Meds + update on my health.

lighthouse wrote:I was prescribed lamictal. Then an add on of lexepro. My psychiatrist said when your mood stabilizes, it is often Ok to add an antidepressant. It has never made me manic.

I am bipolar 1.

I was told by 3 pdocs that antidepressants are not an option for me, sadly. Maybe I can convince this new one to give me one.

Jellybeanery wrote:Congrats to you, Ennui, for being on lower meds and being stable. I hope it stays that way for you. But this side effect you have from Zyprexa... I can't believe that, that's awful! WHY can't these meds have zero side effects?! It's so frustrating.

Thanks for your kind words, Jellybeanery! I just cut my Zyprexa down to 7.5mg last night (with pdoc's approval) and though I slept fine, I find I'm feeling more anxious today than I have been. It's early days, though, so we'll see how I get on.

Yes, the side effects are very frustrating. I don't believe that oculogyric crisis is a common reaction, but it's certainly one I'm personally prone to. I got it with Risperdal, too (the first AP I was prescribed) and as it was so extreme... tongue lolling out of my mouth, eyes fully rolled back, I had to be taken to Accident and Emergency to get an injection to relieve it. Horrible times, but at least I have a med that counteracts it.

Hope you're doing as well as possible. Hugs! x

I just think it's ridiculous you have to take a med to stop side effects from a med to control your bipolar. I am glad it helps this side effect though, because that really sounds awful. I thought the akathisia I had was bad, I couldn't imagine having this. It just upsets me that we have to go through this.

You're welcome, Ennui. I wish all the best for you with cutting down the Zyprexa. Hugs to you!

Jellybeanery wrote:QG - Have you had side effects from the Vraylar? I know meds react to everyone differently, but this is a med my former NP suggested to me. But after reading the side effects, I decided against it. I hope your depressive swing isn't going to be long lasting. I know what you mean about being reminded of how awful depression is.

Vraylar has been a life-saver just like lithium was. Lithium still works for me but I tried different combinations and I didn't like taking Abilify anymore so I tried this one. It worked great. It still does. I've had a tremendous amount of stress lately that my moods are way off. But I always get stabled after a short time. Sometimes we have changes in mood for no reason, it's just how bipolar can be. But I've had no side effects whatsoever. When I took it at the correct dosage my mood swings stopped like they were doing and I became completely stable. That's how it worked, it was like day and night. Very dramatic change.

QG - I'm glad it works for you. Based on what you wrote, I did some research on it again just now thinking I might give a go. But many people reporting quick weight gain... not even gonna try it. It took me 2 years to get 22 lbs off and I am not gaining it all back in one month. Which is why I think I denied it in the first place, and why my NP dropped me.

Jellybeanery wrote:QG - I'm glad it works for you. Based on what you wrote, I did some research on it again just now thinking I might give a go. But many people reporting quick weight gain... not even gonna try it. It took me 2 years to get 22 lbs off and I am not gaining it all back in one month. Which is why I think I denied it in the first place, and why my NP dropped me.

Well, of course you know it can cause different side effects for us all, but I am still the same weight as I was when I started on it. I was on this weight before and am still the same. Definitely not skinny but no weight gain. Yes, the pamphlet does give one of the side effects as a possible weight gain. I tried it, I'm fine. For me Abilify made me really hungry and this one doesn't. I am now starting a diet of sorts and have a nutritious shake one meal of the day. And I'm trying to incorporate speed walking at the mall. I haven't done that yet. Plus trying to eat healthier. Still not completely there. I had a fish sandwich, skipped the fries and had a Diet Dr. Pepper.

This is true, but I just don't think I am willing to accept the risks at this point in time.

For instance, Depakote and Abilify are notorious weight-gainers. Yet I was on them both at the same time and lost 15 lbs. Then there's Latuda, which has a very tiny chance of weight gain, with much more people reporting weight loss, and I gained 30 lbs. from it.

I think you and I have discussed this before a while ago; about losing weight while on these meds. It takes a lot of work. And even with a lot of work, it's a slow process. So I really hope for you, that now you are on meds that do not give the weight gain, and may not interfere at all with your metabolism, that you are able to get the weight off.

Jellybeanery wrote:I think you and I have discussed this before a while ago; about losing weight while on these meds. It takes a lot of work. And even with a lot of work, it's a slow process. So I really hope for you, that now you are on meds that do not give the weight gain, and may not interfere at all with your metabolism, that you are able to get the weight off.

Thanks JB. I am pretty sure we have discussed this before as well. I fell off my diet a few days due to such good food, but I'm back on it today.

Jellybeanery wrote:I just think it's ridiculous you have to take a med to stop side effects from a med to control your bipolar. I am glad it helps this side effect though, because that really sounds awful. I thought the akathisia I had was bad, I couldn't imagine having this. It just upsets me that we have to go through this.

You're welcome, Ennui. I wish all the best for you with cutting down the Zyprexa. Hugs to you!

Hi Jellybeanery,

Yes, it does seem ludicrous that I have to take a med to control the side effects of another, but that's just how it is for me, unfortunately. As I mentioned, I got oculogyric crisis really badly on Risperdal and get it on Zyprexa, too- the only antipsychotic that didn't cause it was Seroquel, but that med didn't touch my psychosis either.

Thanks for the well wishes! The cut down to 7.5mg Zyprexa is going ok so far, thanks. I had one night of insomnia the night before last (well, waking at 5am), for which I took extra Zyprexa. I'm feeling the extra meds today though, as I feel flat and exhausted, so I don't recommend self medicating to anyone out there!

Hope you're still feeling stable after you were triggered recently. Hugs! x

I do feel better today, thanks Ennui. I had a nice weekend with my boyfriend, so I think I'm over everything that happened.

Hugs to all!!