Med Question for Treating BPI Mania

My doc is working with me in treating my manic episodes. I was recently bipolar I after being diagnosed bipolar II in September of 2015. I had a bad reaction to Abilify this past year when we were trying to treat the BPII symptoms (hallucinations, severe dissocation, hardcore return of suicidal ideation). He wanted to try Seroquel, but I couldn't bring myself to take it after the Abilify incident. I've been pushed away from antipsychotics after that incident.

He was cool about it, understood where I was coming from. We'd already tried Depakote, which increased my rage 1000x. I'm already an angry MFer, so that didn't go well. I was on it for a week before I had to nope out of it. My two options left are Lithium and Tegretol (carbamezapine). I've been doing research. I'm not sure which way to go. I wanted to get some input from an anyone else that may be/have been on either of this medications for the same reason/other reasons. Lithium is going to blow either way, but seems like Tegretol can really screw you up too.

I would try Tegretol before I would try lithium. I've been on both but it was decades ago so I can't remember the details. I just remember that I started on Tegretol for years and didn't care, and I wanted off lithium as soon as I possibly could. Tegretol does cause weight gain in lots of people though.

I was on lithium for numerous years, it's a safe medication for most people and well studied.

Yes in the beginnings there is blood work to find out what therapeutic range is going to work for you . Numerous blood tests might be needed until your on the right dosage.

You do need to increase your fluid intake.

I'm opposite of Mobiuspsych I would try lithium way before Tegretol.

Good luck finding a medication that helps improve your stability.

has he mentioned trileptal at all? Its a lot like tegretol, only there's minimal blood work.

I've found Trileptal very helpful for my bipolar symptoms.

Sorry you are struggling. There's good info from the other posters. I was on Tegretol for a while. It's decent. Depakote was also good - just a little too strong.

I'd give the AAPs another shot. Abilify can be a lil "hot" for some. What was ur dosage?

Are you drinking or using street drugs?

moogs

I would go with Lithium first. It is the Gold Standard for BiPolar disorder. You will probably start at a dose around 600mg-900mg per day. I started at 900mg per day and am now up to 1200mg per day. 300mg in the morning and 900mg at bedtime. I find it works better for me than other meds I have been on. Hope everything works out.

The Abilify was seriously... oooh. No. I... Jesus. It was a frightening experience. Four doses, two 2.5mg, two 5.0mg, had me going through two weeks of dissociative mental breaks with an auditory hallucination [she ruined one of my favorite names] with SH warning

I do not drink, I do not use street drugs. Nothing. I only take what is prescribed to me.

At the time, I was on 150mg of Welbutrin XL, 150mg of Lamictal, and 1.5mg of Klonopin.

I'm not on 150mg Welbutrin XL, 200mg of Lamictal, 1.5mg Klonopin, 15mg Adderall XR, and 100mg Topamax.

The Abilify experience seriously may traumatized me a bit. AAPs just scare the holy living hell out of me.

Thanks for your response.

-Jessie

Trileptal... Hm. Thank you. I'll have to talk to my doc about that one.

No. He hasn't mentioned he. He was set on Lithium to Tegretol. I'm not sure if there's some interaction with my other meds that he's concerned about. Moog's response has my meds listed (I apologize; I'm being lazy in not typing them out again). I'm on two anti-convulsants already. Tegretol is one. He may be wanted to get off one of them a replace it with the Tegretol if he goes that route. He may not like the idea of three or something. No idea.