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Avatar universal

HELP??

Ive been on Klonopin for 2 months now and it has helped a lot with my anxiety.  But it doesn't seem to be helping me with my mood swings. I'm very against SSRI's though I've been given prescriptions for Zoloft and Celexa, tried neither. I was prescribed Seroquel and it was horrible. I was also prescribed Risperdal but was hesitant to try it due to the reaction I had with the Seroquel. I'd like to continue taking the Klonopin for my anxiety but I feel I need something else for my mood swings. I have vaso vagal syncopy which causes low blood pressure and a short pr interval that causes me to have an increased heart rate but neither are truly dangerous. What is a good medication suggestion?
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Avatar universal
Meds are pretty individual. Lamotrigine would be the one I'd ask for. It has a low side effect profile and is good more for the downs than the ups. If you are up more than you are down - lithium may be a better choice. Although with lithium you will need regular blood testing. Depakene is the other mood stabilizer but I know very little about it except it can make your hair fall out.

I had a hard go around with the antipsychotics. Lots of side effects But finally Abilify works great for me. I also take lamotrigine and trazodone to help me sleep.

I would NOT under any circumstances, reading the literature, start an SSRI, SNRI unless you are severely severely depressed and have exhausted all other avenues. Some psychiatrists still prescribe them with a mood stabilizer but the research is indicating they are causing rapid cycling in people with bipolar. Without a mood stabilizer they can flip you into hypomania or mania. But don't take my word. If you google antidepressants rapid cycling you'll find a whole host of articles.

I hear of so many people still taking them and it is disheartening. Psychiatrists are just not keeping up with the research.
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Avatar universal
My doctor prescribed me Tegretol (carbamazepine), Wellbutrin (bupropion) and increased my dose of Klonopin. Has anyone had any experience with any of these medications?
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Avatar universal
My doctor prescribed me Ref
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2196504 tn?1351392195
Lamotrigine is my staple medication. It is used to try to control my depressive episodes in my case.
Anninside is lucky she can take antidepressants, they not only my make my rapid cycling worse, they give me extreme mixed state a episodes but I go extremely suicidal aswell.
Where I live clonazepam is also used as a mood stabilizer in some cases.
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Avatar universal
I realise the Klonopin is not an antidepessant. I never said it was. I said it was helping me with my anxiety. But I've tried other medications in the past so I have every reason to not want to try certain things. Seeing as how I was on Buspar and Zoloft separately, both made me sick to my stomach and the Zoloft made me even more depressed. So I'm not too fond of SSRI's at this point. And as you stated, they tend to make bipolar sufferers worse or more manic, which seems to be the case with me. I need stable and something to keep my anxiety down so I don't have a panic episode and pass out. So my initial question is what is a good medication to stabilize my mood that I can take with Klonopin?
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Avatar universal
Meant to say that Klonopin is not an antidepressant and won't work for that, it only takes care of anxiety. Right now you are not treating your bipolar or the depressive episode.
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Avatar universal
You won't find out what works without trying the medications. You have received several scripts and haven't even tried them.I agree that you need a mood stabilizer first. I take Lamictal, generic (lamotrigine) and it works well for me. I also take an antidepressant. I disagree that SSRI or SNRI should never be taken. Without an antidepressant I become suicidal. I'd rather take a chance of cycling than dying.

I have gone through several SSRIs and SNRIs and now am on an MAOI, which is an old antidepressant and not used that much. However there is a new form, Emsam, a patch which doesn't have as many side effects as a pill.
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Avatar universal
I seem to have more downs then ups but I have many periods where I'm so irritated that the smallest things make me angry and it becomes frustrating. I have a psychiatrist appointment coming up soon so I'll mention what you have said and see where it goes. Thank you for your advice.
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Avatar universal
I'd like to stay away from medication cocktails as much as possible. I don't enjoy taking pills and I am very forgetful when it comes to taking them on a regular basis at a set time. So I'd like to stay with 2 to maybe 3 max. I hope you find some relief soon. I know the struggles I've been dealing with and it's not easy.
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2196504 tn?1351392195
Medication cocktails can be a nightmare, finding one inparticular is no easy task but my current ( not working ) cocktail is aripiprazole, lamotrigine, nimodipine, pregabalin, clonazepam and last but not least modafinil. I have just increased dose on one as I try to head off a not so nice mixed episode coming to a head, I've tried alot of different medications so far, I can't take antidepressants they make me worse and regarding a good medication to try? I will keep watch on your post also, takecare,
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