Bi-Polar 2 and Medication Choices

[DavidWhy]

I hope this is the correct forum. After suffering constant mood swings from normal>Manic>Depressed>Anxious (not alwats in that order) for may years I finally got a proper diagnoses a few days ago. I had to cause I had been so depressed I stayed in bed for 4 days, barely ate (I had some liquid meal replacement luckily) and was just getting worse and worse.

Anyway, my doctor made me go see a specialist and so now I am a member of the Bi-Polar 2 club. They have said I can choose my own medication as long as I do some research on it. I am sure I don't have the last word and what I choose will be vetoed if they aren't happy but anyway, I have been looking and I have written off Lithium as I don't want to have to have constant blood tests. I don't want Olanzapine as it makes you gain weight rapidly apparently.

What I have settled on, because the side effects, luckily seems to counteract the effects I have when I am depressed; for instance I can't sleep or eat and the side effects of this are increased appetite and drowsiness. So. My magic pill is: Quetiapine

Has anybody taken this and what is it like. I also found out that you can get high from it. This had an influence on my decision, but not a big enough one that I have made an incorrect or rash a choice based on it. So. I have have been struggling with depression, agoraphobia, loads of other stuff. Do you think this drug will work? Has anyone tried it?

 

[mrflowers00]

olanzapine works really well but you do gain quite a bit of weight and fast

 

[Ryan D.]

This article is somewhat controversial although i believe it is thoroughly worth a read
This guy believes (and in all fairness has a rather respectable amount of evidence to back it up) that in a large number of cases severely limited serotonin production is a direct product of acute magnesium deficiency - indeed it is well known that it is an essential co-factor in the production of a range of neurotransmitter related to mood; not just serotonin alone - it's function as an NMDA antagonist also appears to be integral to it's function as a potentially very effective anxiolytic.
Due to what some refer to as 'Biochemical individuality' if a particular individual happens to require a far greater quantity of a nutrient than the average person (due perhaps to an inability to absorb it properly or utilize it) this can result in severe deficiency.
If this nutrient is say magnesium, serotonin production (among other things) may be limited; the result being quite possibly so called 'treatment-resistant depression'.
I currently have yet to fully investigate, but whether the benefits are as great as suggested, or even a tenth so, it's worth reading about.
I am currently waiting on some Magnesium Chloride to arrive
http://george-eby-research.com/html/depression-anxiety.html
O, and if it doesnt help with your depression (which it most likely will to some extent) at least you'll be a whole lot less likely to have a heart attack - magnesium has multiple benefits
Patrick Holford's 'Optimum Nutrition for the Mind' is also worth a read - tryptophan, mega doses Omega 6, B6... these things can all make a huge difference to serotonin levels etc
'Stepping into the Fire' may also be a fascinating watch, although be EXTREMELY careful if you do choose to use Ayahuasca as the MAOIs present in the brew can easily be fatal when mixed with certain anti-depressants. The likelihood of serotonin syndrome with say SSRI's and MAOI's is dangerously high.

Jonathon Prousky has some useful ideas also. Niacinamide can be very useful, once your body gets used to it