[blackenedangel]

I have not been in here before, I am usually in Creative Corner.
I am bipolar and I was wondering something and I am hoping someone in here can help me.
I was on Lithium for about 6 months and I am having major mood swings, going from happy to sad then pissed off in what seems like every 3 minutes. I was wondering should I go back on Lithium or is there another drug out there like Lithium, but a little different. I can really use your help because I am tired of the mood swings and I know my new husband is too. I go to the doctor Feb. 10 of this year and I would really like to know some suggestions. Thank You!

Hugs and Kisses to you all,
Brandi (blackenedangel)

You are all poets and I am on the side of death
Jacques Vaché

[darkeyes]

Why did you stop the Lithium? Or did you not? It is the best for mood swings over the track record the others have, such as Depakote, Tegratol, etc. I take Lamictal, I did take Lithium, my brother has for 33+ years, I took it for a year, I hated the other stuff, made me fat and real tired, being that I am Bipolar-II (mild) I get more depressive than manic so the pdoc said to give Lamictal a try, and I didn't take antiedepressants after, they "pooped" out so this was the best choice, but if I ever need Lithium again I'll jump at it.
You can't play with dosages you need to follow the pdocs recomendations and stick to them for best results.
Just my 2 cents.
Please take care

DE

In giving advice seek to help, not please your friend
SOLON

[ariel]

Jacque-
There are many options besides Lithium.
For many people mood stabilizers combined with antidepressents works very well. Depakote and Trileptal are two that I know have worked for many people in my support group. I take Trileptal.

-Ariel

Whatever you can do,
Or dream you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power, and magic, in it.
-Goethe

[FearsomeAnna]

Brandi,

Lithium is probably one of the best mood stabilizers out there, but it does come with its problems - because high levels in the blood can be toxic, your dose must be carefully titrated upwards to prevent any problems. A lot of people (like my sister) are taking anticonvulsants like Depakote to help control their mood swings. I take Zyprexa (olanzipine), one of the new atypical antipsychotics - they do tend to work very, very quickly but they also carry the dangers of a TON of weight gain (I gained 20 pounds the first month I was on it) so you have got to be sure to be eating right and exercising a lot from the start to keep that risk down. Frankly, I am thinking of switching to another drug that doesn't cause so much gain. I'm trying to get buff (I'm down to 125 - boo ya!) for the summer and I don't need to worry about my medicine short circuting my efforts to look and feel better.

some of it's magic
some of it's tragic
but i had a good life all the way......
~jimmy buffett

[bptoo]

Brandi,

I'm with Anna on this one, the Zyprexa was the miracle med for me. It not only worked, but did so within a day or two. But as she said weight gain comes with it. I gained about 50 lbs in a matter of a few months, but a good diet and exercise can keep that under control. I've lost all the weight I gained and then some. Also, if you have mood swings (I had em' bad) with your symptoms, a good med for me is Topamax. It can also help with the weight gain from the Zyprexa.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Anna, if you're looking for something that works like Zyprexa, then Geodon might be worth looking into for you. I've heard from several friends that they've had good luck with it. No weight gain from it either. The only drawback would be if you don't have insurance. The Geodon is very expensive. Good luck in your search and let me know how it turns out.

bp

"When you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance."

[FearsomeAnna]

I am well insured so that shouldn't be a problem - I have an appointment with my pdoc on the 23rd so I will ask him about it then. Thanks!

some of it's magic
some of it's tragic
but i had a good life all the way......
~jimmy buffett

[darkeyes]

Yes there is, but many also have a shorter track record, the ones you mentioned are good, Depakote is used a lot today because of the faster actiing qualites, many I speak to do not care for the extreme drowsiness it can render.
The best meds are the ones that work for the individual, perhaps I let my personal experience get in the way of this thread, oops!
A large population over years get sort of "immuned" to the SSRI's type antidepresants but short term are great in adjunct mood stabilzers, the other conventional AD's may last longer. Bipolars need a mood stabilizer regardless if a pdoc adds antidepresssants or not.
The newer ones you mentioned here are widely used and many get great results, I was just mentioning Lithium because I have record several Psychiatric reports and books stating over a long course it has a better track record, and I can see the reason why after reading some tech info on it.
Bottom line, any med if it does the trick is the best for that individual providing the indvidiual is compliant with the pdoc and the treatment (s) she or he prescribes

Thanks for your added info. Cam, can offer the best info on the many meds used for Bipolar Disorder, yoo hoo, Cam where are you ??

I hope you all that come to this forum enjoy it and gain more info to add to your knowledge of the many medications used for this disorder as well as other disorders.
Welcome to this wonderful website and it's great forums

DE

In giving advice seek to help, not please your friend
SOLON

[darkeyes]

Almost all meds can have serious side effects and many of them can be toxic, if the pdoc doesn't use care with their individual patient, Lithium isn't anymore toxic than many of the others. Depakote can effect the liver, that is why my former pdoc use to send me for monthly bllod work, the Lithium was only every 3 to 6 months and for my bro it became once a year.
All medications have some sort of caveat.
Unfortunately for many of us it is time, patence, and a good pdoc to know what is the best ones for us to use, through physical and mental evaluation of his or hers patients.
Thanks so much for adding to this thread, all opinions, and input help others here, that is what support is all about

Stay well,
DE

In giving advice seek to help, not please your friend
SOLON

[blackenedangel]

I thought I was pregnant so I had to get off of Lithium, but when I go back to the doc on the 10th of Feb. I might ask to get back on it. I tried Depakote, but it made me so tired that I could not function at all. The doctor took me off of the Lithium because that could have hurt the baby had I been pregnant, but I wasn't. Thanks for putting your 2 cents in I will keep what you said in mind. Thank You!

Hugs and Kisses to you,
Brandi

You are all poets and I am on the side of death
Jacques Vaché

[blackenedangel]

I will be sure to keep what you said in mind, thank you so much!

Hugs and Kisses to you,
Brandi

You are all poets and I am on the side of death
Jacques Vaché

[blackenedangel]

I have two eating disorders and weight gain is scary for me, so I will have to keep what you said in mind. I was on depakote and it made me so tired that I could not function at all. Thank you for your input, it means a lot to me.

Hugs and Kisses to you,
Brandi

You are all poets and I am on the side of death
Jacques Vaché

[blackenedangel]

Like I told Anna, I have two eating disorders so gaining weight is scary for me, but I will keep the two meds in mind that you said. I get really bad mood swings and it scares me that my husband will eventually get tired of it and leave me. He assures me that he won't but it is still a fear. I go see the doctor on Feb. 10 of this year and I can't wait. I want my mood swings to stop, it is frustrating, very much so. Thank you so much for your input.

Hugs and Kisses to you,
Brandi

You are all poets and I am on the side of death
Jacques Vaché

[darkeyes]

Depakote can cause birth defects as well.
I wish you lots of luck. Most doctors will caution female and even males to use birth control while on many different meds.
Though there is always a chance of mistakes, but personally I would practice birth control.
Years ago (many) I was on Accutane for cystic acne and they strongly warned female patients of the gross birth defects that can occur and not to take this med if you aren't on birth control pills, geesh, no matter what I do there is always something to complicate things, including some people in my life, ha!ha!

I am wishing you heaps of luck with this

** hugs **
DE

In giving advice seek to help, not please your friend
SOLON

[blackenedangel]

Thanks DarkEyes, I am going to need all the wish of luck I can get. I will be sure to let you know about my doctor's appt. if you would like me to. Nothing in this world seems easy, everything is complicating. Grr! Thank You so much for your input! Smile!

Hugs and Kisses to you,
Brandi (blackenedangel)

You are all poets and I am on the side of death
Jacques Vaché

[darkeyes]

Sure, you can let me know how things go, I am on line on and off everyday, well. . .almost everyday.
I see my therapist the 3rd and pdoc the 13th, so anyone who knows me and I've PMed lately well knows I am looking forward to my 2 appts for Feb.
Take care and stay well,
(((((((((((( hugs of hope )))))))))))

DE

In giving advice seek to help, not please your friend
SOLON