[ComfortablyNumb5]

I’ll probably be looking for a new stabilizer soon. Preferably one that won’t make me blow up or lose anymore hair. Practically gone bald on lamictal!

Any suggestions? Pros/cons? TIA

What have you tried before (besides Lamictal)?

[ComfortablyNumb5]

Trileptal, gabapentin, a few more but I can’t remember. I have med fog lately

[glennk]

Have you tried any of the atypical anti-psychotics? I particularly like Seroquel XR. It takes a while to start working, but once it does it will bring your moods in check.

[BastetsMuse]

Originally Posted by ComfortablyNumb5

I’ll probably be looking for a new stabilizer soon. Preferably one that won’t make me blow up or lose anymore hair. Practically gone bald on lamictal!

Any suggestions? Pros/cons? TIA

Geodon is the mood stabilizer that has worked best for me. Zero side effects and total control of my cycling.

[~Christina]

Latuda or Invega

[glennk]

Also, keep costs in mind when choosing a medication with your doctor. Many of the non-generics will have high copays. A low dose of Latuda (40mg pills) will set me back around $1000/month with Medicare Part D.

[ComfortablyNumb5]

Originally Posted by glennk

Also, keep costs in mind when choosing a medication with your doctor. Many of the non-generics will have high copays. A low dose of Latuda (40mg pills) will set me back around $1000/month with Medicare Part D.

I have Medicaid right now. Thank god. I have zero income because I’m waiting on my social security case. If my insurance ever got shut off now, I’d be so screwed lol

[HALLIEBETH87]

Latuda is great

[bioChE]

Latuda isn’t a mood stabilizer. It’s an atypical antipsychotic with an indication for bipolar depression. Has nothing to do with mood stabilization.

[BrittanyAnn2609]

Originally Posted by bioChE

Latuda isn’t a mood stabilizer. It’s an atypical antipsychotic with an indication for bipolar depression. Has nothing to do with mood stabilization.

I used Latuda as a mood stabilizer once, or so I thought that's what I was on it for. Didn't help. I had to stop it. Right now I'm on Vraylar, which is a newer expensive medicine but it has helped me the most.

Tegretol XR (I think works better than Trileptal, but may require blood work to determine therapeutic level) - It is weight neutral for me. The only side effect I have is mild clumsiness, despite taking a large dose at 1400 mg. In the beginning, I did have some blurry and double vision, but that went away. I have no other side effects from it. It was a patience paid off kind of med. Available as a generic (carbamazepine ER).

Seroquel XR at medium to low doses can be side effect friendly. For me, 350 mg and below was weight neutral. I think doses like 300 or so are typical for people who have more of an issue of bipolar depression than mania. I do have issues with mania on occasion, and need higher doses like 600 mg. At that dose it is a bit weight unfriendly, but not nearly as bad as regular Seroquel (in my experience). This med can cause me to have morning "hangovers" if taken too late at night or if I go to sleep too late at night. Seroquel XR has NEVER given me any kind of EPS (i.e. akathisia, dystonia) or hyperprolactinemia, like other antipsychotics. My psychiatrist says it is less prone to do that. It's possible that Seroquel XR contributes to my high cholesterol and high triglycerides, but I'm not 100% sure of that. Recently became available as a generic (quentiapine ER).

Geodon was pretty good for my mania for a while, and I know it works very well for many people's mania. I'm not sure how good it really is for depression. I don't think it's meant so much for that. I have heard that antipsychotics like Latuda and Abilify are better for bipolar depression. Again, Seroquel XR can be very good for depression, too. Geodon is available as a generic (ziprasidone). I think Abilify is, too (aripiprazole).

If you are prone to hair falling out, know that Depakote and Lithium have that reputation, too. I, personally, found Lithium and Depakote to be evil when it came to side effects (I could provide a very long list), but I do know that some people benefit greatly from them with few side effects. My hair thinned out on Lithium, but not on Depakote. Lithium was weight neutral for me, but Depakote made me gain 30 lbs.

Originally Posted by glennk

Have you tried any of the atypical anti-psychotics? I particularly like Seroquel XR. It takes a while to start working, but once it does it will bring your moods in check.

I agree-- it's interesting the mood stablizing effects of atypical antipsychotics.

[Guiness187055]

what about lithium