[glitterandspots]

Hey hey everyone, I'm Liv and I haven't been on here in AGES!

Long story short, I was finally diagnosed with Bipolar II about 6 months ago, and since then have been trying to get my moodswings manageable.

My psychiatrist and I got me off the antidepressants I was on, they were making me hypomanic. I've been put on 1mg risperidone at night, and the hospital psychiatrist added half a mg to curb my hallucinations. It's supposed to act as a mood stabilizer and calm my anxiety, too.

I feel like my moods aren't quite stable, I'm highly anxious, but it's definitely stopping the hallucinations.

Is anyone else on risperidone or another atypical antipsychotic to stabilise their moods? Do you find it helps? Should I ask to add something like valium to my list to help the anxiety at least?

[TheatreKid]

As far as atypical antipsychotics go, Seroquel has been shown to have mood stabilizing properties. I haven't heard of Risperidone being used as a mood stabilizer, per se, but I had luck with a Seroquel/Risperidone combo for a little while.

Benzos like Valium, Klonopin, Ativan, can work for anxiety, but they're habit forming. I don't like using benzos long-term because the withdrawal is hard and can even be dangerous, if you cold turkey you could wind up with seizures. I haven't really found a good solution for anxiety. I just try and manage it with CBT and meditation.

[wildflowerchild25]

I seriously hate when doctors use APs alone. Some mood stabilizers have less long-term problems than APs. They tried to tell me abilify would stabilize me on its own - if by stabilize you mean keep me in a depression then yeah. The doctor in inpatient this time also told me geodon would be enough. I demanded to be put on lamictal as well. And good thing I did too because I am in outer space with mania right now! The geodon keeps it down for half te day and then I'm like a firework in the sky...wasn't that a Katy perry song...anyway yeah. I don't like monotherapy for myself. I mean give it a chance but if it doesn't work out try. Mood stabilizer too.

PS I took risperdal for a long time as a teenager and then again last year. Worked very well to end my psychosis but it raised my prolactin levels and made me stiff. All my students told me I moved like a robot lol I didn't notice it myself but they did and the doc did too.

[sui generis]

Everyone reacts to medication differently but I was recently put on a low dose of quetiapine and I've found it really helpful in terms of helping me sleep and reducing my panic attacks and anxiety.

[SingDanceRunLife]

For me, APs are a million times better than your classic mood stabilizers. They are more effective and overall have less side effects. I take Seroquel on its own for my mood stabilizer, and it works great, and other than in the very beginning, no side effects at all. I also take Zoloft because of my OCD and anxiety, and klonopin as needed for anxiety.

[TheatreKid]

that's encouraging, SingDanceRunLife, thanks for sharing that. None of the mood stabilizers work for me without truly unacceptable side effects like deadly rashes or kidney damage, so all I have are APs. ADs tend to have bad effects on me too, so I can't really take those. Wellbutrin was the only one that worked, but it eventually exacerbated psychosis.

[SingDanceRunLife]

Everyone is different which is why I don't like blanket statements like "if you have bipolar you need to be on a mood stabilizer" or "you can't/shouldn't take an AD."

This is especially true because while there are classic mood stabilizers, there are also mood stabilizers that yes, aren't called that, but are (like Seroquel).

Have you tried Lexapro or Zoloft? Those are the two ADs that have worked well for me with everything else being pretty horrible, except Viibryd which just didn't really do anything positive or negative.

For me Seroquel is the most stabilizing med I've been on.

I take effexor, lamictal, flexiril and nightmare meds without any drastic side effects. But seroquel gave me diabetes.

Zeldox works as my mood stabiliser even though it is an AP. Best med I have ever been on! So thankful for it.

[Nightside of Eden]

I take Zyprexa as a mood stabilizer and I guess it helps prevent the extremes in mood, though I'm still pretty depressed. But I can't take anti-depressants because they make me mixed and anxious, so I just have to live with it.

[SingDanceRunLife]

Originally Posted by Nightside of Eden

I take Zyprexa as a mood stabilizer and I guess it helps prevent the extremes in mood, though I'm still pretty depressed. But I can't take anti-depressants because they make me mixed and anxious, so I just have to live with it.

Have you tried Seroquel? I was on Zyprexa and it worked well for me but made me gain a ton of weight. Seroquel is very similar (and it has more anti-depressant qualities) and for me, doesn't have many side effects.

[birchtree]

I have a love/hate relationship with my zyprexa. It's been great for my mood, but I"ve gained weight and now have high cholesterol.

[glitterandspots]

Wow! Lots of answers. Thanks everyone, I think I'll talk to my psychiatrist about switching, though I am really reluctant to give up on the one thing that's stopped my hallucinations :c