What med is most important to your well-being?

BeyondtheRainbow · Jun 16, 2021, 10:48 PM

For me it's a combination of Clozapine and Emsam. Probably gabapentin too.

Soupe du jour · Jun 17, 2021, 01:39 AM

If I had to pick only one of my medications, I would say Seroquel XR generic, in terms of my bipolar disorder. However, if I didn't need that med (which I do), it's possible that I wouldn't need my blood pressure meds and statin. Oh well!

I also take carbamazepine ER (Tegretol XR) and Lamictal, albeit a small dose of the latter. It's hard to know what would happen if one or both of them were eliminated. Neither give me discernable side effects at the doses I take, so the attitude of my psychiatrists and me has been "Why chance it?" I can say that both achieved significant things when I initially went on them, this last time. I won't go into what for carbamazepine, but for Lamictal it was depression relief. And sometimes I know we give all credit to only one med, but a combo may truly be the key.

My meds are all now inexpensive, and will become even more so. It's no more difficult, for me, swallowing a pile than just one or two.

Victoria'smom · Jun 17, 2021, 02:01 AM

I'm learning to swallow pills. My Ap's are the most helpful.

BeyondtheRainbow · Jun 17, 2021, 02:27 AM

That's great that you are learning to swallow pills MM. I had to learn a long time ago and it was hard but I can swallow a handful of them now. I hope the same comes true for you (or at least that you can swallow one).

BeyondtheRainbow · Jun 17, 2021, 02:28 AM

Soupe, I agree that when meds are working it's hard to know what is working the best. I only can do it because I know how I was without the meds that do so much and I know how things changed when I was fully on them.

HALLIEBETH87 · Jun 17, 2021, 03:37 AM

Anxiety and anti p!

mssweatypalms · Jun 17, 2021, 04:10 AM

Lamictal and Seroquel have been working for me for many years. I don't know how in particular, but I've been most stable with these two.

Jun 17, 2021, 04:18 AM

vote for lithium here

MuddyBoots · Jun 17, 2021, 07:51 AM

Cogentin. I'm on two APs that don't do much but they do cause akathisia and out of any of my meds if I run out cogentin is the one I miss the most.
Meds strictly to treat my condition? Probably risperdal but it's starting to poop out on me

buddha1too · Jun 17, 2021, 09:02 AM

Probably my mood stabilizer. It's tough to know what works from a pharmacological perspective, & what is just shite happening, though. There's a lot of guess work that goes on, I'm afraid. I know for a fact that Klonopin kills anxiety, but I generally avoid taking it...with the exception of 1mg at night for sleep.

*Beth* · Jun 17, 2021, 09:08 AM

I can't place one of these before the others, because I really need all 3...AP (perphenazine) and 2 AD's (Pristiq and Welbutrin). I still don't think the mood stabilizer (Lamictal) is essential, at least not like the AP and AD's. The AP treats (at least somewhat) severe anxiety.

Rainbow, what do you take Gabapentin for?

buddha1too · Jun 17, 2021, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BethRags

Rainbow, what do you take Gabapentin for?

I don't intend to answer for her (I guess I'm doing just that, though!

), but Gabapentin is used as an anti-anxiety med. I didn't find it effective at all, but at least it didn't make me drowsy like Klonopin does.

Nammu · Jun 17, 2021, 09:13 AM

Latuda and ambien. Best two meds I’ve ever been on. One keeps me stable and the other keeps me mostly asleep.

*Beth* · Jun 17, 2021, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buddha1too

I don't intend to answer for her (I guess I'm doing just that, though! ), but Gabapentin is used as an anti-anxiety med. I didn't find it effective at all, but at least it didn't make me drowsy like Klonopin does.

That's why it was prescribed to me. I didn't find it helpful, either.

BeyondtheRainbow · Jun 17, 2021, 04:59 PM

I take gabapentin for anxiety and to sleep. I take a big dose, 1200 mg all at once and it helps a lot. I take 200 mg PRN and that's less helpful but it does help me calm down before bed a little and 2 doses usually puts me to sleep if I'm having a little trouble (it doesn't on bad nights, then I take some extra klonopin very reluctantly). I never could take it in divided doses like most people do because it knocked me out (except when I was IP and manic, then I was watching the clock for my next dose time).

*Beth* · Jun 18, 2021, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sapien

Cogentin. I'm on two APs that don't do much but they do cause akathisia and out of any of my meds if I run out cogentin is the one I miss the most.
Meds strictly to treat my condition? Probably risperdal but it's starting to poop out on me

What do you like about Cogentin? My pdoc just prescribed it and I don't know much about it.

MuddyBoots · Jun 18, 2021, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BethRags

What do you like about Cogentin? My pdoc just prescribed it and I don't know much about it.

I like that it stops the akathisia/EPS that I'm very prone to, which imo is at least as bad as my actual symptoms. It's the med that allows me to take the meds that help the bipolar.

*Beth* · Jun 18, 2021, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sapien

I like that it stops the akathisia/EPS that I'm very prone to, which imo is at least as bad as my actual symptoms. It's the med that allows me to take the meds that help the bipolar.

I like your perspective - it's wise.

jmariah001 · Jun 19, 2021, 01:37 AM

I think the best for me would be my Rexulti and Buspar. The Rexulti keeps me from getting really angry and the buspar keeps my anxiety under control. I have bad anger issues. I mean I get violent. I haven't had a rage episode in months. Which is good.

xRavenx · Jun 19, 2021, 01:59 PM

Although I really need all of them, because one is a mood stabilizer, 2 are antipsychotics, and 1 is a benzo---Seroquel stands out to me as a must. Without Seroquel, I will pace around in a manic state and not get any sleep at all.

MickeyCheeky · Jun 19, 2021, 02:13 PM

i used to take depakote. i suppose that would be it for me but that was the only one that was prescribed to me. Sending many safe, warm hugs to ALL of you, @BeyondtheRainbow, your Family, your Friends and ALL of your Loved Ones! Keep fighting and keep rocking NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, OK?!

BipolaRNurse · Jun 20, 2021, 02:55 AM

I take a lot of meds, but the glue that holds me together is Zyprexa. I was unstable on five meds, but it got better, and fast, when my pdoc put me on Vitamin Z. I’m not sure how I’d do off the Geodon (my other AP), but I’m really not interested in changing my regimen because it WORKS.