How many mood stabilizers do you take?

I saw my pdoc last week and I told him how up and down I am all the time. I feel depressed at least once throughout the week. The other days I feel great. He increased my Paxil from 10mg to 20mg, which I take for anxiety. I am also taking 200mg of Lamictal. Pdoc said to see him in 6wks and he might add a mood stabilizer.

Isn't Lamictal already a mood stabilizer? Why would I need two? I already go back and forth with quitting meds so the last thing I want is to take yet another pill. I am currently taking four prescriptions, two of which are not psych meds. And he also gave me a script for Sonata for sleep which I haven't filled yet.

I hate taking meds, especially for my head. I feel defective. I know it's not really any different if I had another illness, but it's not another illness it's to keep me "normal" or maybe sane is a better word.

I hate taking meds too, mostly because of the side effects but also because its a reminder, every time I take them that I'm messed up.

I take 2 mood stabilizers. I was on just Lamictal and then wound up in the hospital for depression so in order to give me an anti-depressent they added a 2nd- Lithium.

I went off the anti-depressant which was Celexa it gave me terrible side effects.. I could barely drive I was so spaced out.

Sometimes if the Dr. doesn't think the first 1 is effective enough, I guess they'll add a 2nd. I think it's too much also.

I want to get off the Lithium and my Dr. will not comply with my medication ideas, HE is non-compliant, lol, so I'm looking for another Dr. I'd just go off it myself (taper) but this Doc. will know because of the blood work and I'm having a hard time finding a new Doctor.
My current Doctor already told me that if I don't want to follow his advice "I could find my self another psychiatrist." Can you imagine?

I just don't want to have no Dr. in case something happens.

I take 2. One is depakote and the other is Neurontin. I am also undergoing ECT treatment. I have finally accepted that my brain is not normal. I do hope that the ECT will get me to the point where I can go off meds.

I take two - Lithium and Depakote. They work synergistically, increasing the potency of one another. It works out real well for me. Depakote also diminishes the frequency of my migraines, a nice added positive side effect. At some point, I was taking three - Lamictal as well - but my current p-doc removed Lamictal after my first introductory visit with her. I do not miss Lamictal - it produced no positive effects, although no negative side effects either. I feel sad that for several years I was taking a med that I do not absolutely need.

To your question: Lamictal does little against the manic side, even though it is called a mood stabilizer. No wonder your p-doc wants to add another mood stabilizer that does work the manic side.

I take lamictal (200 mg), wellbutrin (300 mg-I think), zoloft (50 mg), and klonopin as needed for sleep. I also take thyroid med, blood pressure med, and cholesterol med. I want to go off of all of it, although I know that the thyroid and cholesterol are for life. My t says to call her if I seriously think I am going to make changes, I guess so she can talk me out of it.
Bluemountains

You are wise not to ditch one doc without having a back up in place. I have also found myself in the situation where I knew it was in my best interest to try going off one of my meds, but my pdoc (without even considering the pro's and con's) wouldn't try it. I replaced him with someone who would respect my role in treatment.

One thing I have done on several occasions was to seek a 2nd opinion. Your current pdoc may even be able to arrange this for you. If 2nd opinion pdoc agrees with you, they may convince your pdoc to try it. If 2nd opinion doc agrees with your pdoc, that is food for thought. Most recently, I went to a 2nd opinion that my current pdoc arranged. 2nd opinion guy agreed with my thoughts more than my pdoc's thoughts, so all three of us decided that it would makes sense to switch to the 2nd guy.

Best,
EJ

I take Lamictal 400 mg and Tegretol 800 mg. Seems to work for me, so I'm not going to change it. I also take Geodon 240 mg, and a handful of other pills for my back, cholesterol and heartburn/ulcers.

I only take the one - Lamictal - because it seems like my Risperdal is good enough at keeping me from being manic that I don't really need another mood stabilizer. (I tried going off the Risperdal and became hypomanic almost immediately, so I think the stories about Lamictal not really being effective against mania probably have some truth to them.) Some people take more. I wouldn't really worry about it; the important part is whether or not that combination helps you.

I take Tegretol and Lithium. I'm wondering why I have to have both. Wishing I could do without Tegretol. Not sure how I'd be without Tegretol though, since thats the first med they started me on.

I only take Depakote as a mood stabliser

I take solely lamictal 100mg. Really talk to your doctor about your difficulty taking medication, it does effect you treatment and combinations that are available. You have to decide if the benefits of extra medication out way the risk of med compliance. I have some really bad side-effects on certain AD's including fast cycling.

I also have ECT, every 4 weeks or so for maintenance. Before this series (almost 12 months), I had ECT for 18 months, followed by 9 months without episodes (I was still taking meds). ECT isn't a permanent solution but it helps quickly the benefits can last for months.

I'm only on one mood stabilizer, abilify.

Abilify is an anti-psychotic, not a mood stabilizer, to the best of my knowledge.

I'm on Lamictal and Zyprexa, which are a perfect combination of mood stabilizers except for the fact that the latter makes my heart race and I always feel like I could eat the upholstery on the sofa (I'm so hungry all the time!). This is the first time in years that I've felt normal......too bad I have to take two MS's to do it.

I take 600 mg of seroquel and 900 of lithium

I was taking lamictal but it was like throwing rocks in the grand canyon. I also was taking seraquil sr however you spell it, that stuff made me sleep to late and feel like a zombie all day. I don't like pills not even asprin. Is there something out there that can stop flash backs and lack of concentration due too negative thoughts???

I'm taking 400 mg of Lamictal and 20 mg of Celexa. I don't need two moodstabilizers at the moment, but would add Epival if it was needed.