Bipolar medication

[boatass]

Can anyone tell me what meds they take and the side effects? I was prescribed aripiprazole and it made me so physically ill I couldn’t continue. I have been researching for my appointment on Tuesday but was hoping for any personal experiences to help me decide what to try next.

I am female, mid 20’s and 8 months postnatal. Thanks.

Typically a person with bipolar would be on a mood stabilizer (usually an antiseizure medication, sometimes lithium) and maybe an antipsychotic (helps with the manic symptoms). Antidepressants are not usually used because they can cause a manic episode.

Lithium didn’t agree with me- we could never get the levels right
Quetiapine and olanzapine I put on massive amounts of weight and was sedated
Aripiprazole made me internally restless with a movement disorder- my leg had a really noticeable restlessness- made me lack motivation also and I felt less intelligent- like something was stopping my brain

I’m also a mental health nurse
I’ve not managed to get good results on anything really in terms of mood stabilisers
As depression is my main symptom I’ve had relief using high dose Venlafaxine-300mg and 30mg mirtazapine- get horrendous sweats though
That combo enabled me to go back to uni get a nursing degree and a masters degree
It’s not easy is it

I take Quetiapine. I did gain weight at first and it does make me sleep like the dead. I don’t take the slow release as that does make me feel perminatly sedated. However I bloody love it. I feel normal and am now allowed to alter my dose up or down if I have any of my early warning signs. It takes a while but suits me.

Lithium and PRN olanzapine. No side effects from the lithium. Aripiprazole was effective for me but I got horrible side effects from it.

This is a very good forum from Bipolar UK:

www.ecommunity.org.uk

I take Quetiapine (at a huge dose of 1925mg), lamotrgine, carbamazepine and Agomelatine (an antidepressant).

It’s really a case of trial and error. I’ve tried lots of meds—my biggest problem has been them turning me into an emotionless zombie. My current combination still brings problems, but it’s the best so far.

Sorry should have said- I have also taken quetapine 300mg and it made me fat but helped a bit.
@wheretheresawill1 is it possible to take quetapine plus something else?

Toast is that a typo 1925mg quetiapine 😳
I’ve never seen dosages like that- most people are on 300mg going up to occasional 750mg

Part of the key to me getting well was an excellent psychiatrist- ask me if you want one in midlands although she’s worth travelling to- also had a very good psychologist- both do private practice in midlands

Boatass I know people on things like depakote or lithium and quetiapine although depakote is a no no these days in child bearing age women

I just want to be well enough to look after my DD and not be so angry all the time. I can’t cope.

Toast, I think we know each other elsewhere.

DH takes Olanzapine and Fluoxetine for type II. Side effects mainly from the first one - weight gain and sleepyness.

I'm on aripiprazole, which gives me awful restless leg which sucks, but has fewer cognitive side effects for me than most. I'm also on lamotrigine which has given me dry mouth and word salad, but again, is less awful than most. I also take diazepam and zoplicone when I'm in an episode or if I seem to be on the edge of one.

I tried lithium, which was awful and made me a brain dead zombie and then I got a thyroid condition so can't take it anyway. I also tried olanzapine but hated the weight gain side effects. I just ballooned.

I don't think there are any meds which don't have shitty side effects for bipolar. You just pick the ones you can live with best.

I don't know if this is remotely helpful but I am bipolar 2 and take lamotrigine and it has been an effing lifesaver. Xx

@boatass, before I go any further.. as I know how it all feels... It will settle. I take 1200mg of lithium only now, as I also have psoriatic arthritis and need huge amounts of meds for that. Each condition makes the other tricky to be medicated. The antipsychotics made me weight gain which made my mood worse. I have learnt to live with the hallucinations and voices.

I've had excellent CBT over the years and am now lucky enough to have a superb psychiatrist. It's taken a while but I'm getting there. My DS is now 13, and I was angry for much of the past years, and wish I'd been 'sorted' sooner. But I wasn't, so I now need to make the best of the future. I also had 10s of ECT sessions, which really helped.

Believe in the positives if you can. You WILL get through it to be at a point that's good for you and your DC. again.

@ wheres. No, it’s not a typo—1925mg of Q for a while now.

Hi lechat, i know where you mean, but not 100% sure about linking up names.

Quetiapine was also the most helpful for me.

I have seen doses of quetiapine that high. It's rare but possible.

I don't have a bipolar 1 or 2 diagnosis but am prescribed lithium and Topamax by my psychiatrist for mood disorder