it's time to take your medications. I've been using one on my iPhone for several years and it's definitely helped me, a lot.

Side effects to this medication may include nausea, dizziness, frequent urination and cold sweats.

Is there anything else I can help with?

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2

Thank you for your response. I am in the mist of recovering from yet another failure to remember to take my pills. It is, however, assuring to know I am not the only one. I have recently purchased a Nokia smartphone and set up my alarm to go off at "pill time." I am hopeful that this will prevent me from forgetting in the future.

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3

No, you definitely are not the only one and it's great that you've downloaded a reminder app.

I've found that they really do help, I also make sure to use an annoying alert sound, so I can miss it.

How are you feeling?

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4

After a week of taking my med religiously, I am starting to feel more myself; just a little angry. The anger and resentment crops up every time I am reminded that I am forever reliant on medication to maintain a stable life. The number of times I have been in "talk therapy" for that is equal to the number of times I have stopped all my meds and tried to live without them. It is a vicious cycle. This time, however, I am determined to overcome my anger and move on to the part where I am living each day with some measure of success.

I have to laugh when 'they' ask if my disease has effected my life in any way. I truly believe that I would not be struggling to live just above poverty in a job with little to no future advancement opportunity. See, there goes the anger again.

The only thing I can be sure of based on the number of years I have lived on this merry-go-round of disease is that at some point I will forget the anger and live happily in my life and my choices.

Thanks for asking how I feel. I hope, verwon, that your e-husband is in a good place right now.

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5

What might help is for you to realize and accept that you have a disability just like all the others that are out there. Yours just hasn't put you in a wheelchair.

It wasn't easy for me, either. I had congestive heart failure several years ago and it took some time to adjust to the fact that I will require medications for life and that my life wouldn't never be quite the same as it was. I have to watch what I eat, now. I have to get plenty of regular exercise and make sure I don't miss any medications.

However, the relevant fact is that it is something that neither of us can help. We can only take our medications and take care of ourselves. There is no cure, so to speak for your condition or mine.

As to my ex-husband, he seems to be doing well. Happily remarried with a toddler daughter. Our son is almost 20 and has sadly inherited his depression.

How are you feeling, today?

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