So I've been very irritable for about 4 days. I'm on depakote and trileptal. Weaning off the depakote and adding the trileptal until I get to the therapeutic dose.

I'm not on an AD other than trazadone. I take trazadone and hydroxyzine for sleep. I take a small dose of lorazepam as well. I'm not on an ap bc the ones that aren't weight gainers caused horrible akathisia in me and my pdoc said that the non weight gainers I haven't tried will probably do the same thing, that I'm sensitive to it.

He said if I needed an ap to use zyprexa or risperdal. But I hate to do that bc I've lost 20 of the lbs I gained on risperdal.

I don't want to add anymore lorazepam, just too many drs don't want to give it out and I'd rather find a better way.

What helps you the most with the irritability? Maybe I'm gonna have to just suck it up and take risperdal again for awhile? Idk, what's your opinion/experience?

[Mrs. Mania]

Paxil used to work wonders for my anger. I think its pooping out on me. Had a few fits of rage so pdoc started me on seroquel,which I didn't really want. I have a hard time waking up, but once I do,I'm mellow as jello. Before that, when I was raging, I would isolate to keep from saying mean things to people I love.

Originally Posted by Mrs. Mania

Paxil used to work wonders for my anger. I think its pooping out on me. Had a few fits of rage so pdoc started me on seroquel,which I didn't really want. I have a hard time waking up, but once I do,I'm mellow as jello. Before that, when I was raging, I would isolate to keep from saying mean things to people I love.

Well I guess I could look into paxil. Seroquel made me feel zombiefied and I gained 50lbs on it.

I just need to call him tomorrow I guess. I just hate to bother him...

[Wander]

When it comes to treating my irritability I use Olanzapine (Zyprexa). I have tried Seroquel, all the Benzo's, Risperdal, Saphris...and none work for that symptom. I use the wafer kind and have found I haven't gained weight like I did on the normal tablets.

Originally Posted by Wander

When it comes to treating my irritability I use Olanzapine (Zyprexa). I have tried Seroquel, all the Benzo's, Risperdal, Saphris...and none work for that symptom. I use the wafer kind and have found I haven't gained weight like I did on the normal tablets.

I'm gonna look into that bc all I have is the tablets. Oh the hunger is just outrageous though...Ugh. thanks though.

[coloradogal]

I have the same problem with irritability. My manic or hypomanic does not feel high or extra 'good.' I have a problem with anxiety and feeling almost itchy inside. I lash out at those closest to me and say awful things. My mind replays images that I don't want in them over and over, etc.
I have been on risperdal for that, but cannot lose the 20 pounds that zyprexa made me gain about a year and a half ago. (I stopped the zyprexa after all the weight gain) I stopped taking risperdal about ten days ago and feel weird all the time now. Anxious but immobile. But I have lost 6 pounds already. Don't know what to do. . . Thinking of trying to stay of the risperdal until I have lost the rest of the weight but this is a miserable feeling.
I don't do antidepressants either because it triggers mania. Good luck to you!

[elevatedsoul]

sorry if this is inappropriate;

marijuana helps tremendously

[LastQuestion]

I have found a regular sleep cycle, healthy diet tailored to treat my symptoms, daily exercise, Light/Dark Therapy, and Ashwagandha root extract to have a cumulative effect that provides a type of stability that makes things quite manageable. I have learned while withdrawing from my medication that most of my symptoms were caused by the medications I was taking, especially unexplainable irritability. Even so, when stress has spiked due to life events I have found L-Theanine to be helpful, especially at bedtime, alongside some melatonin.

[Velouria]

Xanax actually usually helps me with agitation. Usually. Today it helped enough to dull it, but not all of it. I'm a knotted up bundle of raw nerves and I hate almost everyone.

Maybe there's something in the air, because I've also been pretty agitated for the past four days, since Saturday.

Originally Posted by elevatedsoul

sorry if this is inappropriate;

marijuana helps tremendously

Oh not at all. I would smoke it, it's legal where I'm at. But I get paranoid on it...sucks.

Well I gave in and took 10 mgs of zyprexa last night. I finally slept pretty good and feel so much better. So far I'm not having horrible hunger on it.

I think I'm just gonna take 5 mgs tonight.

Thanks everyone for your responses.

Originally Posted by sunshine1995

Oh not at all. I would smoke it, it's legal where I'm at. But I get paranoid on it...sucks.

I get paranoid on it too. I heard that it affects bipolars like that. Maybe the psychotic ones! Lol

Originally Posted by AlwaysChanging2

I get paranoid on it too. I heard that it affects bipolars like that. Maybe the psychotic ones! Lol

Yeah, I think there's some truth to that. I've had 2 psychotic breaks. When I smoke weed I feel almost like I'm in a mixed episode...like I could be heading to a psychosis...

[Blitter2014]

Is there anything that helps with the anger/rage that does not cause you to gain weight? I have lost 20lbs from the Seroquel I was on, and am still taking Saphris and valium as needed but do not want to put weight back on as it has been so hard to loose?

Originally Posted by Blitter2014

Is there anything that helps with the anger/rage that does not cause you to gain weight? I have lost 20lbs from the Seroquel I was on, and am still taking Saphris and valium as needed but do not want to put weight back on as it has been so hard to loose?

Well, no, not really. Latuda and geodon both gave me horrible akathisia. Zyprexa and risperdal seems to be the only thing that really helps when I get that angry/irritable.

I know how u feel. I've lost 20 of the lbs I gained from risperdal and seroquel.

Once I'm feeling pretty stable I think I'm gonna give abilify a try. I was on an AD when I got that severe akathisia on latuda and geodon. My pdoc said that increases the chance of getting that severe akathisia.

I don't want to increase the dose of lorazepam I'm on. For me, I want to find a more permanent way of handling it. It's hard..

So, no risperdal and zyprexa seem to be what works...sucks.

[Sinking Feeling]

for me klonopin at least twice a day keeps the pdoc away

As for weed it's a hit or miss for me. Small amounts some times seem to help me, but more often then not pushes me over in to delusional states

[Mrs. Mania]

Originally Posted by sunshine1995

I'm gonna look into that bc all I have is the tablets. Oh the hunger is just outrageous though...Ugh. thanks though.

Although I have noticed an insatiable hunger not long after I take my Seroquel, I've regressed back to my youth when I was beyond a finicky eater. Nothing passes my lips if I don't want it, no matter how hungry I am. I stayed the same weight from age 5-9, and gained minimal weight through high school. I have eaten once a day for quite awhile, usually 2 meals at once. I know, not healthy, blah blah blah

Originally Posted by Mrs. Mania

Although I have noticed an insatiable hunger not long after I take my Seroquel, I've regressed back to my youth when I was beyond a finicky eater. Nothing passes my lips if I don't want it, no matter how hungry I am. I stayed the same weight from age 5-9, and gained minimal weight through high school. I have eaten once a day for quite awhile, usually 2 meals at once. I know, not healthy, blah blah blah

Wish I coulda done that. I gained 50 lbs on seroquel.

Well took 5 mgs of zyprexa with all my other meds last night and slept 11 hours. I think I'm gonna cut back to 2.5 tonight. Ate more than usual yesterday...

But I don't feel as irritable...and I needed the sleep. So doing better.

Thanks everyone.

[Atypical_Disaster]

I know this is a late reply but I also have a serious problem with irritability. Like another poster said, the Klonopin I take seems to be the only thing that helps that. I take 2mg in the morning and 2mg at night. AP's help too obviously, but I have the same problem you do. They either make me gain a massive amount of weight or cause me horrible akathisia or other side effects that I can't handle(I had an acute dystonic reaction to haldol, UGH).

Originally Posted by Atypical_Disaster

I know this is a late reply but I also have a serious problem with irritability. Like another poster said, the Klonopin I take seems to be the only thing that helps that. I take 2mg in the morning and 2mg at night. AP's help too obviously, but I have the same problem you do. They either make me gain a massive amount of weight or cause me horrible akathisia or other side effects that I can't handle(I had an acute dystonic reaction to haldol, UGH).

Thank you atypical for the response.

[Nammu]

I'm late to this question too. What helps me most is getting my sleep and avoiding lots of sugar/processed foods. I have a prn of sleep meds and when I'm getting irritable ( like hitting the table cause the computer is taking "forever" to load) I know I haven't been getting my sleep.

Well I think part of the problem was pms. Tmi, but I started late today and I'm calming down a lot.