Bipolar Disorder Support Group

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. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.

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mood stablizers

meme88
meme88
Okay just incase my sodiums come back high. I take divalproex(sodium based pill)..what esle is a good mood stablizer thats esay to ween on to(hopeing this is esay to ween off of if needed)
I would look online But peoples opptions nomral are better then what i read off an artle
so plz help
meme88
meme88
hey somone??plz im callin tomrrow i need info
deleted_user
deleted_user
Hey meme...

I fund Lamictal very good, but had to come off it because I got a rash. It's very successful in general though, I think there's a 70 (ish) % success rate for it on here xxx
deleted_user
deleted_user
*found...not 'fund'...sorry!
meme88
meme88
thanks :) im hopeing its okay But the likely hood is sodium lvs are low..last yr the same happen and i had to up my dose to 1000mg well 1000mg is the highest u can have in ur body..anyoneo should have..meanwhile a small girl like me!
Community Leaderacuriousfish
acuriousfish
hi, I'm not sure which one you are on, is that valproate? (I think it's sodium valproate sold under different brand names).

Lithium is the other big one but takes a while to go on because you need to take the blood tests.

Lamotrigine (lamictal) tends to have a fairly slow start stop if you want to avoid the rash.

I get the feeling they are all a bit slow in that way.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Geodon is a good mood stabilizer but the first couple of mornings are ruff. Once you get past those you have it easy.
Community Leaderacuriousfish
acuriousfish
Just checked as I should have done before, meme is on Valproate (Depakote)
deleted_user
deleted_user
I too was switched from depakote (the med you are on) and I went on lithium.I thought it worked rather quickly and well but you have to get the level right too much is as bad as not enough then I got the blunt effect.Side effects sucked though and it is rough on the body.Lamictal is good though generally well tolerated except for the rash but I never got it so not everyone does.Abilify worked well for me it really gave me get up and go w/o jitters or nervousness.It just gave me the will to get up and do things again.No real issues there either w/ side effects.
Good luck:)
deleted_user
deleted_user
Lamictal is a good mood stabilizer. I also take Tegretol. It's older than hell as it's been around forever, but when combined with the Lamictal the mood swings slowed way down and at times stopped all together.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I'm very happy with my lamictal too. No weight problems either which is a plus.
Unwell
Unwell
i take trilepital, it works for me pretty well.
bbipolar
bbipolar
I really loved my lamictal. Unfortunately I got the rash twice. My doc took me off it cold. I'm going on to topomax half pill for 4 days and then 1 pill for 4 days and then 2 pills from then on. It took a long time to titrate up on the lamictal but it worked beautifully for years, all except for the damn 'killer' rash part. Good luck.
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