I took the antipsychotic Seroquel and its alot better now.

seroquel has always worked pretty well for me but it does cause weight gain. i just started going to a gym and getting some excersize so im hoping that will help. i hope you can find the right meds for you and start to feel better soon!

I'm sorry to hear about your troubles,medication is a tricky thing. That's said if I never would've tried these fairly new meds.I wouldn't have felt the freedom of not being so paranoid and swinging up and down. I take abilify which is an antiphychotic and I haven't experienced any real "bad" side affects yet I know tremors are 1 side affect you can get. All of these meds have side affects. I hope that you can find the right meds quickly so your mind can be as ease.

I take the antipsychotic Risperdal and it seems to make the highs not as high and the lows not as low, and it controls the "racing thoughts"

You sound like me...I've been on so many meds that I can't even keep them straight anymore...and I have had so many bad reactions to them...I finally opted for an antipsychotic when I talked to my pdoc on the phone today and I'm starting on Geodon...but from what I've heard this med is weight neutral for a lot of people, and like other posters have said, just be pro-active about what you eat and exercising...two things we should be doing to take care of ourselves anyway! That's what I plan on doing. But the one bad one that I will never go on is Seroquel...everyone I've known personally who has been on it has gained like crazy and has been knocked out by it....it was tempting since I'm a horrible insomniac, but I don't want to risk the weight gain!

The right antipsychotics are worth their weight in gold if you need them.

Some have crazy side effects (watch for akathisia) but don't give up on antipsychotics as a whole as some are better and you will not have the same side effect with every one - and you have to give them a little time.

For me weight gain and a risk for diabetes is nothing compared to how life would be without them. You have to weigh the good with the bad. For those who really need them, they are fabulous. For those who really don't need them I wouldn't go there because of the risks. Just depends on your situation.

there are non weight gain-y alternative meds. The ones I take don't cause these problems ie/ tegretol, abilify etc

It's a valid concern :) x

Well you have been on quite a few - you know how it goes. If you do not want them - tell your doctor. If you are not having symptoms that warrant the use of them, then why go on them? In the end it is up to you.

I take risperdal and it has really slowed me down a lot in the last week, but I'm tired as hell.