mood stabilizers
Posted by Sariea on Dec 09, 2008 · Member since Feb 2007 · 845 posts
does anyone have experience w/ mood stabilizers? i'm going to the doctor tomorrow and he's gonna give me a prescription for one. i've tried multiple anti-depressents but they either made me sick or made me worse (like suicidal worse). he told me that mood stabilizers are generally better for people who react to anti-depressants the way i do, and it'll help me react better to situations that cause me stress....
but i'm still unsure even though i've had a month to make my decision... i dont know the specific brand he's going to prescribe, he mentioned a few, but i was wondering if anyone had any info or tips?
no, i've never been diagnosed as bipolar. my sister is, but i'm not. i've been diagnosed w/ depression and have a history w/ eating disorders. i've just had a lot of stress the last year or so and have been binge eating which throws my emotions all over the place. i get angry really easily and then after getting angry i get depressed and cry and eat everything i can find. so he's hoping that a stabilizer will soften those emotions to make it easier for me to stick to a diet, and help me not be so anxious and stressed all the time.
would lithium (or any stabilizer) interact with instant-anxiety meds i have? like clonazepam and lorazepam? cuz i take those when i have to go out and be with large groups so i'm not freaking out or crying cuz i think everyone thinks i'm fat. i dunno if i'd want to take lithium if i couldn't take those other things....
I used to be on Depakote and Lithium. Gained hella weight on Depakote, but Lithium worked well for me.
okay i'm seriously making a mental note not to let him prescribe me Depakote lol
Just make sure you tell him everything you take! Even if it's in only certain situations...like lots of people being around.
yeah i'm gonna tell him everything i'm taking. i'm pretty sure he's not aware that i'm still using the clonazepam from time to time. last time i took it on thanksgiving i was acting pretty out of it. i felt drunk. but dean told me i was acting like a zombie. it's good sh!t, i don't wanna not be able to take it if i need to.
ugh so much has happened since i've seen him last, i really wish i could find out if my old therapist was covered under my new insurance
LAMICTAL.
It rocks.
I was on Abilify, now I'm on Lamictal.
I was on Abilify, now I'm on Lamictal.
Me too- Abilify gave me akathisia. It SUCKED.
I was on Abilify, now I'm on Lamictal.
Me too- Abilify gave me akathisia. It SUCKED.
I had to look up akathisia. Sounds not-nice.
Twas horrible. I waited for 3 days before calling my doctor and then he's like, oh dear- stop taking it! It may take a few days to remit... ugh...
Sounds cool, though, right?! haha
Twas horrible. I waited for 3 days before calling my doctor and then he's like, oh dear- stop taking it! It may take a few days to remit... ugh...
Sounds cool, though, right?! haha
i looked it up too. i already feel anxious and feel like i cant sit still sometimes (almost like i get moments of restless leg syndrom where my muscles feel jumpy when im not moving).
my sister takes lamictal but didn't really say anything about it, but shes been taking it for a while so i guess it's alright for her, she went through a buncha stuff before settling on that. to those who take lamictal, or those that have and don't anymore, does it seem to work for you? or why doesnt it?
i have to go in an hour and a half and so far i'm leaning towards the lithium since so many people recommended it..
Lithium is mainly for bipolar disorder. If you're looking for a mood stabilizer, I'd go with Lamictal. I had zero side effects and he even started me on it fast-track style. I guess that you are supposed to do it slowly because you can develop a rash or something, but I had no such problem. I am very very pleased with the results I've had. I can focus and the ups and downs are not as severe at all.
I hope whatever you decision (rather, your doctors and your decision), works out for you!
yup, we picked Lamictal. he actually told me he'd never prescribe Lithium beacuse of the side-effect and when he gets a patient that is already on Lithium, he weens them off it and goes to lamictal. hopefully it'll all work out
he is starting me off slow. 1 pill/day for week 1, 2 pills/day for week 2, etc til i get to 4 pills a day (100mg)
I hope it works out as well for you as it has for me! Oh and p.s. very minimal, if any, sexual side effects. :D
I hope it works out as well for you as it has for me! Oh and p.s. very minimal, if any, sexual side effects. :D
like what? i already have no sex drive so it cant get worse than that
idk, they are using lithium these days for all kinds of mood disorders beyond bipolar (all this "bipolar spectrum" stuff).
i was on lamictal with lithium for a long time. lamictal work as a stabilizer but also has antidepressant qualities. i got some "sweet" paticea (however you spell that) from it. it also causes sun sensitivity (my eyes are still very sensitive and i've been off it for about a year?) i don't take it anymore. i felt over medicated on combination therapy. now its just lithium and COKE (like the soda- ha!)
the best stuff i was on was zyprexa. oh yeah! the quieted the monsters alright.
I look back and I can't imagine being on as much of a combo of drugs as I was on at any given time. Ugh. I haven't experienced those side effects. I'm sorry, BP. :(
idk, they are using lithium these days for all kinds of mood disorders beyond bipolar (all this "bipolar spectrum" stuff).
i was on lamictal with lithium for a long time. lamictal work as a stabilizer but also has antidepressant qualities. i got some "sweet" paticea (however you spell that) from it. it also causes sun sensitivity (my eyes are still very sensitive and i've been off it for about a year?) i don't take it anymore. i felt over medicated on combination therapy. now its just lithium and COKE (like the soda- ha!)
the best stuff i was on was zyprexa. oh yeah! the quieted the monsters alright.
hm... i already have sun sensitivity anyway. thankfully my doctor told me i'll me able to take my clonazepam and lorazepam with the lamictal. he actually laughed when i asked him because he didn't think i still had clonazepam and i switch between the two (hey, sorry, but the lorzepam just doesnt do the job! lol). he mentioned something about lithium being for instant use and the lamictal will take a while to work.
for those that have taken lamictal (or anything really) did u notice an increase in thirst? cuz ever since i started takin it, i am THIRSTY. usually i could go most of the day without drinking much and then drink a buncha diet soda when i get home (like 3ish glasses) but now as soon as i wake up i have to have a glass of ice water. and its weird too, cuz usually when im thirsty i go for diet soda because it "feels" much colder than ice water when i'm drinking it, but now i'm craving water or iced (white) tea all the time, like i drink this brand of tea called inkos and right now i'm loving the peach flavor
I wouldn't know because I drink a lot of water all of the time. Hey, at least water is good for you! :)
you know, now that i think about it yeah, i did have that with lamictal. but i was also taking lithium at that time (the last I remember) and i remember being HELLA THIRSTY. but it wore off after things got "settled". it is annoying, regardless. esp if you get the dry mouth on top of it. and the shakes.
okay im glad its not just me then. it seems that since i started takin it, it's hard to get through a workout without stopping for water and i never had that problem. i could get thru a 40 workout on the eliptical, now i get to like 25-30 minutes and have to stop for water, then go back for more water after i'm done cuz i feel like i get overheated. hey its not a bad thing cuz i know water's good for me and i dont drink enough anyway. just wondering. thanks :)
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