I relate to pretty much everything BethRags wrote, except that I wouldn't say that all medications I have been on in the past "pooped out" on me. But a number. Sometimes I was forced off of medications because of severe side effects. Just a few examples I have where the medication ceased being helpful because of either "poop out" or not being an adequate "moodstabilizer" for me are:
Depakote - Did a great job at finally squashing years of mania (along with Invega), but then didn't prevent the eventual crash into a pure depression, for me. I don't blame Invega for the crash.
Lamictal and Abilify - They certainly lifted my mood out of a brief period of depression, but then I kept going up, up, up, as my Lamictal dose went up to 300 mg, and then was in the hospital very manic and psychotic. That time really sparked the kindling effect and I had four hospitalizations in a short period of time for extremely severe episodes. Abilify's role? Well, it certainly didn't curb the mania. I do know that Lamictal is very activating for me. A few trials have shown this clearly. Lamictal is helpful for me, but only at low doses WITH at least a very powerful antimanic antipsychotic and moodstabilizer. I do not regard Lamictal as being helpful at all for curbing my bipolar mania, only being a possible catalyst for it.
Geodon - I was on this med very briefly maybe 12 years ago, but was taken off quickly. I don't remember why. Then it was added to Lithium and seemed fine as an antimanic for a brief time. Then it pooped out at its maximum recommended dose of 160 mg, so my psychiatrist added a second antipsychotic with it. I had also been put on Tegretol and the small dose of Lamictal by then. Actually, the second antipsychotic was added to prevent the hypomania I was starting to experience from the rise to 100 mg Lamictal addition.
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