[CMPLX]

Hey there,

I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in March, 2015 and have been much happier since I started treatment. I initially was on Abilify which worked really well for stabilizing my mood. Since I started medicating I haven't attempted any kind of self harm and have not dealt with any major cycling until recently.

My doctor and I wanted to change my medication as I had gained a lot of weight and was dealing with a lot of fatigue. So we decided to switch to Latuda as at the very least it could help with the weight some and it has a lower risk of cuasing the development of diabetes. The initial dose was too low however by a long shot and after about three weeks of being on it I fell in to an 8 day hypomania just down right crazy time. I almost didn't sleep, eat or even drink water the entire time. I ruined an amazing friendship, heavily abused drugs, and almost lost my job because of it.

I went through severe depression afterwards for about two weeks, the first couple days being particularly bad. After I upped my dosage the mania has only come back in full force for a much smaller three day period. Now I have fallen into a regular cycle of a couple days of contentedness, to a day or two of borderline mania, to between a week to 10 days of depression.

In addition to simply not being stable there has been an extraordinarily large amount of bad things happening to me for the past two months. It's become almost impossible to resolve these issues as I spend most of my time depressed and when I do have energy I am incapable of focusing on anything.

I am wondering if I need to just switch back to abilify. Maybe it's just time for an additional medication. Maybe I need to up my dose. I really don't know. I have been altering the severity of the problems when I see my doctor as I like to be sure myself of the general direction things are going to go before I let her start making decisions. I have had three really bad experiences with doctors that has resulted in a great loss of trust and the need to make every decision with them.

I honestly don't know anyone in my personal life who has bipolar disorder. There are some I wonder about but I certainly don't know anyone who has treated it. I am aware that it is degenerative. Is this what's happening? Has anyone experienced anything similar?

[bizi]

Yes it sounds like you need to switch back.
Wish you could be more forthcoming with your pdoc. She needs to know what you are experiencing to help you make decisions about your medical care.
good luck
bizi
I am sorry for all of your traumas due to your med changes, maybe in time you will get the friendship back once you are more stable.

[Coffeee]

I second bizi that you need to switch back to be stable. Maybe they could add something for the weight. There are drugs that help you drop weight. I'm sorry you are dealing with such rapid mood changes that sounds very difficult.

[st0psign]

I'm at the point where I think treatment is a fcking joke... ive been at it for 21 years and all I got out of it was a diagnosis.

If the abilify helped before, it's worth discussing going back on it with your doctor. Like others have mentioned, there are add-on drugs you can be prescribed which can help combat the weight gain issues. Topomax is what I've been prescribed for this symptom and I've also heard metformin is sometimes used. I'm sorry for what you've been through and are dealing with. I hope you and your doctor can find a treatment regime which works without added health consequences. Stay strong and cling to hope because things can definately improve given time and proper help. (((Hugs)))

[zijax]

For me it's either Fat and Stable OR Skinny and Crazy. Always has been and I've been playing the bipolar med game for 20 years. I've settled on Fat and Stable. I take Seroquel. I take Topamax and Metformin. I still gained weight. But I'm stable. I haven't been in the psyche ward or detox in a year and I've been sober and off drugs 11 months. I attribute this to Seroquel and AA.

[Unrigged64072835]

Latuda does have an uplifting effect for some people. It does for me. Maybe try switching back or going to something else. Best of luck in whatever you choose to do.