[ducky2030]

I have bipolarII and have never been able to find the right med combo. But ill admit I never gave meds much of chance to work because I would quit as soon as side effects were too much for me such as nausea, akathisia, suicidal thoughts. i think my longest time on meds was lamictal and celexa but I now have tinea versicolor which i believe was caused by lamictal since it affects the skin. So i really don't want to take lamictal. But i know most the other meds have more side effects. It seems Ive been having a ton of anxiety (mostly social anxiety) lately. I think i may need anxiety meds but most doctors won't prescribe me benzos. Sometimes i just don't know if meds are worth the side effects caused. Especially when you consider long term side effects. Im not really sure. i think I may be sensitive to side effects of meds. I tried latuda and it made me super irritable anxiety and suicidal I felt completely miserable and stopped after 1st or 2nd dose! Does anyone have any advice for medications that have worked really well for them especially if you are sensitive to the side effects. I would appreciate hearing your experiences.

[Nammu]

If you are going to quit on the 1st or 2nd dose I suggest you sick to therapy.

[bewise93]

When I first starting taking Seroquel, I had horrible akathisia. Then when the dose was raised, akathisia again. But after a few days that went away. Sometimes we just have to bite the bullet and give it a month. I was in the same boat as you. But meds improve over time. The side effects, anxiety, lethargy usually go away, even if it takes 6 months. Maybe you could talk to your pdoc about medications that don't have as many side effects like lamictal and carbamazepine. Those two never gave me side effects. You could also dose up slowly so your body gets used to the drug.

[Sunflower123]

Wellbutrin, Abilify and Prozac have helped me with depression. I've noticed Wellbutrin by itself can cause anxiety. I take benzos as well. Good luck getting something that works for you. You have to stick to it though. Usually side effects go away after awhile.

[benzenering]

As other posters have said, I have side effects on new meds that go away after a couple of months. You have to stick it out to see if it works.

[UpDownAround]

Y'all are making me wonder if I should try latuda again, maybe scheduled better to ride out some anxiety. It was really bad anxiety, though.

I need a fog cutter. It isn't a stimulant; tried those and I abused adderall so that's out. I tried Provigil years ago and that didn't do it either. A couple of tdocs have opined that it is stress doing it. I am not sure how to get rid of that.

[scatterbrained04]

Latuda has been the best for me. The first month was hell though. Was irritable as hell. Now I deal with restless legs/akathisia on it, so I take it at bedtime. As long as I get to sleep within an hour or so, I do ok.

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by UpDownAround

Y'all are making me wonder if I should try latuda again, maybe scheduled better to ride out some anxiety. It was really bad anxiety, though.

I need a fog cutter. It isn't a stimulant; tried those and I abused adderall so that's out. I tried Provigil years ago and that didn't do it either. A couple of tdocs have opined that it is stress doing it. I am not sure how to get rid of that.

I am very intolerant of most meds. It's very frustrating for me and for my pdoc, I am sure.

If Latuda caused "very bad" anxiety, chances are it's not the best choice for you.

You are very smart to quickly discontinue any med which is increasing suicidality.

There are med options which tend to be "activating," yet aren't "stimulants. Jennifer mentioned 3 of them: Abilify, Wellbutrin, Prozac. There are others.

Please discuss your concerns in detail with your pdoc and stay under his/her specific directions as you try new meds and combinations thereof. Sometimes, it takes a considerable amount of time and patience to find the most helpful meds.


WC

[wildflowerchild25]

Originally Posted by UpDownAround

Y'all are making me wonder if I should try latuda again, maybe scheduled better to ride out some anxiety. It was really bad anxiety, though.

I need a fog cutter. It isn't a stimulant; tried those and I abused adderall so that's out. I tried Provigil years ago and that didn't do it either. A couple of tdocs have opined that it is stress doing it. I am not sure how to get rid of that.

I had the same reaction to latuda and it did NOT get better with time so I would stay away from that one.

Invega was the best for me, no short term side effects but in the long term it raised my prolactin which caused me to gain 70 pounds in a year. I'm slowly losing the weight now that I'm off the invega but I don't know if I'll ever get back to a healthy weight.

[UpDownAround]

Originally Posted by Wild Coyote

There are med options which tend to be "activating," yet aren't "stimulants. Jennifer mentioned 3 of them: Abilify, Wellbutrin, Prozac. There are others.

Please discuss your concerns in detail with your pdoc and stay under his/her specific directions as you try new meds and combinations thereof. Sometimes, it takes a considerable amount of time and patience to find the most helpful meds.

The fog has been discussed in detail with current pdoc and the previous 3, with current primary and the previous 2. It't been around 25 years and patience is in short supply.

I have tried the medications mentioned at various times.
Both abilify and prozac made me very irritable. Wellbutrin didn't do much for me mood wise but I had inflammation that seemed to be related. I am not positive because I have some general problems with inflammation, but I had an uptick in frequency of flares that coincided with when I was taking it. Nearly all medicine causes my tinnitus and hyperacusis to spike. I realize I have to take some meds so I put up with that. Wellbutrin was particularly bad though.

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by UpDownAround

The fog has been discussed in detail with current pdoc and the previous 3, with current primary and the previous 2. It't been around 25 years and patience is in short supply.

I have tried the medications mentioned at various times.
Both abilify and prozac made me very irritable. Wellbutrin didn't do much for me mood wise but I had inflammation that seemed to be related. I am not positive because I have some general problems with inflammation, but I had an uptick in frequency of flares that coincided with when I was taking it. Nearly all medicine causes my tinnitus and hyperacusis to spike. I realize I have to take some meds so I put up with that. Wellbutrin was particularly bad though.

It's so frustrating, isn't it?!

I, too, have tried various meds (repeatedly) for 30 + years.
I just keep trying. There are times I can tolerate a med I could not tolerate several years prior. As my pdoc says, we are trying to hit a constantly moving target.

Hyperacusis is also very difficult to tolerate. I have this often and am very sorry you must also deal with this.

I hope you and your pdoc find a helpful med regimen.

My heart goes out to you.


WC

[UpDownAround]

I hate the way hyperacusis causes others to treat me. I am "on the spectrum" but most of my quirks I can keep under wraps pretty well (except when at least moderately hypo; then my filter for what isn't appropriate to say can't keep pace). But startling when someone pops the top on a drink when you are sitting right there watching them do it is a tell. Well meaning sensitive people are the worst; they often come off as patronizing. If they would blow right by it like a narci, it would be better.
At the movies, I have given up caring what others think. I get a closed caption device from customer service and put ear plugs in.

[UpDownAround]

Something odd on that hyperacusis front that I had not realized. I was talking to my 17 yo son today. He has complained of similar symptoms. One thing I always found odd is that it seems to be worse in my left ear, where I get distortion, popping and crackling if a noise is loud. So does he - same ear, same effect. He is also almost certainly BP, but I don't think his pdoc has made that an official dx. She had me come in one visit and quizzed me about it and showed me his quick test answers indicating high likelihood. Anyway, I am not surprised that BP and hyperacusis are hereditary, but i am surprised about the specific set of symptoms matching. It does make me wonder about something being physically wrong with our ears.
Another son got the quirks and social awkwardness - can that really be hereditary?

[Jimbo27]

I do not know what is going on! Well, my Psychiatrist is mad at me because I have not taken any of the medications for over a week, and she told me to take them for a month or find a new doctor. I was originally on Lamictal for 2 years, but became itchy all over and headaches.

I have tried Gabapentin, Trileptal, and now Latuda. I am pacing constantly on Latuda and crying! i can't keep still. I lost all pleasure In things I like. I am Having trouble sleeping and no appetite at all. WHEN I do fall asleep, I wake up with anxiety and panic so extreme I think something is happening so I check outside the house. I have been forcing myself to eat a hotpocket a day!

Had trouble feeling really depressed and worsen anxiety on Gabapentin and Trileptal. I thought Gabapentin and Trileptal were bad, however, Latuda is horrible! Either that or my Bipolar and Anxiety disorders are at a whole new level of crazy. My stomach and whole body feel incredibly tense. I have to move around. She lowered my Effexor from 225mg to 150mg and started me on 40mg of Latuda. I have been on and off Effexor for 14 years.

I was told when I was a kid that my liver had trouble breaking down medications and Effexor is what worked for me. I was on Prozac as a child and it stopped working, then I went to Zoloft and made me push my sister and threaten my teacher.

Anyways, dear god, I hope I feel better. After I quit my Latuda how long until I feel normal again? Has this happened to anyone else?