[sui generis]

Hi guys, I am going to my doctor tomorrow to ask to be put on an anti-depressant. I have been diagnosed with bipolar 2 but tbh my main concern is depression that is treatment resistant thus far. I have only had hypomanic episodes on SSRI's. I also have issues with fatigue and ADHD.

Things that are out of the question for me to try - SSRI's, as I have tried two different kinds and they did not work.

Tricyclics - I tried nortriptyline and got up to 40 mg. It helped my ADHD a lot actually and also sleep! But it caused me to have migraines that lasted for up to 4 days that I could not cope with taking it anymore. Tried amitriptyline but couldn't get out of bed even on the lowest dose, made me too tired.

Lithium - worked at first but then it pooped out and makes me too tired to do anything.

Wellbutrin/bupropion - made me very dizzy I couldn't stand and also killed my emotions. I felt dead inside. I couldn't be on it for more than 3 days it was so unbearable.

Sodium valporate - just made me suicidal

Quetiapine - Turned me into a zombie, no no. Even at 15 mg which I take for sleep sometimes can screw me up in the day time.

At the moment I just take 300 mg of lamotrigine. I do not want to put this up higher as it does not help my depression.

I'm really not sure what to ask my doctor to try next so any ideas would be very helpful.

[boogiesmash]

Over the ast three years I swear I’ve been a guinea pig. What has been somewhat helping (and I’m speaking od depression in general), is m6 current combo right now lamictal and pristiq. Very very recently maybe a month ago I was labeled as bipolar and doc threw )n abilify. He said abilify and lamictal are for treatment resistant depression. Took me off abilify when I had some eps symptoms.

Also latuda helped. It helps with depression. Hope this helps.

[Guiness187055]

Abilify has helped me

[TicTacGo]

The right mood stabilizer can help both (hypo)mania and depression. I tried 2 antidepressants with both causing hypomania.

Lithium helped for a while, but ultimately does not stand well on its own.

Since then, I have tried several antipsychotics, as my doc is weary about the use of antidepressants.

Some APs, such as Seroquel (quetiapine) are known to be a sort of all-rounder. Mania/depression/anxiety. However, it makes me feel drowsy.

With Risperdal, I felt minimal effect from it, going from 0.5 mg to 2 mg.

Abilify too had some effect. Unfortunately not enough.

I may be trying Geodon soon. Keep in mind that there are all the classes of ADs, as well as the types in each class.

[Seqoya]

I've heard Cymbalta helps some people with major depression, it's an SSNRI. I don't know about taking it when one has bipolar but it's different than an SSRI. How much different I don't know I have never taken it.

I started out having type two Bipolar (Other problems too) but it became Schizoaffective Disorder Bipolar Type in my early twenties. I also have PTSD, a Dissociative Disorder, and OCD.

Some of the medication I take you said didn't work for you and I'm going through some adjustments right now and might go through more.

Lithium 1200 mg 300 mg tab 2 tab twice daily
Generic for Abilify one tab 30 mg once daily
Fluoxatine (Prozac) 40 mg two cap once daily (80 mg)
Prazosin (High Blood Pressure Medicine taken mostly for Nightmares I don't have high blood pressure.)
2 mg 2 cap once daily (4 mg).
Prazosin Again 5 mg 4 cap at night (20 mg) (Nightmares)
Quetiapine (Generic for Seroquel) 300 mg once at night.

That's a lot of Prazosin for nightmares for a woman but my nightmares are so horrendous, difficult to control and distressing. Also my blood pressure is doing okay right now. The medication just got increased from 15 mg at night to 4 mg in the morning and 20 mg at night.

I see that you already had your doctor's appointment Sui, I am just now seeing this post. I hope everything went well or at least goes well soon.

[splitimage]

I have really bad unipolar depression.

Risperidone really helps me, as an add on to my Anti-D's. I'm on a fairly high dose 5 mg but it became effective at about 2 mg. warning - it did cause me to lactate.

splitimage

[still_crazy]

hi. if stimulants are an option, those sometimes help mood and ADD/ADHD symptoms. just be careful with the dosage.

antidepressants aren't all they're cut out to be, honestly. some data shows they can make mood issues worse, in some people, over the long haul. having said that, effexor and cymbalta help some symptoms of ADD/ADHD in some people, and can also help depression.

i take abilify myself, but id avoid a tranquilizer, if you can. nothin wrong with them if you need them, but they're serious drugs.