What a difference a med makes

I haven't been feeling anywhere near good for almost two years now due to depression. I've just been existing day to day, doing the minimum, occasionally fighting SI. You guys know how it goes. I was truly on the cusp of giving in. My meds weren't working and I couldn't see any light at the end of the particular tunnel I was peering into.

So, I finally took the advice of my doctor and agreed to try an atypical antipsychotic.....a very low dose added to my antidepressant (I'm bipolar II) and this was three weeks ago. I'm telling you guys, it's like I have my old self back. My head is clear, I can focus, suddenly I woke up!

I fought it for a long time because I just didn't want to go that route medication wise. I just didn't want to ........ um ... "cross that line", I guess. Well, that was a stupid decision of mine. I feel so much better. And I can think! I am functioning, my humor is back, my energy is back, my concentration is back, I can remember things, I have interest in my old hobbies...........

I'm back!!!!

i totally know what you mean!! seroquel has made a huge difference. but im schizoaffective, so it helps with the whole hallucination thing too

yay im happy for you!

I am happy you found some relief. That's great .

hi, thats great!!! Its wonderful that your meds have helped so well, happy to read that take care

That's great news Vickie!!!

Great news, Vickie! I am happy to hear this.

That is really good news! I am happy that you are doing well and it gives me hope. Do you mind if I ask you what was the atypical antipsychotic? I am always open to new suggestions to try. You can always PM me if you don't want to say in public.

Hi Vickie, that's great news! As Giabrina wrote- I'm also interested to know what medication you're now taking, & if you'd be more comfortable PMing me instead, I'd appreciate it. Thanks.

That's so cool. Actually inspiring. I know the difference meds can make with my son but ive fought taking them myself. Go figure. I have prescriptions but just dont take them. Maybe I should give them a try. Im so glad things are working for you. Totally awesome.

YAY! GOOD FOR YOU!!! WELCOME BACK! Huggs

My main concern was weight gain because I had gone through a gastric bypass five years ago due to medical conditions that were going to eventually kill me (diabetes, cholesteral elevation, hypertension, hypothyroidism, several others) and had yo-yo dieted my entire life due to metabolic syndrome. So, of all the atypical antipsychotics, my pdoc said Abilify and Geodon are the most weight neutral. Since I'm bipolar II and have little trouble with hypomania going out of control, we chose Abilify. She said it makes you go "up" whereas Geodon tends to make you go "down". In other words, Abilify is best for depression and Geodon is best for mania issues. Mine were depression. But, being my own best consultant, I researched the web sites where actual patients provided independent feedback on experiences with these drugs. I found that Abilify caused weight gain, no weight gain and even weight loss about evenly across the board. That was good enough for me.

So now, I'm watching for side effects. Everyone keep your fingers crossed for me!!!!

I am so excited! It is great to be the "real" you! I am a great believer in finding the right meds for you.I was on Abilify along with some other meds for a long time and did very well. We recently had to tweak what I was taking so I am off of it but now I have been great for about 3 months and have had only one bad episode and it only lasted for THREE DAYS!!!! I hope the treatment you are on keeps you out of the darkness for a long, long time!

I take Abilify and felt better within days of starting it. My dose got up to 30mg but I developed akathisia (restlessness usually of legs) so we dropped down until it stopped - 15mg. It has really helped me.

Great to hear a positive outcome!!!!! I've had success on Lamictal, abilify and buspar...and they are working good for me too for now. My Psych always tells me 'it's good to feel good, but not too good'........anyway congrats on your success!

I know exactly what you mean! I was recently switched to different meds and wow! I see life in a whole new way now. It is amazing!

Hi Vickie, I am so glad things are going good for you. After reading your post it was the kick I needed. I decided to go to pdoc and start taking the meds I was suppose to. I had been filling them every month but not taking them. Your post gave me a bit of hope. I just wanted to thank you for sharing.

Thank you so much for posting, daisychic. A post like yours is worth a million bucks to me just to know that something I said made a difference in someone's life. How are you doing now? I hope your meds are working well for you.

Vicky, I very much relate. I had had terrible trouble with meds - I had been seriously mis-medicated for 6/7 years to the extent that I tried to end it 2 years ago and nearly did success, coma etc. I moved from the city to a town and psychiatrist here is great he soon established I should not be on that class of meds and took me off them, I would be dead now if he hadn't - no doubt about it.

But then last year with some major life issues and the meds not working, I was on that slope again. Along with all the other meds I'm on he tried Lamictal and Whooaaa, after I got to the therapeutic dose later in the year (he is scrupulous about side effects and I even needed a psych ward stay to get up into the therapeutic dose) I have started to climb out of the pit.

I shower every day, I wear clean clothes, I do the housework (not perfect but good), I am eating better and would you believe have lost 11kg (as Vicky mentioned psych meds are diabolical for weight). I am on the Disability Support Pension (Australia) And would you believe, I have started a part time University course. I have been trying to get enrolled since December but have been enrolled now just for a couple of weeks. I have started the course and love it. I had a great career for many years for which I did a lot of study, but I lost my career due to my mental illnesses, so starting something new is so exciting.

But I would never be doing all that stuff if I hadn't had a med change and become more functional. Don't get me wrong, I have bad days and get hopeless, even suicidal very quicly, but I listen to my therapist and do what she says and that helps.

So I would say to everyone, if you're not well, keep poking your psychiatrist to investigate other meds (I've been through zillions, but I have to keep trying).

Was it by any chance Remeron? I had an almost identical experience as a teenager, two straight years of depression and for some reason Remeron is my magic bullet.

Unfortunately I'm maxed out on %150 of the recommended dose and currently hoping for a similar miracle...

Please help me understand the use of anti-psychotics. What symptoms would you usually be showing to cause a doctor to prescribe anti-psychotics? I have been on a short course of Remerson - not sure why I was not prescribed a repeat.
I currently take anti-depressants, a mood stabiliser and a sleeping tab/hypnotic. I battle with lethargy and sleep way too much and also still find myself spending too much time in depression

There are "classic" antipsychotics and atypical antipsychotics. The atypical ones are used for bipolars (where indicated or approved) to enhance mania or depression treatment, primarily Abilify and Geodon. Abilify enhances primarily depression that doesn't respond well to other antidepressants and Geodon helps with mania and/or hypomania. They are often added to already existing treatments in small doses. The other classic antipsychotics are just what they sound like, antipsychotics, used for classic psychosis. A psychosis is when one experiences sounds, sights, or thoughts that are outside the realm of reality but the person believes them to be real. Examples would be voices of persons not present, paranoia, seeing alien beings, flashbacks from war, or any other imagined condition that could even place themselves or others in danger. Even delusions can be considered psychoses, such as delusions of superpowers. The delusion that one can fly would certainly place them in danger, along with anyone they might land on! (Not trying to be funny.) So, classic antipsychotics are used to treat these symptoms. I'm not a mental health professional and I'm sure I've left a lot out of this explanation but maybe this has helped a little.

Thanks Vickie - yes, that gives me a bit of a better overview. I don't hear voices or have any other psychotic symptoms - I know however that my first diagnosis was Major Depressive episode with Psychotic symptoms. Now it's gone beyond an "episode" and definitely has recurred. SO I was diagnosed with depression. Until recently, when I saw a new p-doc and she has now diagnosed me as Bipolar II - I kind of had a suspicion for a while anyway.
I landed up in hospital just over a year ago, after an OD, and it was here I was given Remeron, mainly to help with sleeping, or so I was told...?

I am so glad that you found a med that works for you! Yea for having your life back!