best med, in your subjective opinion

And one more... although this one is a bit restrictive, so feel free to say "no". Just as vitamin C boosts calcium absorption, calcium inhibits it, so it is best not to eat dairy alongside iron-rich foods. I do not eat omelette with cheese anymore for this reason - cheese would hurt the absorption of iron from the egg yolks. I still drink yogurt drinks alongside lamb in restaurants, occasionally, because I love that combination, but on a daily basis I try to keep dairy and iron-rich foods separate.

For me it's a tie between Lithium and Lamictal.

I meant to write that vitamin C boosts IRON absorption, while calcium inhibits it.

interesting! so is THAT what is behind the Old Testament's prohibition against "seething a kid in its mother's milk"? all I know is, those tv ads that show a steak with cheese on it look gross to me, now I know why!

exactly; that old prohibition favored people at risk of anemia: pregnant and lactating women, little children, and adolescent girls

Paxil - this is my miracle drug, keeps the depression away, gives me clarity of thought and once again has returned my mind to me

Tazorac - thanks to you Hamster! Skin is clearing up.

Well, now that at the reduced dose it does not do what it used to do to me, Geodon is my miracle drug: no mania, no psychosis, no side effects.

Lamictal - no side effects, helps to keep me stable most of the time

I have not met my miracle drug yet Im sure hoping I will soon though.

I think so far Klonopin has helped me sleep and thats the one thats given me anything good!

So far Ive tried:

Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, Parnate, Depakote, Lamictal, Lithium, Emsam Patch, Dexidrine, Lexapro, Pristiq, Ritalin & ECT treatment.

Right now i'm on:

Wellbutrin, Marplan, Trileptal, Klonopin, and recently added, Nuvigil.

Hopefully one of these can be my best med!...

zoloft keeps my depression under control most of the time.
topomax keeps my migraines away and has helped me lose 12 lbs

Hamster,

Spoon full o' whoop-*** has been the only thing I've found works for me.

I am not a doctor and am not giving medical advice. You should check with your own physician.

Hope this is helpful to someone,

-Fleeing Bellocq, Muse of the Mission District

Invega has changed my life. I have not had any truly manic episodes since we started it, and am probably the most stable and even that I have ever been in my life. When added to the current med cocktail (and finally replacing Seroquel), it is like my soul has been given water after years in the desert.

Haldol as an anti-psychotic and ambien to help me sleep.

Been a great combination so far for my bipolar. On the lowest dosage of Haldol too. Been a miracle godsend for me

Me, too. It seems to treat my depression as well as anything. I can't take anti-depressants because they send me manic.

Miguelsmom--how bad has your ED been? I never find Wellbutrin to affect me in any way with the ED. If anything I'm gaining. Go figure.

Lamictal is def a gem. But I need Wellbutrin to bring me out of the dull feeling I get with Lamictal. But both good

For psych. meds, I really think it would be dependent on the illness.

Non-psych: hydroxyzine off the top of my head

Thus far Lamictal has done the most for me. However, today has been a very depressed day, and I'm far too pessimistic right now to praise it as much as I would on a better day. I just haven't got completely stable but I'm working on it -- moved up to 200mg today.

I've heard wellbutrin is also used for fatigue? does it work?

I, too, have heard that it has stimulant properties to the point of having to be careful not to flip into mania on it. I have not taken it. I thought of taking it for weight loss but with Topamax it seems that I am all set.

I just started taking Effexor XR a week ago. It is amazing. The first medicine I have ever tried that makes me literally smile. I have heard a lot of negative things about it though, such as a horrible discontinuation syndrome. I have already lost 5 pounds. Loss of appetite is a side effect too.

HamsterBamster, I am glad that Topamax is working for you. Every Body is different. <3

I got a few mild and painless 'zaps' after I quit 300mg Effexor XR cold turkey. It lasted a couple of days at most and aside from that...no discontinuation whatever. It doesn't hit everyone and I'm glad it didn't hit me. A lot of people swear by titrating down very slowly and/or taking prozac while weaning.

But if it's working for you, why worry now?

So Topamax is not the best thing in the world. Not with dizziness it causes, not with sexual side effects that it seems to be causing (I seem to have joined the unlucky 2% of patients who experience that), not with lack of pleasure from food. I mean, all I wanted was a somewhat decreased appetite. I did not mean to completely lose all the pleasure that food used to bring.

Topamax is not on the list.

Geodon (medium doses) is - it completely takes care of mania/psychosis without any side effects.

If you have mild fatigue, it might work. It did work for me when my fatigue was mild.

Abilify has worked wonders for me.