[Crook32]

Just started inpatient yesterday and they are changing all my meds. I am a little worried about not weaning off the old ones first.

They have on Lamictal, Zyprexa, Mirapex and Metformin.

Any experiences with these drugs? It will be different not being on an antidepressant.

That's why they have you inpatient; they can make faster med changes under constant supervision.

Lamictal was fine -- kind of achy when I first started it, but no side effects once I titrated up (titrated up on lamictal is a long process). Zyprexa caused me to gain 15 pounds in two weeks, so pdoc took me off of it right away. Don't know the other two.

[chailatte16]

Lamictal did not work out that well for me. However, I know many others who think it is a really good mood stabilizer with very good antidepressant properties. This may be part of the reason why you are not on an antidepressant. Zyprexa made me gain a lot of weight fast and I stopped it quickly.
I haven't been on Mirapex or Metformin, though there are others on the forums who take Metformin. My doctor discussed putting me on Mirapex which is for Parkinson's disease when I had a lot of Parkinsonian side effects like akathisia which were caused by antipsychotics I was taking. I didn't try it, because it seemed to have plenty of side effects itself.

[Crook32]

They said they were putting me on Metformin to help with the weight I have gained the last two years.

[SingDanceRunLife]

Love Zyprexa except all the weight it makes me put on (about 40lbs every time -- I go on and off it because of the weight gain, but it's also the most effective drug we've found thus far.

Also love Lamictal. Feels like it keeps me even, and after titrating very, very, very slowly, absolutely no side effects either! I got a rash the first time, so my pdoc went super slow this time.

[xRavenx]

Lamictal took a long time to taper, but it has worked well for me for an extended period of time. I didn't feel too high or two low when used in combination with other meds. I still get symptoms, but it has prevented severe episodes in combination with an AP. I like how it never gave me side effects, unlike other meds. Lately, I am depressed, and it might be time for a tweaking, but I don't want to blame it on the Lamictal....maybe it's just time for a higher dose or an add-on for me.

Good luck ((HUGS))

[ofthevalley]

I take lamictal and zyprexa. Zyprexa is extremely good at controlling my psychosis but I have had significant weight gain (40 lbs). Lamictal works well too. I think my dosage needs to be tweaked because I've been feeling very low but I'm also on a low dosage (100 Mgs). I've taken metformin in the past for insulin resistance and it have me diarrhea (tmi) every time I took it. I've never taken it to control weight gain but I'm going to ask my pnp about it since I'll be going back on zyprexa.

[Crook32]

Now adding Lithium to the mix. Now on six drugs if you include my levothyroxine.

[chailatte16]

Originally Posted by Crook32

Now adding Lithium to the mix. Now on six drugs if you include my levothyroxine.

I hope you like the Lithium and it is effective. I have been on it for 17 years.

It sounds like they are making great progress. It has only been like a week inpatient, hasn't it? These doctors are very efficient.

So it is...Lithium, Lamictal, Zyprexa, Mirapex, Metformin, and Levothroxine

Am I forgetting anything?

Just glad that you are finally being medicated for bipolar disorder after receiving only treatment for depression in the past.

[HALLIEBETH87]

Please be careful with lithium and your thyroid. It took a whole year of playing with my thyroid med dose to get my TSH back to normal. Lithium caused my thyroid issues in thE first places but the second time I tried it is when it made my thyroid freak out so much!