Bipolar/Manic Depressive Medications?

[Havenly]

I was on Lamictal for probably about 6 months until I finally figured out that it was making me feel awful, like I had the flu all the time. Just really achy and tired. It also made me feel pretty sluggish. They changed me to Depakote. I don't think I have any major side effects though sometimes I wonder if its the cause for a lot of fatigue. I also have really poor concentration sometimes and I wonder if its because of the meds.

 

[MissMarley]

I'm off Lamictal now- awful side effects. Insane sweating, going from being really really tired to insane insomnia every other night, nausea, seriously irritability (probably from never sleeping), etc

So they switched me to Depakote and Seroquel, take my first one tonight. Guess we'll see how that one works.

 

[KittyLuv]

I was diagnosed with Bipolar when I was 16 been on about a dozen different medication including lithium (made me gain weight) Lamictal which made me feel even more depressed, Zoloft and Wellbutrin which neither did anything for me. Neurontin which made me feel psychotic and another medication which is now off the market cannot remember the name for the life of me. I know when I am getting high after this long but the lows spring up on me. I am currently on Seroquel, Abilify, Effexor and Xanax and I think I sleep too much.

 

[EmbalmerBabe]

I was taking Tegretol for three weeks and I QUIT because I got an assortment of bruises all over my calves,and thighs for NO REASON.
I was not doing any thing to get these bruises.
They just started popping up. A week later I took a blood test as ordered by the Dr. and it came out ok. I don't want to take it again though because it also gave me chronic sore throats which was terribly annoying. He also said he would not put me back on it.
I am now just taking the Seroquel which is lovely because it does help me sleep well, but it can be hard to get up after taking it so I don't dare take over 25 mg. It's far too strong.
I was having a hard time sleeping.

 

[KittyLuv]

I think having a hard time sleeping is common among people with BP. I cannot sleep unless I take something. The doctor has me on Seroquel 200mg so I can sleep. I think this may be too much but I have to wait to see her to change it.

 

[squirlymoo]

I took Paxil first, and that was the *absolute wrong thing.* I slept for two days after taking it once. I took Wellbutrin for a while after that and I wasn't sad, but I was never happy either. So...I switched to Effexor, which eventually stopped having any noticable effect at all but I went through the worst withdrawals when I stopped. Then came Prozac, which helped a bit but not enough. Now I'm on Lexapro, Abilify and Trazodone, which make me a happy bunny.

 

[yur_babeydoll]

I'm bipolar and on wellbutrin and lamotrigine. Both are doing well for me and don't have the dreaded weight gain effect. But really you just need to toy around with different medications and doses with your doctor till you find one that works for you. Also, if weight gain is a concern let your doctor know that! Good luck with everything!

 

[yur_babeydoll]

Oh and I have severe sleeping problems. They used to put me on countless sleeping pills (seroquel, imovane, lorazepam) and I hated all of them. Some made me gain weight (not exactly desirable), they all made me feel so horrible and groggy which would increase my anxiety levels, and my body became immune to all of them so fast. Now I'm taking melotonin which can be bought at any drugstore and it's helping me better then any of those meds without the horrible side effects, addictive qualities, or become immune. You can take 1 tablet after supper and 1 an hour before bed or both before bed. You just have to play around with it and find out what works best for you. Definitely something to look into though for anyone who has sleeping problems.

 

[SparklingWaves]

Lexapro, Cymbalta, Topamax & Klonopin here. Sigh I have gained weight from the meds. I couldn't take Wellbutrin it made me itch.

 

[_trimm_trabb]

I have bipolar rapidcycle disorder leaning towards major depressive disorder. Lexapro, Celexa, and Wellbutrin have worked really well for me.

 

[Kuuipo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by uopgirlie Here's a table from the package insert that comes with the drug - There were 227 people that they followed in the study, so you can kinda "rate" the frequency of the side effects. These are the "most frequent" side effects. And remember, just because a drug can cause a side effect doesn't mean it absolutely will - so maybe you won't have any side effects at all =) Lamotrigine Adverse Reactions in Adults With Bipolar Disorder Fatigue 8% Insomnia 10% Somnolence 9% Rash (non-serious) 7% Abdominal pain 6% Constipation 5% Nausea 14% Vomiting 5% Xerostomia (dry mouth) 6% Pharyngitis 5% Rhinitis 7% Back pain 8% There are some more serious side effects associated with Lamictal, but they are very rare. Like one called Stevens-Johnson syndrome which is a really bad rash, but I've only seen 1 person with that over my year of training in hospitals and it was a small child (it's more common in kids).

I had Steven Johnsons a few years ago. I was taking lamictal and tegretol after a brain injury. It was more than a rash,I was burned all over my body including my mucous membranes,and then it sloughed off and was oozy. I was on a ton of steroids,silvadene creme,etc. It is rare. I was photographed for a textbook. Other than that,I had no problems with tegretol. It did not make me feel weird.I just nectrotized all over....lol.