[Fantastically_July]

I take 400mg of Lamictal, 80mg of Geodon, 20mg of Ambien, 150 mg of Vistaril, Ativan PRN up to 3 mg per day, Benadryl PRN (usually 200mg per day) and I have just been given Latuda starting at 20mg and increasing as needed.

I used to suffer from very severe mixed episodes and psychosis. I can remember having one euphoric manic episode that lasted for about 7 months before crashing into a catatonic depression. But before Geodon and Lamictal I was pretty much in a constant mixed state with psychosis.

I also had some very bad anxiety and OCD. But I'm not crazy anymore.

Now I just get severely depressed for a good 6 or 7 months out of the year. We have not been able to successfully treat it. My dr has mentioned Latuda but I had (and still have) my concerns about the side effects. I respond very well to antipsychotics but not without some devastating movement side effects. The reason I am not on a higher dose of Geodon is because i developed movement side effects. The really awful and scary one is my eye rolling. My eyes roll back and get stuck there for hours and hours. It is painful and scary and causes me a ton of anxiety.

But I am nonfunctional now because of my severe depression and have started having some symptoms of psychosis. So my dr really pushed me to try Latuda since a higher dose of Geodon doesn't seem to be an option and Zyprexa makes me do nothing but sleep all the time and caused a lot of weight gain (which is a big problem for me). She wants to start on a small dose and work up.

But I feel so irritable all the time now. I don't know if I need a higher dose or if it's worth trying a higher dose but I feel like I just want to jump out of my skin. Everything makes me fall apart (or blow up). I have like 0 ability to cope with anything or control my emotions. Which was a problem, but shouldn't Latuda be helping that? I'm also extremely paranoid and that voice that lives in my head wont ever leave me alone. I can't cope. I feel like I just want to die.

Is it worth increasing the dose of Latuda to see if it helps. I'm so freaked out about movement side effects. I'm on 20 mg now soon to increase to 40. Has anyone else had any experience with this med?

[r010159]

I see you are not on any ADs. Geodon may also enhance AD effects. IMO this is worth trying.

[Skitz13]

My daughter has BP and she takes latuda. It was a lifesaver for her

[BipolaRNurse]

Have you and/or your doctor discussed lithium, Depakote, or any of the mood stabilizers besides Lamictal? I have no experience with them, but I know people who have had great results with lithium and an anti-psychotic.