Mood stabilizers that aren't antipsychotics

by **neurosies** » Wed Sep 19, 2018 11:48 pm

I just made a post about how I'm going off Abilify and this is kind of a continuation of that. I haven't had good experiences with any antipsychotic I have tried (Seroquel made me dead inside, latuda exhausted me, and now Abilify has given me tardive dyskenisia.) I really don't want to be on another antipsychotic, but I know that's what my psychiatrist will try to pressure me into taking because they're so dang popular. I take lamotrigine for depression so I need something for mania. I've tried lithium and it didn't stick. What do you guys take that aren't antipsychotics??

Why you want another med?
Lamotrigine is a mood stabilizer and is very good with little side effects.
I let all meds now ,after awful experience with lithium i dont want take psychiatrics meds never more but lamotrigine was the only med that dont give me side effects and the only that made me feel better.

by **neurosies** » Sun Sep 23, 2018 9:57 pm

JoseMaria wrote:Lamotrigine is a mood stabilizer and have little side effects.

I do take it, but my psychiatrist doesn't think it does enough for mania to be taken on its own.

-- Sun Sep 23, 2018 4:57 pm --

z7z wrote:Depakote is another one but I would recommend it after Lithium/Lamictal.

Can you take it with lamotrigine??

-- Sun Sep 23, 2018 4:59 pm --

JoseMaria wrote:Why you want another med?
Lamotrigine is a mood stabilizer and is very good with little side effects.
I let all meds now ,after awful experience with lithium i dont want take psychiatrics meds never more but lamotrigine was the only med that dont give me side effects and the only that made me feel better.

I definitely DON'T want another med, but my psychiatrist thinks that lamotrigine is more for depression and doesn't work as well for mania. I'm glad you found something that works for you!

by **JoseMaria** » Sun Sep 23, 2018 11:18 pm

neurosies wrote:I definitely DON'T want another med, but my psychiatrist thinks that lamotrigine is more for depression and doesn't work as well for mania. I'm glad you found something that works for you!

Well then change the psychiatrist!

by **Tanoujin** » Mon Sep 24, 2018 5:25 am

I have good experience with Valproate.

by **quietgirl2538** » Wed Sep 26, 2018 5:53 pm

I've taken both Lithium and Lamictal at the same time. Worked great for me.

by **quietgirl2538** » Wed Sep 26, 2018 7:06 pm

Here's a list of mood stabilizers:
Lithium
Divalproex sodium (Depakote)
Lamotrigine (Lamictal) which you have taken
Carbamazepine (Tegretol)

Lamotrigine (Lamictal), another anticonvulsant used in treatment of epilepsy, is being used more and more for people with bipolar depression. It has become fairly popular in the last 10 years because of its mild side-effect profile and its ability to prevent depressive episodes without causing a switch into mania or hypomania. A meta-analysis of five randomized trials found that it has modest effects on the acute treatment of bipolar depression (Geddes et al.,2009). ...it is most effective for people who have more severe bipolar depression when they start treatment ...and less effective with people whose depressions are milder...

pg. 111-112

The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide by David J. Miklowitz, PhD (great book, in my opinion)
copyright 2011

I did experience a lot of depression in the beginning of treatment. Together with Lithium it worked great, then I took off lithium and kept an antipsychotic drug, Vraylar. I used to take Abilify but switched later because I was hungry all the time. But it kept my mood stable. Good luck to you. Keep us updated, if you can.

by **Bui** » Sat Sep 29, 2018 7:26 am

No one has mentioned it, so here I go: Topiramate (also an anti-convulsant).

Reduces your impulses. Acts like a brake. Also reduces your appetite.

In very high doses, it may impair your mental skills.

Also, don't discontinue it on your own. You can have seizures and it can be fatal... It can be a dangerous medication if you do this.

Mood stabilizers that aren't antipsychotics

Mood stabilizers that aren't antipsychotics

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