have you tried a substitute, less weight-gainy, like abilify?

no...

helps with racing mind, hopefully.

i was flying last nite...

I have zero tolerence for head racing. I spent a life time from childhood on. The day I started Lithium I have slept every night. I wish I knew what would help you. It saddens me because i've been there all to many times.

Zyprexa works great for me, knocks me right out, chills my anxiety. There is a potential for weight gain but I haven't heard of as many men gaining weight on it. Maybe it could work for you.

I take 800mg's at night. It knocks me out!
I sleep 10 hours, but, I wake up like I've got some sort of hangover. Fuzzies in the head!
It erases my thoughts. I can't remember a thing, from the night before.
I take it, 'cuz I'm supposed to, but, I don't like it.
Withdrawl isn't all that bad. You usually just get chills and your mind races. I've stopped it, alot of times. But, I always go back to it, 'cuz it makes me sleep. I also have VIVID dreams! Sometimes, I sleepwalk.
Gabapentin will work on the pain in your knee. It's not a pain killer, but, (for some reason) it works on pain in the joints. Ask your pdoc. The drug is actually meant to control seizures! The pain killer is actually a side effect. If it works... try it.
My metabolism is very fast... I burn off calories like nothing, so, I never experienced the weight gain.
Good luck!

I don't think it'll become a controlled substance, although there is a bit of a problem surfacing with it among those addicted to prescription drugs. They snort them, but I'm not sure what it does to them other than make them sleepy. I've tried it...no difference for me.

I don't think it'll grow into a big problem, which is why I don't think it'll be made controlled. I could be wrong, though.

OH and I love it just because it's the only thing that helps me sleep. Seriously...I took a month supply of Ambien 10 and was up all night.

i take 200mg of lamictal 2X a day with lithium 300mg and seroquel 500mg...also valium

I was put on it for racing thoughts and sleep problems. I was on it for quite some time. I worked well. One of the possible side effects is developing diabetes. So naturally I developed daibetes. My doctor took me weened my off of it. I had a lot of problems with not being able to sleep. By the way I was taking 1000 mg per day. Lithium helped with the racing thoughts and 160 mg of geodon helped with the sleep. It doesn't make you out of it.
Hope this helps.

I just got off of seroquel, but my pdoc tapered me off very gradually. Most nights, I sleep fine now, though sometimes still am up all night w/insomnia. Even with tapering, it hasn't been easy getting off of it.

I understand about the side effects your facing with not taking seroquel, I am on it also, if I miss a dose at nite it is a night of sheer insomnia and body aches.

My doctor weened me down very slowly and I didn't have any side effects. problem is I couldn't sleep so I'm taking just 50mg now and i'm sleeping pretty good. I was on 300mg for sleep for 2 yrs before.

oh, boy, that some heck of news to hear. i've been taking 600mg daily for 12 years.