[Gixxer06]

Hello all I am currently in the depressive phase of BP and am on lamictal 100mg bid saphris 20mg at night. This seems to be not working as i have been on it for 3 weeks and still feel lousy. What combinations of meds helped getting you out of your depression?

[Secretum]

A medication called Symbyax helped me a lot with depression. Symbyax is a combination of prozac and zyprexa-it's very nice because you get two meds in one pill! I cycled between normal mood and various severities of hypo/mania while on it; unlike every other medication I had ever tried, it didn't eliminate my highs. I highly recommend it. I had to get off of the zyprexa component due to weight gain, unfortunately.

[Resident Bipolar]

Okay, to explain why this med combo may not be working to bring you out of a depressive episode, I need to break the two down. Here we go:

- Lamotrigine (Lamictal) is indeed known to be effective in the PREVENTION and the clinical trials have shown the medication to be very good in the area of preventing a depressed state. However, there is controversy surrounding its effectiveness as a TREATMENT for episodes. If you're in a depressive state currently, I would personally recommend (as a starting base for medication) asking about SSRIs both safe for bipolar disorder and with low interactions with mood stabilising medication.

- Saphris (Can't remember drug name) is effective at treating mania and mixed episodes but once again not effective for DEPRESSED states.

There are medications (antidepressants) especially good at treating depressive states; the risk of them being a kick-start for a manic episode in Bipolar Patients. However this risk can be overcome with the correct dose and an additional mood stabiliser.

I'm currently on Quitiapine 300mg and Sertraline 150mg but cannot currently comment on their effectiveness as I have just been switched from Citalopram (which didn't work for me).

Regards
RB

[Victoria'smom]

Viibryd was/is the only antidepressant that didn't push me into psychosis even low doses didn't work. It was a last ditch effort for.me before having to be inpatient or put on an Antipsychotic before restarting the antidepressant search. You may want to ask for your psychiatrist if you can increase your lamictal. That resently has helped.

That's a lot of saphris.

[Eliza Jane]

Are you planning to continue to increase Lamictal? 100 is still a fairly low dose.

Have you tried Abilify before? My pdoc always talks about its "powerful antidepressant qualities." It is an AP, so maybe instead of the Saphris?

Good luck!
EJ

[wildflowerchild25]

abilify worked for me at fifteen milligrams but i couldn't handle the side effects (slowness and robotic movements). celexa pushed me into a mixed state both times so i can't take that either. i'm trying effexor but no luck so far, however it's only been a week since i've been on it so that's not enough time to judge. you might want to talk to your pdoc about adding an AD if ADs do not push you into mania/mixed states.

[bunnifoo]

The lowest dose of Abilify made me so drowsy and out of it I had to go off of it almost as soon as I tried it. When I called the doctor's office it took me three tries to get my phone number right.

I am finally off Seroquel. And currently taking 1200 mg Lithium and 1.5 mg of Klonopin. Although I'm not sleeping that great, but my anxiety is relatively under control. (I'm going through a really stressful point in my life right now, but it should blow over soon.)

[Gixxer06]

I tried AD's but that sent me into a mixed state of psychosis and mania. Thats how i initially got diagnosed with bipolar. Lithium made me loose all motivation and interest and i would sleep all day. With abilify i had lots of akathisa. I think lamictal has helped but i think 100mg twice a day is max but idk.

[Seth412]

Maybe an Atypical AD could help (Welbutrin).

When I was an adolescent, SSRIs would make me manic as hell. My Pdoc had me on Welbutrin as a substitute and it worked wonders. From what I understand, welbutrin is generally thought of as safer for bipolar. Ask your pdoc about it though. I'm no expert.

[Victoria'smom]

200 mg lamictal 2x a day is max before "there's no evidence that it improves mood". I really suggest viibryd it has AD & AP qualities.