Does anyone have any suggestions on medicine

[braccio]

I've all but exhausted every med used for bipolar, with no luck in returning to normal.  I feel like this is going to go on forever.  I feel expressionless, with no emotions.  I've thought about not being around anymore, but I wouldn't do anything stupid.  I just want to feel better.  Ever since I started seeing my new doctor, I've felt more unsettled.  My old doctor didn't help exactly, but I really trusted him.  I feel like I'm moving in a fog, sort of spacy, with robot-like movements when I walk.  As if everyone can tell something is wrong with me.  I'm currently on Cymbalta, Geodon and Depakote.  My new doctor had me temporarily on Ritalin, but I questioned her prescribing this for me.  I had told her that I had trouble getting going, but I can do it without a pill.  I'm just worried that I'm not going to come across as depressed and out of sorts as I feel at my appointment tomorrow.  I desperately need something to change!!   The summer is ahead, and I will have lots of time on my hands, since I work for a school system.  Any suggestions of what helped them would be appreciated.

[Seph1212]

I'm thrilled with how Lamictal works for me. The side effects have been mild and only when the med is started/increased.

The fog is gone, the anger is gone, my thoughts are organized, my sleep has never been better, I wake up refreshed, mania is gone, depression is gone.

I was worried when I began it that my creativity would be squashed, but no such thing happened, and since my mind is no longer a bunch of monkeys juggling chain-saws on a merry-go-round, I'm able actually to work constructively on my creativity.

Friends and family have even commented that I'm a different person.

[ILADVOCATE]

I think you've seen the list of currently available mood stabilizers that has been posted here. I know that I (and some other people) found the side effect profile of Lamictal easier to tolerate than Depakoate as regards cognitive confusion, weight gain and sedation. Temporary movement disorders that cause muscle stiffness such as dystonia and akathesia are side effects of all currently available antipsychotics but each person responds differently to each one. Out of the mood stabilizers that are lesser used or FDA approved but in clinical study I couldn't say any that I was tried on were of better help than any current ones. I do know the anti-cholesterol medication Lovaza as I've posted is in experimental use as a mood stabilizer and you could ask about that and it was considered for me but I was told for it to be used I would have to see a mood disorders specialist but since its FDA approved and could be used off label that's one option if you've tried the standard medications that are currently available.