[nicole84]

I finally saw a new pdoc today after a 3 month wait and just getting by with prozac, valium and whatever else my gp was throwing at me to manage.

Anyhow, we went through the list of meds I've tried in the past, which is fairly long (mostly anti d's though) and he came up with a bunch that even I hadn't heard of! Some being the typical antipsychotics, which the ones I've looked at seem to prescribed mostly for schizophrenia. I know meds can be used for different conditions than they're usually prescribed for but some of these just worry me.

He's going more for the major tranquiliser route as I have chronic insomnia, mixed episodes and often up for days which leads to paranoia and some delusions/hallucinations. It's rare it gets to that point, but my no sleep and mood change is quite all over the place rather constantly.

I just don't want to end up a zombie, I'm wondering if anyone else is on the older typical antipsychotics. There's still talk about a couple of the newer like geodon, but I had a bad experience with saphris and abilify in the past. Anything with akathisia is a no-no for me. Talk of lithium too, but I can't go on the notorious weight gainers as I have an ED too.

I'm back there in a week, thankfully no long waits this time. Any input would be good though

[hamster-bamster]

I would try Lithium - it is not notorious for weight gain. Depakote, Zyprexa, Risperdal are notorious while Lithium might or might not give you weight gain. And, weight gain on Lithium, if it happens, happens gradually, so it you monitor your weight, you can discontinue Li after adding a couple of lbs. With Zyprexa, you may gain 20 lbs in 2 weeks, by contrast.

Akathisia is a major concern with older AP's, but if you take the AP's together with Cogentin, which acts as an antidote for such major neuro side effects as akathisia, you might be quite OK.

I would either try Lithium or an old AP such as Haldol with Cogentin.

[nicole84]

Originally Posted by hamster-bamster

I would try Lithium - it is not notorious for weight gain. Depakote, Zyprexa, Risperdal are notorious while Lithium might or might not give you weight gain. And, weight gain on Lithium, if it happens, happens gradually, so it you monitor your weight, you can discontinue Li after adding a couple of lbs. With Zyprexa, you may gain 20 lbs in 2 weeks, by contrast.

Akathisia is a major concern with older AP's, but if you take the AP's together with Cogentin, which acts as an antidote for such major neuro side effects as akathisia, you might be quite OK.

I would either try Lithium or an old AP such as Haldol with Cogentin.

I've tried Depakote, was good for calming the thoughts but the weight gain and SE's ended up being too much. Zyprexa - no thanks! Briefly tried that and never again.

Lithium was mentioned, I don't know how well it would work on my sleep though.. but if it starts to stabilise things then who knows. Also Tegretol is an option, plus a bunch of the anti p's. He said Haldol wasn't a good idea due to the akathisia possibility. Stelazine was another mentioned. I think I'd rather the mood stabiliser route too, at least at first.

I'm so tired I don't even know if this is making sense right now, apologies. Been some rough days/weeks/months even.

[hamster-bamster]

Everything you wrote makes sense. Tegretol is well studied and cheap. It's probably on a par with Lithium as far as weight is concerned. I think that trying them before Stelazine is a good idea.

[Crazy Hitch]

Lithium as a mood stabilizer didn't really help me.

Saphris as an ap didn't do much for me either.

I'm on seroquel- but it's no good for weight gain

[nicole84]

Originally Posted by Hooligan

Lithium as a mood stabilizer didn't really help me.

Saphris as an ap didn't do much for me either.

I'm on seroquel- but it's no good for weight gain

Oh gosh saphris was horrible for me with the akathisia! Never again.

I've had seroquel in the past, but not for a long enough period I don't think.. and I definitely noticed the appetite increase

[Crazy Hitch]

Originally Posted by nicole84

Oh gosh saphris was horrible for me with the akathisia! Never again.

I've had seroquel in the past, but not for a long enough period I don't think.. and I definitely noticed the appetite increase

Totally.

I have constant munchies all the time.

I am always hungry.

My brain never registers when I'm full.

My geodon/zeldox acts as my mood stabiliser. It kept me stable for 3 years, but I have had a bad year this year and once it was increased (along with a couple other changes) I leveled out again. In now 4 years I have had very few side effects, zero weight gain (related to meds). I am now starting to wonder if it will affect me cognitively when I start uni next year so I am going to play with the dose now that I am stable again. I know how quickly it works for me if an episode pops up, so that puts my mind at ease. Best AP/mood stabiliser I have been on by far.

[cool09]

I'm wondering if anyone else is on the older typical antipsychotics.

You don't want the older anti-psychotics like haldol, navane, mellaril, stelazine, loxitane, thorazine. All of them have a huge list of side effects. I took a bunch of them in the 90's plus clozaril. Haldol is the most popular and gave me akithesia which was horrific. None of them relieved any of my symptoms.

[Victoria'smom]

I have ED and bipolar. It took years to convince me to start an antipsycotic. Abilify, invaga, and geodon are the most weight neutral. I had a "as need " anti psychotic. Then recently I tried to get on symbyax which has zyprexa, in it which is a major weight gainer but it also has prozac which should counteract.

Wellbutrin and topamax are weight loss.

[Disorder7]

I take Abilify, which is good for mixed episodes.
I guess I can be a little psychotic at times, so taking an antipsychotic doesn't bother me. I have bigger problems than just mood swings.

[sidney1771]

The more I try to understand what exactly I'm on and not on, or what is "protocol" or not, the more confused I get. I have learned to let my psych figure out what is best for me based on my overall needs mentally and physically. With the good old trial and error, process of add and subtract, we get there. The more I try to label and direct the effort, the worse off I am.

[pretty-eyes]

Geodon was a terrible experience for me. It was like you were sleeping but you knew everything going. On around you...like a zombie...and then I'd be so tired...even after sleeping 14 hours a day...Id half fall asleep while driving...I'm sure it works for some people but it defiantly did not for me

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[nicole84]

Originally Posted by Miguel'smom

I have ED and bipolar. It took years to convince me to start an antipsycotic. Abilify, invaga, and geodon are the most weight neutral. I had a "as need " anti psychotic. Then recently I tried to get on symbyax which has zyprexa, in it which is a major weight gainer but it also has prozac which should counteract.

Wellbutrin and topamax are weight loss.

Abilify gave me the worst akathisia. Geodon is on the list, I'm strongly considering it but then I've read that you need a certain amount of calories for it be effective too...

I'm currently on Prozac, def don't want Zyprexa in the mix. Topamax I've looked into as well, so many say it reallly dumbs them down. More trial and error!

[nicole84]

Originally Posted by pretty-eyes

Geodon was a terrible experience for me. It was like you were sleeping but you knew everything going. On around you...like a zombie...and then I'd be so tired...even after sleeping 14 hours a day...Id half fall asleep while driving...I'm sure it works for some people but it defiantly did not for me

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Oh gosh I definitely don't want that experience! I already have that feeling of derealisation at times. Do not want to be a zombie. But also don't want to live in this mixed depression town either.