[xRavenx]

Lately, I'm feeling more depressed. Just a couple of weeks ago, I was feeling elevated, where everything was interesting, I didn't feel the need to sleep, my thoughts were moving at a fast pace....but then my mood started to sink.

It's been about at least a week or so since I notice my thoughts are moving so slow. Sometimes I just stare at the ceiling since I don't feel like doing anything else. Nothing holds my concentration. I get up to do a few things as part of my routine, but I cry 1-2 times per day and just feel it's the beginning of a depressive episode.

Many people seem to rave about Lamictal, but I've been on it for years, and I'm on the highest dose that my pdoc likes to prescribe, since anything higher is not shown to have any clinical benefit. I am also on an AP (Seroquel) and Klonopin for anxiety "to take the edge off" for BP symptoms, as my pdoc recommended. I'm just wondering if some of you can share what meds been successful for you in helping treat depression?

Note: I've tried various SSRI meds (that I've taken with mood stabilizers and AP's to try to protect against mania, but they've all induced mania regardless). My pdoc agrees to never prescribe one again, and I fully agree and would refuse to take one again anyway.

[leejosepho]

A mere 50mg of Tramadol two or three times per week is making an amazing difference for me, but not everyone can take it because of drug interactions.

[JustJace2u]

Right now I'm taking 150mg of Lamictal and 200mg of Wellbutrin everyday. It seems to be helping at least somewhat for the time being.

[HALLIEBETH87]

Latuda and pristiq

Wellbutrin works well...too well sometimes. I'm getting settled into my Geodon and then I will slowly add in some Wellbutrin. This is the plan my doc and I currently have. Hopefully I can start the Wellbutrin soon as my depression is plummeting fast and deep.

Good luck and ((((hugs)))

[MissCathryn]

Lamictal literally saved my life. I am late-onset BP2, diagnosed this year at 45. SSRIs weren't helping

[bioChE]

The combination of Lamictal and Latuda pulled me out of the blackest depression I've ever been in.

[Moose72]

Wellbutrin has really helped me. I didn't even realize I was depressed.

[franz kafka]

Saphris really helped to lift me out of depression. Has annoying side efects tho.

[Moogieotter]

I like my current combo. Latuda, Prozac, Welbutrin, Lamictal. I also had to give up all street drugs and alcohol.

Good luck and let us know what works for you.

moogs

[*Laurie*]

Latuda has helped my bipolar depression.

[gayleggg]

Saphris has helped me with my depression and insomnia. I haven't had any side effects other than it tastes terrible.

[wiretwister]

lamictal ... have been at 400 for years droped to 200 and big D came right back ... now at 300 and feeling better but want to try not to go back to 400 .... if I can ask what dosage are you at ....

[xRavenx]

Thanks everyone for sharing. I'm hearing a lot of good things about Latuda, which I've never tried. The only thing is that I'm already on an AP, and Seroquel is the only thing that is help for sleep....I wonder if my pdoc would try two AP's together. I've been on 2 AP's at once before with another pdoc. I never tried Saphris. Maybe that's an option? I'll find out.

As far as Wellbutrin goes, it agitated me severely, and I became manic, so it's not for me, unfortunately. It might come down to Lithium since my pdoc mentioned it a few months ago, but then deferred it since I had a brief period where I started doing somewhat okay again. I'm a little nervous about the effects it can have on the body if it comes down to that, but I'm at the point I'll try nearly anything. I don't want to get too far ahead of myself though....I'll see what she has to say.

[Wander]

I am now scared of getting depressed as meds either don't work for me, e.g. Latuda, Lamotrogine or they work then send me manic (thanks Cymbalta). What my pdoc and I will do if I get depressed again is so far beyond me. Really hope there is something out there I haven't tried that will help if I get depressed again.

[xRavenx]

Originally Posted by wiretwister

lamictal ... have been at 400 for years droped to 200 and big D came right back ... now at 300 and feeling better but want to try not to go back to 400 .... if I can ask what dosage are you at ....

I am currently on 300 mg. Actually, I was on 400, then a pdoc dropped it to 300 mg a while ago since she said there is no research as far as she knows, that there is any benefit past that amount (that's not to say that maybe a small group of people notice a little bit of a benefit). Plus, side effects go up after 300 mg. Personally, I never noticed a difference between 300 mg or 400 mg as far as mood stabilization. So I think I can pretty much conclude that Lamictal isn't doing much to help me at this point. Maybe an add-on mood stablizer to enhance the Lamictal could help, along with my AP and benzo, but I'm just surmising.

[raspberrytorte]

Have you thought about trileptal? I was put on a baby dose last time I was in the hospital and it really got me out of my depression. Beforehand I was staring at ceilings and crying in closets and I stopped doing that when I got out.

[still_crazy]

i take lamictal, trileptal, wellbutrin, and abilify. The combination has been good for my problems. I mostly live in the severely depressed territory.

Klonopin can sometimes cause depression or make depression worse. My psychiatrist says its worse than other benzodiazepines in that regard, but I don't know what (if any) data he's basing that on.

[xRavenx]

Originally Posted by raspberrytorte

Have you thought about trileptal? I was put on a baby dose last time I was in the hospital and it really got me out of my depression. Beforehand I was staring at ceilings and crying in closets and I stopped doing that when I got out.

No, I never tried Trileptal....if I recall, it might have (at the time) interfered with a medicine I was on for a medical problem, but that was a while ago. Maybe now it's an option.

[xRavenx]

Originally Posted by still_crazy

i take lamictal, trileptal, wellbutrin, and abilify. The combination has been good for my problems. I mostly live in the severely depressed territory.

Klonopin can sometimes cause depression or make depression worse. My psychiatrist says its worse than other benzodiazepines in that regard, but I don't know what (if any) data he's basing that on.

Thanks for bringing this up. I did not consider this. I don't take Klonopin every day, but it's a possibility to take into account when it comes to depression. I've been on other benzos in the past, so maybe this is something I can discuss with my pdoc since I've been thinking about switching for other reasons either way, if she agrees.

[Nammu]

Laudta, lamictal and ambien best cocktail I've ever had

[BeyondtheRainbow]

Originally Posted by Wander

I am now scared of getting depressed as meds either don't work for me, e.g. Latuda, Lamotrogine or they work then send me manic (thanks Cymbalta). What my pdoc and I will do if I get depressed again is so far beyond me. Really hope there is something out there I haven't tried that will help if I get depressed again.

Have you tried an MAOI? Emsam is the only AD that has ever really done much for me and it works pretty well.

[Shazerac]

Wellbutrin works for me. It's also helping let go of cigarettes. I would really like to quit but it's my go to when I get really stressed out

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by xRavenx

Thanks everyone for sharing. I'm hearing a lot of good things about Latuda, which I've never tried. The only thing is that I'm already on an AP, and Seroquel is the only thing that is help for sleep....I wonder if my pdoc would try two AP's together. I've been on 2 AP's at once before with another pdoc. I never tried Saphris. Maybe that's an option? I'll find out.

I am on both Latuda and Seroquel. Actually, they are commonly prescribed together.

[Crook32]

I am on Lamictal, lithium, temazepam, klonopin and just added Vraylar recently. Vraylar if supposed to help with mania but it is used off label for depression. I am not totally out of the woods yet but things are much better since adding it.