[crazykarmatalk]

Sorry, should have said meds not working. I am currently on Lamictal, Lithium and Latuda. I am not going to continue Latuda due to my new insurance not covering it (plus it has done nothing but cause me problems since I started it I think). I also take Klonopin to sleep. I see my Dr. in a week, and again will suffer through until then. Lamictal has always worked great for me, and the klonopin allows me to sleep through the night. However, Lithium seems to be making me angry and then flat, like with no emotions except sadness.
I need advice on what to suggest to my Dr. that I think might help me. The other meds I am looking into are Depakote, Tegretol, Abilify, Zyprexa and Seroquel. Input please!!!

Right now I'm on clozapine, lithium, topamax, amoxapine, and prazosin. The prazosin's for PTSD so that's irrelevant rn. Clozapine is my wonder pill for psychosis and mania, haven't had an issue with mania or hallucinations/delusions since going on it. The topamax has helped significantly with mood instability. The amoxapine helps for a bit and then stops working and I'm on too low a dose of lithium.

[*Laurie*]

Hi, I'm currently taking Latuda, Trileptal, Zoloft, Klonopin, and a small dose of Seroquel. I feel more stable than I have in some years. The Trileptal seems to be very helpful.

Currently I'm taking Geodon and Klonopin to sleep. It seems to be working but we are all different. I'm sorry you are having such a rough time. I had a similar experience to yours when I took lithium. (((Hugs)))

[crazykarmatalk]

Originally Posted by LauraBeth

Hi, I'm currently taking Latuda, Trileptal, Zoloft, Klonopin, and a small dose of Seroquel. I feel more stable than I have in some years. The Trileptal seems to be very helpful.

I have bi polar disorder, and I took Zoloft for years, but my Drs now tell me I shouldn't take it because of the mania risk. I'm not sure what you take it for, but it really seemed to work for me, along with Lamictal. Don't understand why they took it away since I wasn't having any mania symptoms???

[l00king4answers79]

topamax is what i'm taking for mood stability and it's my saving grace

[crazykarmatalk]

Originally Posted by l00king4answers79

topamax is what i'm taking for mood stability and it's my saving grace

I read about it and it says it for acute onset treatment. Do you take it for maintenance also?

[l00king4answers79]

Originally Posted by crazykarmatalk

I read about it and it says it for acute onset treatment. Do you take it for maintenance also?

yea, I've been on it for like a year now, and my doctor and therapist say that as long as I feel stable and it continues to work, then I'm good.

I had a friend who got put on it and it didn't work for her, so you know, it depends on you!

[OctobersBlackRose]

I take Geodon and Lamictal, and they seem to be working well for me.

[still_crazy]

I take: a high dose (30mgs) of Abilify, trileptal, lamictal, and wellbutrin.

If you need an antipsychotic, I would say Abilify might be a good option. Everybody talks about akathisia from Abilify, but...I got akathisia from risperdal, zyprexa, and seroquel...Abilify, I could tolerate.

I've heard similar stories about lithium. I wouldn't even try it because I was scared for my kidneys. Actually...I try to avoid drugs that require blood work. Trileptal just requires a blood sodium check when the doctor says to do it, and even that's not required.

Restoril worked better to help me sleep than Klonopin, Sonata, or Ambien. I think some doctors aren't too keen on prescribing it though.

Hope you find something that works!

[Wild Coyote]

The best meds for any individual depend, partially, on the most prominent features experienced by each individual.

Med tolerability is another factor.

I have tried many, many meds -- and I cannot tolerate most of them.

I hope your doctor will understand the most prominent features for you and will demonstrate some skill in understanding the meds while prescribing. That said, anything can happen with any med at anytime.

The "trial and error" involved can be discouraging, for sure.


WC

[crazykarmatalk]

Originally Posted by OctobersBlackRose

I take Geodon and Lamictal, and they seem to be working well for me.

Do you have more manic symptoms? I read that about Geodon. This is why I am asking actual people taking the meds

[crazykarmatalk]

Originally Posted by still_crazy

I take: a high dose (30mgs) of Abilify, trileptal, lamictal, and wellbutrin.

If you need an antipsychotic, I would say Abilify might be a good option. Everybody talks about akathisia from Abilify, but...I got akathisia from risperdal, zyprexa, and seroquel...Abilify, I could tolerate.

I've heard similar stories about lithium. I wouldn't even try it because I was scared for my kidneys. Actually...I try to avoid drugs that require blood work. Trileptal just requires a blood sodium check when the doctor says to do it, and even that's not required.

Restoril worked better to help me sleep than Klonopin, Sonata, or Ambien. I think some doctors aren't too keen on prescribing it though.

Hope you find something that works!

I hadn't heard the term akathisia until today on another board. I have problems being agitated so I'm not sure that Abilify would be a good one for me but it's on my list to ask the dr about. Thanks!

[crazykarmatalk]

Originally Posted by Wild Coyote

The best meds for any individual depend, partially, on the most prominent features experienced by each individual.

Med tolerability is another factor.

I have tried many, many meds -- and I cannot tolerate most of them.

I hope your doctor will understand the most prominent features for you and will demonstrate some skill in understanding the meds while prescribing. That said, anything can happen with any med at anytime.

The "trial and error" involved can be discouraging, for sure.


WC

I know and agree with you totally. I am not sure this doctor is understanding the depression I am dealing with. He seems to focus on my not becoming manic, even though that isn't a prominent symptom nor does it rear it's ugly head too often, but still....Thanks!

[LucyG]

I was on Depakote for several years, and the first month I was on it I got so sick on my period it was like having the flu. Believe it or not, these flu-like symptoms continued until the day I went into menopause about 5 years after I went off it! I now say that 'side-effects are forever!' I don't know if I had any other specific side-effects from Depakote, but I can tell you that between it, prozac, klonopin, xanax and topamax I was so sick I was mostly bedridden for about 5 years.

Topamax gave me such terrible muscle tremors in my forearm that I could watch the muscles shake back and forth. It was absolutely unreal. Topamax is also known for severe memory loss, and based on my researching it, I found that it's referred to as 'dope-amax' by doctors because people have been known to forget even their own names on it. I went off it after watching my muscles shake when I was driving one day.

I eventually went off all meds due to the nasty side-effects, and for the last 9+ years having been using the natural mineral supplement lithium orotate to control my hypomania. Lithium orotate isn't a drug. It's an over-the-counter supplement that contains a small amount of elemental lithium that is very easily absorbed by the body. I can honestly say that about the only symptoms of hypomania I now have is being a bit wound up with some extra energy, and not being able to get to sleep at night which is usually when I decide that I might be hypomanic so I take another dose of lithium orotate and a few hours later am able to get at least a few hours of decent sleep. Before when I was on meds, I had the racing mind, and wouldn't sleep but a few minutes for up to 10 days so you can imagine what a blessing the lithium orotate has been in my life.

I also use amino acids to control the depression. I take 5-htp, DL-phenylalanine for depression and GABA for hypomania and anxiety as GABA is one of the premier anxiety amino acids. 5-htp is used by the brain to produce serotonin, and DL-pheylalanine [DLPA] is used to produce dopamine and norepinephrine. I find that if I don't take the DLPA, I'm depressed regardless of how much 5-htp I take. DLPA gives that 'life is good' feeling.

Here are some articles on treating amino acid therapy, a brain function questionnaire showing the emotions and feelings associated with various neurotransmitters and an article about the differences between lithium carbonate, the drug and the mineral supplement lithium orotate.

http://drjolee.com/Brain-Function-Questionnaire.pdf

Amino Acid Therapy for Depression and Anxiety

https://www.integrativepsychiatry.ne...epression.html

Lithium Orotate The Safe, Unique Mineral with Multiple Uses

[Coffeee]

I was on lithium alone and then added abilify. I agree with the side effects of lithium and Abilify. Abilify gave me akithisia really badly when we increased the dose to 5mg up from 3. When I dropped it again it went away but just gave me really bad anxiety. So we stopped lithium and replaced it with Lamictal so far it doesn't control my moods as well but the side effects are more tolerable. Abilify didn't seem to be doing much for me so I stopped it two weeks ago, anxiety went away.

[OctobersBlackRose]

Originally Posted by crazykarmatalk

Do you have more manic symptoms? I read that about Geodon. This is why I am asking actual people taking the meds

No, actually it helps keep me out of manic states, it is supposed to stop manic and mixed episodes. It even helps my depression a little once I found my sweet spot. The only thing I will say is monitor your heart on this med as it can prolong your QT, I had an EKG done and it was fine. But for me personally Geodon is a good med.

[gayleggg]

I take Saphris, Trintellix, klonopin and propanol. They have been working fairly well until recently. Now my mood is dropping a bit but that's not unusual for me at this time of year. The only problem is that Saphris and Trentellix are not generics so they can be expensive.

[jkristof26]

Originally Posted by crazykarmatalk

Sorry, should have said meds not working. I am currently on Lamictal, Lithium and Latuda. I am not going to continue Latuda due to my new insurance not covering it (plus it has done nothing but cause me problems since I started it I think). I also take Klonopin to sleep. I see my Dr. in a week, and again will suffer through until then. Lamictal has always worked great for me, and the klonopin allows me to sleep through the night. However, Lithium seems to be making me angry and then flat, like with no emotions except sadness.
I need advice on what to suggest to my Dr. that I think might help me. The other meds I am looking into are Depakote, Tegretol, Abilify, Zyprexa and Seroquel. Input please!!!

I would try Topamax. I had a lot of success with it as a mood improved. I stopped Latuda like you then added Topamax.

[purplesmilingpanda]

I found zyprexa to be AMAZING for my mood, agitation and anxiety. It caused rapid weight gain so I`ve been taken off of it and put on Saphris.. Can`t say yet whether it will be as good.. I do recommend trying zyprexa, it may work well for you. I was also on Abilify and it made me very agitated and restless.

[crazykarmatalk]

Originally Posted by jkristof26

I would try Topamax. I had a lot of success with it as a mood improved. I stopped Latuda like you then added Topamax.

Do you have any cognitive effects with it? And do you use it as a long term treatment? I read that it's more for acute symptoms.

[pirilin]

Lithium. And other things that don't do me any good.