[all74]

Hi all

I'm just looking for some support and experiences. I'm currently on lamotrigine and Luvox (which is really more for my OCD than my bipolar disorder). Things are generally ok, some really good days even. But I'm still getting these "jags" of depression. I call them that b/c that's what it feels like - things are going well and then just quickly jag sideways. Sorry if that doesn't make sense - I'm in one of them now. I could feel it coming on yesterday and today I've had suicidal thoughts (just thoughts, no impulse/plan/etc.). Worse is the hollow feeling inside... it's like the bottom just falls out. I've also started to derealize at times during these episodes (happened today in the car... that was not fun).

My psychiatrist has been suggesting that we add Latuda. Truth be told I'm scared to death of trying an AP. I'm convinced that I'll get tardive dyskinesia or diabetes and then my life will just be that much worse. At the same time, I feel like I'm not doing well on my current cocktail and I hate these hollow, depressed feelings.

Have you tried an AP? Were you scared of side effects? What made it worth it for you to go on an AP and stay on it? I've got the script filled, the pills are in my medicine bag, and I'm scared to actually swallow one

Help

[Rincad]

Latuda is more of an mood stabilizer than an antipsychotic. It carries a very low risk for tardive dyskinesia that's something of typical antipsychotics. It does carry a risk for weight gain and diabetes, but exercise can help reduce that risk. Hope that helps.

Ive have been on all the atypical antipsychotics approved for teens( except clozapine which they are considering). To tell ell mel the truth latuda didn't help me.( please ignore rhyming and nonsense sentences). But it was for psychosis not for being for mood. I was scared at first about tardive dyskinesia(TD) and weight gain. Sunflowers go zip paint look. I have gained a lot of weight because of all the antipsychotics I have tried. look sigh picture wolf screaming.

Personally I want off, but I can't let me parents down. Two I go more and more in the depths of psychosis. So low mow co that's my I felt it is worth it.

[zbmom]

I made the hard decision to put my 7 year old on an antipsychotic. Risperidone has been a miracle drug for him. He is autistic and he has some kind of mood disorder. All of the meds out there carry risks, you have to decide if the benefits are worth the risks.

[Wild Coyote]

Latuda is used a lot for bipolar depression. It was initially helpful to me, but then stopped being effective.

I have always been reticent to take APs and have often refused; however, when depressions and CPTSD have gotten so bad I was quite sure I was going to lose my life, I've given in and have taken APs. I am now on Abilify, along with other meds.

As the prior poster has mentioned, it's helpful to consider potentials benefits vs. potential costs.

It's a tough decision to make. It's helpful to also consider "quality of life."
It's also a very individual decision.


WC

[scatterbrained04]

I agree, APs are scary. I've been on Latuda 2 or 3 years, and it has been a life saver for me. It really helps prevent or at least lessen the severity of my depressions. Nothing else has worked for me. It's been very weight neutral. Only side effect I get is what I suspect is akathisia. I get around it by taking it bedtime and being on such a strict sleep schedule that I can get to sleep within about an hour before it kicks in. Good luck. Hope it is good to you.

[Shazerac]

I was very reluctant to go on APs too. But I finally did because I just wasn't doing ok at all. I'm glad I did because I'm functioning much better now.

I took Latuda at one point, but I went off it because it was too sedating; otherwise, I think it worked well? I'm not entirely sure. I went from the minimum 20mg to 40mg, and the 40mg lessened my depression, but I really needed a higher dose (likely 60 or 80mg) to get rid of the depression altogether. However, I just said "no" to the higher dose because of the sedation I was getting at 40mg and went on something different (Abilify).

But yeah, for me, no side effects on Latuda besides sedation. No akathisia from me. Or whatever stuff. Just sedation.

I don't want to discourage you. I'm just giving you my honest experience because I think it's helpful to read other people's experiences.

If you're worried about sedation, there are antipsychotics like Abilify and Rexulti that are not sedating. (I'm currently on Rexulti and loving it.) Everyone is different, but I put Latuda's sedation on the same level as Seroquel's sedation.

[Moreta]

Latuda didn't work for depression for me. I was taking it with geodon at the time and got the tardive stuff but that's cause of too many APs. I went off the geodon and it went away. In the end though I was on 160 mg and still depressed and psychotic so we tried fanapt for a week to get rid of the psychosis but it didn't work and i gained 10 lbs. I ended going back on geodon. geodon seems to be the only thing that helps with the psychosis. when i get manic i take saphris, but currently I'm off that but have a whole stash if something happens.

[Sunflower123]

I have not used Latuda but have had no side effects with Geodon (the only thing that helps me get a good night sleep) and Abilify which has gotten rid of most of my anxiety and depression. Like WC said, it comes down to a quality of life decision oftentimes. I think someone also mentioned a pros and cons analysis. I wish you well in your decision.

[all74]

Thanks all. I think I'm going to give it a try. I'm so tired of feeling the depression on the edges of my brain. It's there now and I'm getting exhausted fighting it off. I guess I need more help than my current cocktail is giving me. Thanks again. I'll let you all know.

[nativechic]

If you're worried about diabetes, make sure you touch base with your primary doctor and get tested at your annual physical. I was worried too so asked to be put on lowest possible dosage of ap as well as monitor my sugar intake and exercise to be on safe side.

[1978dd]

Latuda, along with Effexor, has helped me function normally again. For me, the benefits outweigh the risks.

[NatsukiKuga]

Eh, you gotta recognize that AP is kind of a catchall term for drugs that they knew worked back in the day, and they weren't exactly antidepressants, and they weren't exactly MAOIs, but they'd sure settle you down if you were out of control pdychotic.

The first - generation APs kinda worked fairly chemically similarly, but the second - gen "Atypical Antipsychotics" (like Latuda) each have their own chemical mechanisms of action that nobody really understands except that they help.

What it adds up to anymore is that where once upon a time, taking an antipsychotic meant you probably were walking the borderline of psychosis save the grace of a little pill, but nowadays you're just taking a med that doctors doubt know what else to categorize yet, but it could be a really good adjunct to what you're taking now.

Don't let the class label fool you. And remember: if it sucks, you cab always stop taking it.

Good luck

[RedDawn]

Originally Posted by all74

Thanks all. I think I'm going to give it a try. I'm so tired of feeling the depression on the edges of my brain. It's there now and I'm getting exhausted fighting it off. I guess I need more help than my current cocktail is giving me. Thanks again. I'll let you all know.

Have you tried the atypical antidepressants? Wellbutrin and mertazapine help a lot of folks with their bipolar depression.

APs are always the last resort for me.

[~Christina]

I take Latuda, it took me a couple weeks to agree to it as I was just being stubborn tbh.

I have zero side effects which is why I am okay taking it.

Every medication reacts differently for everyone.

I thing being your own best advocate and study/ research any medication that you might take is a big part of managing Bipolar

[NatsukiKuga]

More to the point, if your concern is that of taking multiple meds, I hear you and absolutely respect your viewpoint.

I also would simply point out however, that there are those of us who do take multiple meds, quite a few of them, and they help us get by our daily lives, tyvm.

I'm one of them. Let me say categorically that I hate psych meds, I hate my psych meds, and had I a choice I would consign therm all to the depths of the sea.

However, as I have identified some treatable major misery of The Condition, and then discovered the existence of a new pharmaceutical way to address yet another misery, well, the meds pile up.

I'm not gonna stop taking them if the reward is the slightest bit of respite. Yeah, I know, the impotence, the shakes, the weight gain, the porn-star boobs and lactation, whatever.

It's all a trade-off. You want to live a life of ******, cowardly suck, or you want to see if it might could be any better? And if do, you gotta drop the fear of the Med.

I'm not saying you don't resesrch the hell out of an adjunctivee med before you talk with Pdoc about it. You and she are partners and need to play on a level playing field.

But once you two have argued it out and compared costs and benefits, its time to take it or its not. No shame either way.

And your last line of defense? If it really sucks, even after all that thinking and planning?

You can always stop taking it and tell your pdoc why.

Good luck.

[all74]

Well, here we go. I took my first one last night. No nausea but I did have a ridiculously realistic dream. Not sure if that's an effect or not. Thanks again all for the responses. I'll keep you update

[NatsukiKuga]

And that's a powerful first step. I was once like you and didn't want no part of 'em. But you braved up and took a first step out on what can sometimes be a long and and bumpy road.

Mind you, these drugs can take a while to settle in. You have to be patient and work with pdoc and give them a fair shot. Just one pill won't do it alone.

And sometimes, even, after you've given them full benefit of the doubt, it can still turn out they weren't the best for you, and pdoc may have a better suggestion.

Even in misery, patience is a virtue when you got noplace to go but up.

I urge you courage. It and morbid curiosity have been the only two things keeping me on this side of the curtain.

Good Luck

[all74]

Well, day 2 and I'm nauseous and exhausted. I'm hoping this resolves soon, otherwise this is a no go. I can't be going to bed at 8:45!

[scatterbrained04]

Originally Posted by all74

Well, day 2 and I'm nauseous and exhausted. I'm hoping this resolves soon, otherwise this is a no go. I can't be going to bed at 8:45!

Maybe you might be able to move your Latuda to bedtime with a snack?

[UpDownMiddleGround]

I'm glad you made this post. I'm sitting with a supply of latuda as we speak, trying to decide whether or not to take it. Risperdal worked really well but it has caused me to gain weight. I'm now coming off of it and not wanting to go on another AP. I'm scared to death to drop the dosage of risperdal again and to start taking a new drug. Meanwhile, my mood chart is hanging out in the world of "mixed" and "down" and my thinking is foggy and slow.

[all74]

Well, I'm a week in and the fatigue is gone Yay! I can feel a bit of restless at night but it's gone by morning. My pdoc wants me to stay at 20 for another week then up to 40. I'm not noticing any big mood change but I am on the lowest dose now, so we'll see how the increase goes.

[bioChE]

The combination of Latuda and Lamictal pulled me out of the deepest depression of my life. I’ve been on this combo for two years and two months ago I did a slight decrease in the Latuda dosage. So far so good.

As far as Latuda being an AP. Yes it’s classified as an atypical antipsychotic, but its FDA indication is for bipolar depression. That doesn’t necessarily mean it doesn’t work as an AP, but they don’t have the clinical data to back that up, at least not yet.

Glad to hear it’s helping. Soldier on.

[GoldenSnitch]

I’m on Latuda right now. I have had some side effects but the benefits outweigh the cons for me. I gained some weight and I’ve found that I’m more tired. I still deal with some depression as well. But things are much more stable than before I went on it.

[NatsukiKuga]

Originally Posted by bioChE

The combination of Latuda and Lamictal pulled me out of the deepest depression of my life. I’ve been on this combo for two years and two months ago I did a slight decrease in the Latuda dosage. So far so good.

As far as Latuda being an AP. Yes it’s classified as an atypical antipsychotic, but its FDA indication is for bipolar depression. That doesn’t necessarily mean it doesn’t work as an AP, but they don’t have the clinical data to back that up, at least not yet.

Glad to hear it’s helping. Soldier on.

yes, AP74, if it doesn't break the rules of the site would it be appropriate to as you your dx and the meds you're on for it? I'll trade.