I've been trying different drugs for unipolar depression for about 13 years now, Paxil, Welbutrin, Buspar, Serzone, Nerountin, Zoloft, Cymbalta, and now Prestiq. Sometimes I level out and am OK for awhile, but this time its like I can't even function (hence the Prestiq). I have never had times when I have been super happy, but I sometimes have these rages that come out of nowhere and I have insomnia that even 20 mg of Ambien and 9 mg of Xyrem sometimes cannot overcome. Last Saturday, 6/7 a depression came upon me that I cannot shake. I haven't even been out of the house since then and I just feel like being in bed most of the time and if I do much else I am overwhelmed. It has been brought up to me within the past week that I may be bi-polar instead of uni-polar. This diagnosis scares me and I am deathly afraid of gaining weight on the drugs. I refuse to take Risperdal as I know it causes great weight gain. I have been told that Lithium, Geodone, or Abilify might help. I just want to get better. Can anyone share their experience with these drugs?
Q: What is the most effective medication for bipolar disorder, without weight gain?
Well everyone says that lithium is definitely a life changer. Everyone is different though. For me, nothing has worked so far- I too am not on prestiq. I just feel like a quinea pig sometimes. But I would suggest try the lithium. I do not know why you werent prescribed this a while ago. That was one of the first drugs they put me on when I was diagnosed with bipolar mania, depression, and insomnia.
I meant I AM on prestiq- Sorry
i was looking for more info. on prestiq as i have been on it for 10 days as i slowly went of 40mg of lexapro. i am diaganosed as bi-polar but i haven't had a real manic episode in 5 yrs. just awful despairing dpression. i cry when i meet people, i seldom leave my home, my friends have disappeared. all i want to do is sleep. I SELDON IF EVER RAGE, MY MANIC PHASE IS ARTISTIC AND SPENDING;THE LATTER VERY BAD BUT IT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD. (caps a mistake not for emphasis). I didn't really blossom with this illness until i was 50 or so. i also have an abusive husband which makes this more complicated. but that isn't what you want to know. so here it is. i have been on lithium, i just became more depressed. yea, weight gain..that really depression. LEXAPRO has really been the best. so far the prestiq isn't working as well. no side effects so far. i take 450 wellbutrin as well. i have been on cymbalta, made me a wreck, effexor,paxil,depakote,neurontin(but that's for scitica). i also have add, whoppee, so have been thru all the medicines except ridilin. they just make me sleepy. i hate being sleepy. here's a med. for sleeping that works ...trazadone. it used to be used for depression but, guess what, made people sleepy. there have been many other anti-depression meds, but i can't recall all of them. i am so sorry about the rages.....is this worse than being depressed. i think most people would think so, particularly your family. i know nothing about respidral.
hay, what can it hurt to try the prestiq, but try lexapro. PRESTIQ IS ANOTHER FORM OF CYMBALTA WITH THE SIDE EFFECTS. I HOPE YOU FIND SOMEHTING THAT WORKS AND DON'T BE AFRAID TO SAY THIS ISN'T WORKING IF YOU HAVE GIVEN IT A COUPLE OF MONTHS. DON'T BE AFRAID AS IT IS YOUR MIND, YOUR HEALTH AND YOU CAN SAY NO.
I have been using Abilify to treat bipolar disorder type I and have found that it works like a charm. I haven't experienced any symptoms of mania, I can sleep really good, and I haven't gained weight. Hopefully I answered your question. I honestly am not a speaker for Abilify. It just really works!
I am currently on abilify unfortunatly my synptoms have not improved. I once was percribed depakote I noticed animmediate change for the better. At the time I wad in denial I blamed certain cercumstances in my life at the time as a contributing factor. I wish I would have have continued w the medication. My lows are terrible they last for weeks. I dont even have the will to get dressed.
MY question is how many of you are unable to work or hold down a job of any kind?
I haven't been able to find a medication that will work well for me either. At first I was diagnosed with panic disorder but it has now turned into bipolar II. The worst part for me has been the depression, I cry and can't get out of bed some days. I have tried paxil, which worked before the depression to control my anxiety but left me with no emotions. From there I was switched to effexor, which I have now been taking for almost six years, this too worked really well at first up untill I almost had a nervous breakdown about two years ago. Before this I was just anxious but not depressed. In May of 09 I started having panic attacks whenever I would try to get into my car and go to work, as a result I lost my job and have been struggling ever since. My doctor raised my dose of effexor and it actually made me worse. Since I had lost my job and hence my insurance I looked for a less expensive treatment option, and tried prozac because it works well for members of my family. It just made me want to crawl out of my skin, so I went back to the effexor. After about five months of not leaving my house other than to go to doctors appointments I started seeing a mental health nurse practitioner who diagnosed me with bipolar II. He also perscribed lamictal in addition to my effexor which was effective but took forever to work because you have to increase the dose so slowly because of the risk of deadly rash. This medicine helped but could not bring me back to my normal level of functioning, I can leave the house now but can't work or drive a car still. In the search to help me gain more control over my symptoms I turned to seroquel which I know has worked well for others, and I am currently taking it, but don't feel it is working as well as it should either. I am also now on zyprexa to help stabilize my moods. You would think with taking 200 mg of seroquel, 150 mg of effexor, and 5 mg of zyprexa I wouldn't be depressed but I am still.
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I have been struggling for many years now with bipolar type 2. I feel like giving up sometimes the lows are so severe. I am currently on abilify I feel no better. I once was placed on depakote it worked wonders, you no when its the right one because you feel results very quickly. Unfortunaly I was still in denial and I did not follow through. I am going to speak with my new Dr. abour depakote. Im in a manic phase or I would be curled up in a ball on my couch right now.