Bipolar Disorder - Teen Support Group

This community is dedicated to teenagers struggling with bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. Talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, and learn from others' experiences

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Medication experiences?

Decembre
Decembre
My psychiatrist gave me a list of medications that he asked me to take home and research, and then come back to him in our next appointment and tell him any questions or concerns I may have.

He made the list in order of what he recommends most:

-- Anticonvulsants --
Depakote
Lamictal
Trileptal
Topamax

-- Atypical Antipsychotics --
Risperdal
Abilify
Seroquel
Latuda
Saphris

And one other under antipsychotics that I can't read, and Wikipedia doesn't seem to know what I'm talking about. Starts with an F...

I guess I'm wondering if anyone recognizes the names, has taken any of these, could give me some feedback, what to expect...

Also, a more generalized question -- do you prefer anticonvulsants over antipsychotics, or vice versa? If there's anyone who's happened to take both...

Thanks guys. I appreciate it. :D
deleted_user
deleted_user
My daughter and my husband are bipolar. I know everyone reacts differently to different meds. My daughter is on Neurontin, which is a mood stabilizer. She is also on two anti-depressants, Amtriptyline and Nortriptyline. She takes Clonazapam for anxiety and one anticonvulsant, Trileptal. She has almost no side effects. We had to get the dosages right so that she didn't get that "hangover" feeling. She had been stable for quite a while now. I hope this helps a little. Try not to get too frustrated. It took my husband several trips to the doctor and many med changes to find the right combo. Good luck.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I recently was taking Abilify. It had detrimental effects on me, it made my hands shake, I was restless and couldn't concentrate, there was a scientific name for it....oh, I can't remember. But it was not good. I wouldn't recommend abilify.
Community Leaderacuriousfish
acuriousfish
Neurontin is not a mood stabilizer.
http://www.dailystrength.org/treatments/Neurontin

I think I answered you on the BP board but it's worth replying here.

I've still not quite worked out how anti-psychotics are being used as mood stabilizers which seems to be the trend in the US - so I'd say there may be somethings in their that are anti-convulsants AND mood stabilizers AND antipsychotics.

He really needs to give you the advice rather than giving you a list.

Final question - yes, I take both. I am on lamictal full time and if I start to get elevated moods I take seroquel.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I have been on Lamictal and Depakote, Risperdal, Abilify, and Seroquel. Nothing seems to be working for me but be careful with the risperdal and seroquel because they both knock you out super quick.
deleted_user
deleted_user
a combination of lamictal and seroquel worked best for me. i used to be on seroquel only and as it did normalize my brain after a manic episode. it sedated me. even when communing it with lamictal. I had to take seroquel right before bed because it put me right to sleep.
dancecrazy46
dancecrazy46
I take
buspar
Lithium
Risperdal
Lamictal

Lamictal was more recently added i found it polished off my moods and added confidence i really enjoy that med
deleted_user
deleted_user
I take effexor, lamictal risperadal and fanapt. All four medicines work great for me. I have only had two mild depressions and one high mood this month and half of the month of May 2012 is already gone. Keep in mind that all medicines work differently.

Oh yeah I used to take abilify and it worked for me but it can cause diabetes. I used to take seroquel and it worked for me but it made me very sleepy and want to eat all the time and gain weight. I hope you find the right combo!
deleted_user
deleted_user
im on latuda and it kicks ass! lol
deleted_user
deleted_user
I've been on Lamictal, Abilify, and Risperdal. All three didn't do much for me. Abilify made me gain a ton of weight, too. Depakote works for me, I'm currently taking it.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Not trying to be a debby downer but took seroquel slept almost a full 24 hours at once, and on abilify it worked at first but they uped my dosages and i attempted suicide.
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