[Humpty Dumpty]

I really hate taking meds but I have decided I really need some medicine to help stabilize my mood. I have been getting extremely sad for no reason and this has been leading to suicidal thoughts. I'm thinking if I take something to help stabilize my mood this will get better.

What mood stabilization medicine do you recommend? Is it like antidepressants where it is a bad idea to quite cold turkey?

[Blue_Bird]

Yes it's a bad idea to quit mood stabilizers cold turkey as it is with any med. I am on Depakote which helps me a lot, I felt like I didn't need it for awhile and stopped it suddenly and it caused me to have seizures which could have been fatal. A lot of mood stabilizers are also anti-seizure drugs that if stopped abruptly can cause seizures even if that wasn't what you were taking it for.

[Humpty Dumpty]

Originally Posted by Blue_Bird

A lot of mood stabilizers are also anti-seizure drugs that if stopped abruptly can cause seizures even if that wasn't what you were taking it for.

That worries me. Do they have a history of causing seizures even when taken regularly?

[Blue_Bird]

You should be fine if you take your meds regularly, there's generally only an issue when you completely stop them suddenly. Anyway, the best person to ask would be a doctor

[behappynow]

Originally Posted by Humpty Dumpty

I really hate taking meds but I have decided I really need some medicine to help stabilize my mood. I have been getting extremely sad for no reason and this has been leading to suicidal thoughts. I'm thinking if I take something to help stabilize my mood this will get better.

What mood stabilization medicine do you recommend? Is it like antidepressants where it is a bad idea to quite cold turkey?

Mood stabilizers shouldn't be quit cold turkey, just like most medications... but if you're not bipolar then maybe antidepressants are a better choice?

[BrandonAK]

Originally Posted by behappynow

Mood stabilizers shouldn't be quit cold turkey, just like most medications... but if you're not bipolar then maybe antidepressants are a better choice?

+1

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[gina_re]

Originally Posted by Humpty Dumpty

That worries me. Do they have a history of causing seizures even when taken regularly?

I've been taking a mood stabilizer for almost six years regularly. I was nervous at first too, but I have not had any major issues. No seizures. You should be good. : )

[*Laurie*]

Geodon has been excellent for stabilizing my mood and acting as an anti-depressant.

I take Geodon and Trileptal and Perphenazine all as anti-psychotics and mood stabilizers. I've found that Geodon works the best when it comes to managing my psychosis, but none of them help with my mood swings.
But, everyone is different when it comes to meds, so I can't say that these won't work for you. They just don't work for me.

[Miswimmy1]

Are you diagnosed bipolar? Because sometimes, antidepressants alone can exacerbate bipolar cycles and actually bring out some of the manic symptoms. In that case, a long term mood stabilizer is probably a better option. I'm on Lamictal and it has been great so far! The only thing with the mood stabilizers is that you have to build up slowly and you can't quit cold turkey.

If bipolar is not suspected, and rather just depression, then an antidepressant is probably the better way to go. But I would talk to your pdoc about it.

[SillyKitty]

Originally Posted by Miswimmy1

Are you diagnosed bipolar? Because sometimes, antidepressants alone can exacerbate bipolar cycles and actually bring out some of the manic symptoms. In that case, a long term mood stabilizer is probably a better option. I'm on Lamictal and it has been great so far! The only thing with the mood stabilizers is that you have to build up slowly and you can't quit cold turkey.

If bipolar is not suspected, and rather just depression, then an antidepressant is probably the better way to go. But I would talk to your pdoc about it.

This is pretty much exactly what I was going to say. I'm also on Lamictal.

[NOS-NOS]

My pdoc told me that the antipsychotics I am on also function as a mood stabilizer, which is why they got rid of my agitation and anger.