m told can cause anxiety) and Lamictal (mood stabilizer for Bipolar). Buspar works great for me and is the kind of med that you can feel accumulate in your system. That way, you don't suffer if missing a dose. I take 10mg 3 times a day. It used to just be 2x, but my job got stressful and we made an adjustment. I was originally given Xanax which was a huge mistake on my GP's part.
I have been on Lamictal for about 4 years, it works very well for me. I have been on all kind of medication before, but lamictal is the one that get me back on my own feet. I am also on seroquel (a very low dose), but I am taking more for helping me to sleep. I have tried olanzapine before, and like ILADVOCATE, I also have a big problem with the side effect (weight gain).
Except for Lithium, which is highly effective but an old line medication that will cause weight gain and cognitive confusion and if taken over time a potential for kidney damage (has happenned to 5 people I know) all the mood stabilizers were other medications first, usually anti-convulsants, then used experimentally for mood stabilization.
Hi, I have rapid cycling Bipolar 1. I was also born with an inactive thyroid gland. That has made everything worse....for example I cannot take any of the antipsychotic meds out there. They are 10x stronger for me because of my thyroid and meds I take for that.
I am on lithium which is an "anti-manic" mood stabilizer. I am also on Lamictal which is an "anti-depressant" mood stabilizer. Mood stabilization is all I have to work with because of my other illnesses.
I think depression is a sign saying we need to change something in our life, for me it was my health, so I take tons of different vitamins for mood stabilization and depression, and a long hard workout for sleep(and they work).
There are still many options left as regards mood stabilizers. For example, Lamictal has less of a potential to cause weight gain and sedation although each person responds differently to each medication. This has some helpful information about known mood stabilizers and medications that are used off label for bipolar that you could discuss with your psychiatrist:
http://www.medhelp.org/tags/health_page/34/Mental-Health/Useful-Bipolar--Depression-Webisites?
There are many other mood stabilizers such as lithium, Depakoate and Lamictal and Lamictal generally has less of these side effects (for general information on mood disorders google "Depression Central"). However, if your psychiatrist believes you require an antipsychotic, Abilify is generally the most tolerated out of what is available now though if you read through my posts you will see in the coming years there may be more options that are easier to tolerate.
ve been diagnoised with Bipolar Disorder I, as well as a number of other psychiatric disorders, but for mood stabilization I take 400 mg. of lamictal and 10 mg. of remeron daily. Additionally, I take 10 mg. of diazepam 4 times a day to control my anxiety and panic attacks.
I find that seroquel, which is actually an anti-psychotic is notorious for weight gain. I gained 40 pounds while taking it, until I told my doctor to take me off of it.
yes, i know risperdal works right away. I've taken it before. I'll probably ask at my next apt, as my psychiatrist isnt in a hurry to put me on it yet, she wants to see if the lamictal will work, but at a low dose like 50mg i dont see it happening.
Is this likely a symptom of either the hypomanic episode or the lexapro use? Since, has switched back to low-dose Zoloft and low-dose Lamictal for mood stabilization, and is doing very well. Supposed "possible emergence of bi-polar disorder" has been re-diagnosed as drug-emergent hypomanic episode.
Any insight appreciated.
Thanks
This discussion is related to <a href='/posts/show/639895'>IRBBB</a>.
Abilify is an antipsychotic with mood stabilization effects. It is the antipsychotic least likely to cause weight gain. It can work added to any medication your psychiatrist thinks is appropriate. If you've had trouble tolerating Depakoate, Lamictal is another option which is less likely to cause weight gain and cognitive confusion. You could ask your psychiatrist about that.
It may affect you less but you need full mood stabilization not just control of depression to fully recover. As I said you might ask for a consult to a mood disorders specialist and then your psychiatrist could follow up on what was reccomended.
ve posted with the medication I am on glycine in Phase II FDA study, which is a glutamate antagonist, a whole new class of antipsychotic in study if the results are the same as what was acheived in me the answer is yes. Now as for mood stabilizers, they develop new medications each year and many are found to have mood stabilization properties and then they are researched as mood stabilizers but a mood disorders specialist could use them now as they approved medications.
She is on a decent medication regimen except as the psychiatrist is probably aware that for a person with bipolar Effexor or any anti-depressent (Wellbutrin is the least likely) can often worsen mania so you might want to talk to him about seeing if that might be worsening things.
Recommended
