Psych meds and the DS

[tweters]

Has anyone suffered from Bipolar Disorder and been through the surgery? I am looking to see what changes were needed in your medications and what type of adverse reactions you may have had shortly after surgery. I take a cocktail of Celexa (citalopram), Depakote, and Geodon. If you have any advice I will gladly take it, but if you have any information about these specific drugs, I would be even more grateful. Thanks for your help again!!!! BTW...my surgery is the 26th!!!

[Deleted]

I don't take those, but I take antidepressants and Klonopin and have done okay. The first several months postop were very tough, though, and several med adjustments were necessary. I can't emphasize strongly enough the necessity of having your psychiatrist strongly in your court on this and stickly tightly with him/her to stay on top of things.

There are several folks with Bipolar Disorder around here. Hopefully they'll see this soon and be able to comment on specific meds.

[sherbearmama]

I don't have bipolar--but I do suffer from sever mood swings--enough to be prescribed lamictal (a mood stabilizer). After surgery, my Prozac was increased and the lamictal has stayed the same. I realize there is a significance between my condition and bi-polar, but I think if you stay in close contact with your psychiatrist, you should be fine. Good luck!

[ynona74]

I am just getting started on my journey to WLS, and was concerned about my psych meds too. I take Celexa and Abilify. For Anxiety and depression. I would stick to your Psychiatrist like glue through out all of this. My sister in law had the DS surgery and didn't she saddly isn't with us anymore. It wasn't the DS procedure that did her in, it was the fact she didn't take advantage of her psych. and get the meds she needed. Good luck with yours and keep us posted.

[Deleted]

Bumping .

[scoob]

I am Bipolar. I am also almost 16 months post op. I take Klonopin, Geodon, Buspar, Celexa, Lamictal for the bipolar. I started out weighing 335lbs and my bipolar was barely controlled. I was surviving. The only change that has been made with me losing 136lbs is that I added 1/2 mg Klonopin in the evening, which was something that needed to be addressed pre op.

I feel wonderful! Losing the weight has actually helped my meds work better. I do go to my psych doctor every 2 months and will call if I or my DH, who is great at recognizing symptoms, think adjustments are needed. Also I go to a therapist once a month.

These are my experiences but I feel like a new person. Like I had been walking around in a fog for years and that fog has lifted. I still have "bad days" but the good so out weigh the bad. And the bad are few and far between. I was expecting to feel better but this has been an awesome side effect to my weight loss. I just can not express enough how the DS has truly changed every aspect of my life. For the first time in a long time I feel like I just lOVE life! It's a big change since just 5 years ago I tried to take my life.

Just an example, I went to Christmas this year with the family. I did miss a few years and last year I stayed for about an hour. This year I heard some rumors of people saying, it sure was nice to have the "old" Ruby back. I hadn't felt that happy since I was a teenager. Life is good!

Good luck in your journey with the DS. It's the very best decision I have EVER made FOR ME!!

Ruby

[tweters]

Thanks for your responses. I see my psychiatrist next week and will be scheduling my next appointment close to my 2-3 week mark after surgery in February to make any needed adjustments.