Finding the right medicine

I am on what seems like a never-ending quest to find a medicine that works for me (actually one that doesn't overcompensate as they all have an effect on me). Do most of you find that certain bipolar meds work better for depression while other work better for mania? I've noticed that the mood stabilizers (Lithium, Depakote, Lamictal) tend to make me really sad and unmotivated, but they do improve my relationships and my connection to others. On the other hand, antidepressants that I took for my OCD (I no longer take these due to the hypomania they trigger) make me happy and ambitious, but more self-centered and disconnected from people. I know there is no "perfect" pill, but is there nothing in between? I hate the thought of having to choose between those two extremes. I'm a little nervous about trying the antipsychotics, but that may be my only option left. Any feedback from people who have taken those would be appreciated.

Thanks

It is a journey. Depakote was "Depressakote" for me, but all others were not sufficient antimanics for me. But for some they are.

I can't take antidepressants without getting manic or manic with mixed features.

For me, most antipsychotics have been my antimanics, except Abilify, which didn't stop mania. That can be helpful for depression. It does help many with mania. Just not me. Seroquel can handle both, but can be quite sedating, at least at first.

Have you considered Latuda? I'm just starting it and so far so good, though I do take it with all meds in my signature. People may qualify to use their coupon, in many cases. I do, so pay just $15 per month.

Vraylar is a newer antipsychotic and it has been wonderful for me, no weight gain either. Only problem is it can be extremely expensive if your insurance doesn't cover it since it doesn't have a generic yet, there is a patient assistance program for it though

My pdoc thinks everyone with bipolar needs an antipsychotic, a mood stabilizer, and an antidepressant. The antipsychotic could be the mood stabilizer and/or antidepressant. I was pretty stable with Clozaril, and right now I'm taking two antipsychotics (Invega and Zyprexa), a mood stabilizer (depakote), and an antidepressant (Wellbutrin). It's a lot considering I also take meds for side effects, but it works.

It's all just a trial and error game you gotta be patient with.

Sometimes finding a good med is like throwing Jello on a wall and seeing what sticks.

I’m on a decent combo now (tweaked because spring/summer depression is a thing). I do know I’ve either had emotional or physical issues with most of them.

I've been cycling rapidly lately and I'm on geodon, lamictal and buspar. it was tweaked recently, but getting the right combo is a daunting task for so many. I even take ambien and gabapentin for sleep. the increases recently were for the geodon and lamictal.

I have a history of rapid cycling and mixed moods on the elevated side. My med combo works well for me. I’m on two anti-psychotics (Saphris and Seroquel ) and a mood stabiliser (Lithium).

Thanks for the suggestions. I have been curious about Latuda and Vraylar for some time since I’ve seen ads for them, so good to know others had good experiences.

Did they help with depression? Or, I guess I should say did they avoid making depression worse lol. That’s been my experience with most antimanic drugs.

I haven't experienced depression from Vraylar, it mainly helps with my psychotic symptoms, I'm not sure what it's effects on depression are since that's not what I take it for, but it doesn't leave me feeling down or anything.

Latuda is specifically indicated for helping with bipolar depression. In fact, since I tend more towards mania and mania with mixed features, I was initially skeptical about Latuda. But since starting it (granted, I am still on a low dose) my mood and energy have become closer to perfect than they have in a long time. As written, I still take Seroquel XR (good for both my mania and depression treatment) and moodstabilizers, but it has been the Latuda that's made my positive progress. My Seroquel XR dose has been going up and down again and again over the years and never really got me to my current point since the Latuda addition.

It's something to consider. Obviously we don't all have similar experiences. However, when I asked others about Latuda experiences, I received more positives than negatives, with some particularly positive.

Awesome, thanks again! Gives me reason for optimism

I was on 200 mg Lamotrigine, 1.5 mg Klonopin, 30 mg Buspar, 300 mg Seroquel XRT, and 100 mg regular Seroquel. The Seroquel made me feel like a zombie. I didn't care about anything.
My pdoc recently put me on Abilify. I have a lot more energy and I'm getting things done, but I'm having anxiety attacks, and I'm worried about insomnia.
The newer drugs like Latuda aren't covered by my health plan, so I can't afford them.

I love the jello analogy. It's what my Pdoc has always done. When they invented SSRI'S my Pdoc changed my med every 2 weeks. He didn't seem to know that they take 3 weeks to work. My mum's doc was even worse. Doctors throw pills at us and have no clue what will work. It's a total guessing game. Sometimes I feel like a lab rat during a drug experiment.

I know that antidepressants cause hypomania for me. Seroquel XRT is bad for me. Lithium didn't work and I gained 40 pounds. Finding the right combo is really hard. I just started Abilify and I'm feeling more like myself, but very unsteady. It's early days yet, I've only taken a very low dose for 1 month. Hoping!

Anyone else take Abilify? How do you feel on it? I'm totally wide awake, but I still only have sporadic times when I can accomplish anything. I worry about insomnia when he takes away the last bit of Seroquel (not XRT) for sleep. I'm still only taking 5 mg of Abilify. I started with 10 mg and felt hypomanic and panicky after a week, so we cut it back to 5 mg. I realize that it's a very small dose for bipolar 2, but I'm hoping it works if we increase it gradually.