Anyone on mood stabilisers?

[PennyJenny77]

For depression? I saw my psychiatrist this morning. She's keen to put me on mood stabilisers as I keep having episodes of severe depression. It comes and goes. In between I am just normal. Not manic.

I'm taking a couple of weeks to decide. I'm looking for advice from others who've taken them. Did they help and what were the side effects like? I'm already on ADs. They don't seem to work.

I know, it’s crazy expensive if you have to self fund. Thank goodness for private medical insurance.

It’s not an off label use. Many atypical antipsychotics have additional licensing as mood stabilisers despite originally being developed for psychosis. Quetiapine also has a licence for recurrent depression. NICE and BAP guidelines recommend these medications for BPAD and for augmentation in depression. They are very much mainstream tried and tested options and not off label at all.

Not a clue tbh. Fortunately, I'm insured through my partners employer.

I OD'd a few days ago. I'm ashamed. So low right now. Not sure what the future holds.

Im sorry you are feeling so low OP. Have you thought about going into the inpatient ward where they can keep you safe and get started with the mood stabilizers?

Ah it’s nothing to be ashamed of - it happens when we feel desperate. A psychologist told me to think about the whole fight/flight implulse and that suicidal thought/attempt or whatever is more common than you think and it’s basically the ultimate’flight’ response when we feel like we have to escape from the awful feelings we are having. I did same when I felt utterly hopeless and desperate.
id say that as you have the means to go get inpatient psychiatric care id urge you to do it. They will keep you safe while you get your meds tweaked. Years ago I was in a mother and baby unit after a severe depression and overdose. It was the best place I could’ve been, they were lovely. Inpatient treatment takes away so much of your life stressors even down to not having to do food shop or cook etc. DM me if you want to chat about anything - I know how lonely it feels when you feel the way you do but you are not alone x