Hi good to meet you I have had side affects with lithium too. also with seroquel, abilify, tegretol, lamictal, effexor xl, clonactil, mollipaxin, zoloft, zispin, amytryptaline, zyprexa, tricyclics, a lot of antidepressants, most of them caused weight gain which was not acceptable to me, memory loss, word confusion, abilify caused tardive dyskinesia (twitching of the facial muscles, I had to take another med to stop that) inability to read, too much sleep, lack of concentration. I am currently taking prozac, topamax, vitamin d3, eltroxin, risperdal, xanax prn. This combo is the first combo to work really well for me. My diet is full of a wide variety of fruits and veg, very little meat, lots of walnuts and grape seed oil, home made desserts etc, regular sleep, reading (books about the development of the mind) listening to classical music, walking (short walks), therapy ( I am lucky enough to have a really good pdoc who partners with me in treatment issues) I have been many years working towards this and try every day to maintain this stability so please do not give up. there is hope, there is light. keep coming here and keep moving forward. you are worth it. hugs.

I'm BP2 also.

I've been on lots of anti-depressents - didn't work.

I'd been on lithium and I found that sedating and didn't help with depression.

I've found lamotrigine much better and if I need it I also take seroquel.

I've been concerned about hopw some of these things affect someone whose brain/ body is still developing - I think lamotirigine maybe safer (it may have a history of being given to children who are epileptics so had already been fully studied).

The other words of wisdom - you may be able to take smaller doses - I'm really med sensitive and tend to take much lower dosages - but they work.

Research Latuda. It's new and I've been on it for 6 weeks. I like it a lot. It helps with clear thinking, bipolar depression and it starts out at a really low dose and that dose works for a lot of people.
Look it up, sweetie.

HI and welcome zombie...
.I'm on Lamictal along with Seroquel and it works well...
I do get very sleepy from Seroquel and hungry ... however these are side effects that I can tolerate....x

I can't really recommend any certain meds to you. It sounds like you're treatment resistant as I am and it will take longer than normal to find some bunch of meds that help but keep trying. Eventually you'll find the right combo. I hope it's really soon for you and that it lasts for a long time keeping you stable and maybe even happy for a while. Just keep on doing what your doc says and know that all of us wish you the very best of luck getting to the right meds.
Good luck and stability ahead.

Hi! I just want to say, I have had bad years, and I have had med combo's work for YEARS!!! One time I was stable, working and "OK" for 5 years, before a bad divorce took me for a long hard ride, and the guinea pig try and fail......

I went inpatient a couple months ago for 4 days and left with a couple changes, and other than life and death etc, I am pretty pleased with this new combo - hoping it last 5 or 7 years, as I HAVE had in the 20+ years on meds...

I do find, learning coping skills and removing triggers to avoid Some episodes, makes a big difference.... I kinda think 30% meds and 70% working on not losing the plot, and being a better person....

I wish you luck, and peace and comfort ASAP! They are so many to try and again, a combo of 3 or 4 pills - the right dosage? Hard on us, but worth the fight!!!!!!

Hi! If only there was a pill for patience! :)
Unless the side effects are awful, as you've found out -- it can take time to get to get the last drugs out of your system, and then time to let the new med or combo to go to work. Fortunately there are so many options today. When I was starting out, I had to make do with what was available ( You're fave -ha ha! Lithium.)
I take Prozac for depression, Lamotrigine as a stabilizer, clonazepam to ease anxiety get sleepy, and generic Ambian to sleep --- and I have Seroquil available but only take it if I can't sleep at all to nip mania in the bud.
I work with a Dr, to adjust doses seasonally or as needed.
It's taken me decades to figure out that this is what works, for me.

Congrats on making it through the 1st few yrs and on the learning & practicing coping skills you've figured out so far!! You're in the teen group here, and asking good questions, so I give you props! (Does anyone still that?)

Part of my biggest problem WAS the damn drugs. Once I got off of almost everything besides a low dose of Lithium and a low dose of Loxitane -- I'm okay now. I still have bad days but am functioning again finally.

I have a food intolerance to Fructose and Lactose - which can cause neurological mood issues. I thought it just caused my IBS, but nope, it messes with how I feel big time and my memory.