 |
| FAQ/Help |
| Calendar |
| Search |
|
#1
Sep 12, 2014, 11:09 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
I'm posting for my significant other, I hope you all don't mind.
She was diagnosed about 12 years ago with bipolar I and has been on a variety of meds. She very rarely sees the depressive side and usually has 4-5 manic episodes a year that cause med changes. After reading up on some of the different threads, I learned of Dysphoric Mania. After a bit of research, I think she may actually spend the majority of her time in this phase instead of pure mania. It may even go into Dysphoric Depression. If you've experienced these, I'm sure you can imagine how she often feels. Fortunately, she is still able to work as this helps keep her more stable. If she is out of work for more than a few days, we notice a shift in her moods. The structure seems to help. Right now her doctor just started her on Latuda. So far, I'm not convinced this medicine is going to work. He also has her on lithium and depakote, added in ambien for sleep daily (previous it was as needed) and valium for anxiety. Does anyone have experience with Latuda if you fall more on the mania side? Anything close to an antidepressant has thrown her into a tailspin and I feel like it's starting to happen again. She did see her doctor today and he increased the latuda. If things don't settle down in a week, he said he will add seroquel or zyprexta in (she has previously been on these but the weight gain was worrisome). I'd appreciate any feedback on the meds or even on Dysphoric Mania or Depression. |
 Tucson
|
|
#2
Sep 13, 2014, 02:37 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Lamictal works for me.
|
|
#3
Sep 13, 2014, 02:50 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
As you probably already know, bipolar is all over the map. There is even a blurred line between Bipolar w/psychosis and schizo affective. And there is Dysphoric mania too. Along with rapid cyclers and ultra rapid cyclers. To complicate things even more, every one reacts different to different meds. I'm sorry but that is just how it is. It can take years to find the right combo that even sort of works and then it stops working!
I am bipolar 1 with psychosis. I can have mixed states and go thru a period of rapid cycling. I can also stay depressed for months, and even stay at my baseline for several months at a time! Speaking of "baseline", every one has a different baseline, it's simply our most steady or stable state. My baseline can be totally different then another person's baseline. I am also highly functional, and can hold jobs for years at a time. See, we are all over the map and there just are not any rules 
|
|
#4
Sep 13, 2014, 07:54 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Mood stabilizers work more so as a bit more of a "calmer/downer" however latuda is one of the very few mood stabilizers out there (pretty new).. that leans toward an upper type mood stabilizer.. like stated every med is a bit different for everyone... i'd stick with it (took me about 3 and a half weeks before getting more stabilized on it.. the first few weeks I was hating it...) with her already suffering mania I would keep a pretty close eye on it though. Is she seeing a therapist? Meds are a good bandaid but the mind is a much better healer....
__________________
Then it comes to be that the soothing light at the end of your tunnel... it's just a freight train coming your way. |
|
#5
Sep 13, 2014, 11:04 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
I'm on Latuda, for my symptoms of paranoia, and while not officially diagnosed for bipolar disorder (still trying to figure it out), I do think that I get dysphoric mania at times. Latuda works great for my paranoia, most of the time.
Latuda is an atypical antipsychotic, it is not at all a mood stabilizer. I was recently put on Topamax for symptoms of agitation et. al. So far it's working okay, but I miss being more "up." Day 7, it seems to be kicking in. It is not associated with weight gain and is actually associated with weight loss. I have noticed a decrease in appetite. You might want to look into that. Only negative I've noticed so far: my sex drive has decreased. But it's in a weird way. I want it, and then when the time comes I'm just like, "Ugh..." It's weird. If that side effect does not go away, I might ask about Lamictal, b/c I hear good things about that. Oh, other side effect: how it's earned the name Dopamax. That one goes away for some, not all. So . . . Maybe ask about Lamictal. 
__________________
"Every person, on the foundation of his or her own sufferings and joys, builds for all." ~Albert Camus Cymbalta, 60mg -- for the depression. Latuda, 40mg -- for the paranoia (delusional type). Adderall, 40mg XR & 5 mg reg -- for the ADD. Xanax, .5 mg as needed -- for the anxiety. Topamax, 50mg -- still figuring this one out. MDD, but possibly have some form of Bipolar Disorder. Then again, I could be paranoid . . . Well, at least I still have my sense of humor.
|
|
#6
Sep 13, 2014, 11:59 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Quote:
Last edited by vans1974; Sep 13, 2014 at 12:17 PM. |
|
#7
Sep 13, 2014, 12:24 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Quote:
|
|
#8
Sep 13, 2014, 02:28 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Ya, I agree with vans that the atypical anti psychotics are mood stabling meds that help daily and anti convulsants keep the episodes farther apart! I haven't actually taken Latuda, but from what I've read it's supposed to work great. I hope it works though!
|
|
#9
Sep 13, 2014, 02:40 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Atypical antipsychotics and anti convulsant are needed for bipolar disorder. Sorry I haven't been on Latuda but it should help with dysphoric mania. If not check with your pdoc, I know Seroquel should work and I take it and haven't gained any weight.
|
|
#10
Sep 13, 2014, 03:18 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
crs3>
If you don't mind posting more details about the medical issues of your wife... I am not in the medical field at all. But one thing is certain, if you want to take the guesswork out of figuring out what medication your wife needs to be on, you need your medical doctor and your psychatric doctor on the same page. I can tell you that I feel pretty certain coming from someone that deals directly with bouts on ongoing mania that medical health trumps psychiatric health. What your wife feeds her body has more an impact than any certain medication can have. The choice of fuel that stokes the fire matters more than the octane in which it is transposed. More or less all psych meds are uppers or downers. But what you fuel your body with determines which direction the original application is going. GL and let me know if you have any questions. I'm not an MD but I can certainly give you thoughtful guidance and possible techniques that may alter how your wife feels daily. |
|
#11
Sep 13, 2014, 06:01 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
All AAPs have anti-manic properties. Some enhance the effect of ADs like Olanzapine. Some are also ADs too like Abilify. Lamictal spreads apart the episodes while other MS medication stabilizes the mood in a different way. This is what little I have discovered about these medications. However, my experience with MSs is limited to Tegretol and Lamictal.
I do hope that the poster's SO is able to find the right meds. It can be really a crapshoot that may take years before success. It took me over three years to find the right combo that worked, and another several years before a combo of meds that worked well.
__________________
Dx: Bipolar I, ADD, GAD. Rx: Fluoxetine, Buproprion, Olanzapine, Lamictal, and Strattera. Last edited by Tucson; Sep 13, 2014 at 06:16 PM. |
|
#12
Sep 13, 2014, 06:33 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
I'm on Latuda and I love it! I don't have any dysphoric mania.
|
|
#13
Sep 13, 2014, 07:20 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Quote:
Latuda is much better than what was available when I had bipolar depression 2 years ago...and that was Wellbutrin. Which probably would have been best but I suggested to go back on Zyprexa instead. I ended up just with Zyprexa which did somewhat help IMO. A lot better than Abilify which I felt was a total **** up to me. (one of Abilify's side effects is suicide WOW an anti-depressant that increases the risk of suicide?!? good marketing!) Either way bipolar depression is a ***** to manage and I'm glad to see Latuda as a front line option. Even if its still only just another atypical. If I would have went on that, I'm sure my weight gain would have been less of an issue. |
|
#14
Sep 13, 2014, 08:09 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
Well I learned something today. I had no idea AAPs had mood stabilizing effects, but that makes a whole lotta sense now that I think about how I really was before I was on it. Thank you! How long did it take for it to poop out on you? I've been on it for two or three years now.
__________________
"Every person, on the foundation of his or her own sufferings and joys, builds for all." ~Albert Camus Cymbalta, 60mg -- for the depression. Latuda, 40mg -- for the paranoia (delusional type). Adderall, 40mg XR & 5 mg reg -- for the ADD. Xanax, .5 mg as needed -- for the anxiety. Topamax, 50mg -- still figuring this one out. MDD, but possibly have some form of Bipolar Disorder. Then again, I could be paranoid . . . Well, at least I still have my sense of humor.
|
|
#15
Sep 13, 2014, 08:11 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
__________________
"Every person, on the foundation of his or her own sufferings and joys, builds for all." ~Albert Camus Cymbalta, 60mg -- for the depression. Latuda, 40mg -- for the paranoia (delusional type). Adderall, 40mg XR & 5 mg reg -- for the ADD. Xanax, .5 mg as needed -- for the anxiety. Topamax, 50mg -- still figuring this one out. MDD, but possibly have some form of Bipolar Disorder. Then again, I could be paranoid . . . Well, at least I still have my sense of humor.
|
|
#16
Sep 13, 2014, 08:40 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Quote:
|
| Reply |
This is an old thread. You probably should not post your reply to it, as the original poster is unlikely to see it.|
|
My Support Forums is the online community that was originally begun as the Psych Central Forums in 2001. It now runs as an independent self-help support group community for mental health, personality, and psychological issues and is overseen by a group of dedicated, caring volunteers from around the world.
Linear Mode
