Hi all, I've just found out I am pregnant and I have been taking Abilify (Aripirazole) and Lamictal (Lamotrigine) for the last year, against bipolar disorder, my doctor recommended to reduce it slowly and then stop it. He said that I have taken it so far wouldn't harm the baby. I am still very worried and wondered if anybody has any experience with this. Thank you!
Finally I tried Abilify and it works great in combo with the lamotrigine. I feel like myself. Not depressed, not elevated, just me. I have different friends who have found different meds that work.
I would seriously consider not taking any more Zoloft and calling your psychiatrist. You don't want to end up in the psyc ward. Be honest with her and tell her your concerns. Maybe she'll have some ideas. You may also want to consider a new pdoc.
I got a partial response from Geodone (called Zeldox where I live) and lamotrigine, but I started to lose weight rapidly (got down to a size 2) so they switched to Abilify and my life is sooo much better. I really can't believe the difference.
Each person reacts differently to meds. I have one friend who felt horrid on Abilify and does wonderfully on Zeldox. I know my pdoc said his most common combination is Seroquel for sleep and lamotrigine to stabilize.
I am also on 200mg of lamotrigine and 50mg of Trazodone. I took my first full dose of Abilify on Friday the 6th and today is the 11th
The Abilify is working about 70%. I have been crying more, I wrote a big long blog about how life is useless because I can't work full time and be a parent and all those other 'normal' things the drug companies promise you that you can do if you just take their drug. I am feeling not depressed but more morose, and just generally in a slump.
Very recently, her psychiatrist believes she had a complete cycle and started her on abilify... My husband and I were always against medicating her, just because of her age... But things got so bad we feel like we have no choice and have accepted this as our reality. The abilify has made her worse. Her thoughts are telling her to do bad things now. She is expressing thoughts about wanting to harm herself, jump out of moving car, put thumb tacks in herself.
I went off Seroquel and tried Abilify and one other (cant remember) but they did not work. I am now backon Seroquel 300 miligrams along with my Lithium and Pexeva. I feel like it doesnt work as well as it did the first time. I went up to 450 with Seroquel, but I am just way too sleepy. Does anyone know a drug that works well with Pexeva and Lithium? My biggest problems are racing thoughts and anxiety when I am off of the Seroquel. Help!
Does it work as well as the atypicals? It should for how much it costs. I also take lamotrigine 200mg/day and trazodone 50mg for sleep.
I've been on lamotrigine (lamictal) for years. I've taken many other medications for bp and not much has worked for whatever reasons. I did not find relief until I got on lamictal. It took several months to work the dose up a little at a time and some fine tuning to get the dose right. Now I'm on 300mg lamotrigine. I had some tremors and had some balance problems on the higher doses. I also take 450mg lithium carbonate and 60mg methylphenidate (this one's in the morning).
Only a few interactions between lamotrigine and other drugs have been identified. Lamotrigine increases the plasma level of carbamazepine and its metabolites. Carbamazepine lowers the concentration of lamotrigine in the blood.
Valproate doubles the plasma level of lamotrigine, and the level of valproate is decreased by about 25% in people taking lamotrigine.
Phenobarbital and primidone lower the plasma level of lamotrigine by about 40%.
Are the side effects worth what the medication is doing for you?
Maybe you could try self help techniques in combination with the medication, and then have it lowered and see if that works better for you. Focusing on living healthy is really important to help minimize symptoms. Do some research and see if you are interested in trying any of the self help techniques and then discuss it with your doctor.
hello im 28 years old and bipolar also type 2...... first of all you should not have been taken off all your meds with no replacement.... there are plenty of rxs out there that are safe for pregnant womenunder guidance of dr.
Meds are pretty individual. Lamotrigine would be the one I'd ask for. It has a low side effect profile and is good more for the downs than the ups. If you are up more than you are down - lithium may be a better choice. Although with lithium you will need regular blood testing. Depakene is the other mood stabilizer but I know very little about it except it can make your hair fall out.
I had a hard go around with the antipsychotics. Lots of side effects But finally Abilify works great for me.
Haldol is a typical (older antipsychotic that is from Thorazine to Haldol) and has twice the potential of causing short term and long term movement disorders than the atypical antipsychotics (from Risperdal to Abilify, Fanapt and Saphris) but has less of a potential to create diabetes. Some people, especially people with a condition that has psychosis as part of it require an antipsychotic but you could discuss that concern with her psychiatrist.
I really feel better mentally, no depression or pain, with lamotrigine, and I am so sad that I might have to give it up. I just saw my doctor yesterday and since it is February, she thinks that may be it is just a stomach virus... I need to live my life without having to pull over at gas station rest areas constantly!
If this is caused by the lamotrigine, will I "adjust" and the diarrhea go away, or am I just really too sensitive to this medication?
You mentioned you tried all the drugs in the lithium class - do you mean lamotrigine and depakote? I take lamotrigine and find it really helpful. You also don't mention the antipsychotics like seroquel, ziprexa, abilify, risperadone. You've probably taken them and just didn't list it, but if you haven't may be worth a shot. Abilify changed my life. Hands down.
Prayer and meditation is good, as is deep breathing and guided relaxations.
I can still make people laugh, and smile. I still have a good sense of humour. Took a while to get there. I had my bad medication combination. I did the zombie for a while. You sometimes have to be firm with these psychiatrists as they think that just not being suicidal is enough and it isn't.
The right meds just make you stable, which is a wonderful wonderful place to be.
Hi I was diagnosed with bipolar 2 and I rapid cycle so it is very hard for me to get stable. One day I feel great and on top of the world. I sell awesome at work and I am close to God and the next I feel filled with anxiety and irritability. I am depressed and detached from everyone. I donno how to deal with all the emotional ups and downs. I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions? Im pretty desperate.
I have been taking sertraline and aripiprazole for schizo-affective disorder I have now been been put onto amitriptyline for pain relief. I am also epileptic and take tegretol, lamotrigine and levetiracetam to control seizure's.
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