I'm currently taking Quetiapine (along with Lamotrigine and Agomelatine) for Bipolar II. The Quetiapine works incredibly well and keeps me 99% well so long as I'm at a high enough dose (350mg+). I suffer almost entirely with lows and have had very few highs since all of this started 5 years ago.
I've put more information below, but if you want to skip it, my question is how have you found Amilsulpride? I'm worried about weight gain on it (although have been very careful with my diet and not gained any weight on Quetaipine), and also worried about raising prolactin levels and the link with osteoparosis. Any feedback would be great.
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The reason I'm wanting to change from Quetiapine is that it causes really bad joint and muscle pain/stiffness. At the dosage that I need to take to stay well, it stops me from exercising, I have difficulty walking for more than 5 minutes and sometimes have to crawl up the stairs. Basically, it's having a massive impact on my quality of life. Before Christmas I had one last go at bringing the dose down so the pain is at a manageable level (down to 250mg). I had a massive relapse, took an overdose, and was admitted to the psych ward.
I've had blood tests to check for other cases (all clear), I've seen a rheumatologist who said I have no physical causes for the pain, I've been to the pain clinic and was told I'm on the best combination of painkillers (but they only take the pain away partially), I've seen a physiotherapist who said she couldn't offer any help, I've tried procyclidine, but it gives me very blurred vision and also only really helps when I'm on lower doses of Quetiapine. I've tried loads of medication and my pdoc now says that the only options are Risperidone or Carbamazepine. My CPN mentioned Amilsulpride as a possibility and, from what I've read, it sounds like it might suit me.
Both my pdoc and CPN think I should just put up with the pain as previous trials of alternative medications have ended up in hospital/suicide attempts. I also can't afford to have to take anymore time off work if things go wrong again. Also, my pdoc believes that no other medication will keep the lows away as effectively as Quetiapine.
However, I feel trapped. I live like I'm 80 years old. I rarely get a break from the pain. Some days, my arms ache so much from simple things like writing or holding the steering wheel. And (TMI), it stops me from having sex as I'm in too much pain. I'm so fed up. I'm petrified of trying another medication change, but the thought of just accepting this pain as the price of mental stability seems unbearable.