What meds seem to help the most-Bipolar Disorder

I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS ORDER FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. I HAVE BEEN HOSPITALIZED ON TWO OCCASSIONS WITH SEVERE DEPRESSIVE EPISODES AND SELF-INJURY. MOST OF THE TIME I AM AT THE DEPRESSIVE END WITH OCCASSIONAL HYPOMANIC EPISODES.

I ALSO HAVE BEEN ON MAINTAINENCE EEG FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS!

IN TRUTH I HAVE BEEN ON ALMOST EVERY MED IN THE BOOKS, NOTHING HAS HELPED.

TO GIVE YOU, IN THINKING ABOUT THIS, I HAVE BEEN CALLED "DRUG RESISTANT"

CURRENT MEDS: KLONOPIN, DEXTROAPHETAMINE,,  SEREQUIL, PROZAC, TRIAZIMINE LITHIUM (HAD BEEN ON DEPOKOTE AND RITALIN) AND THE LIST GOES ON.

WOULD APRECIATE ANY PERSON WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER LISTING THE DRUGS THAT HAVE GIVEN THEM A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE.

IN ADVANCE, THANK YOU FOR ANY INFO I MAY GET FROM YOU. IT IS NOT EASY!!!

[imsmiley12]

the combo that helped me the most was risperdal, lamictal, and cymbalta.  took 4 years to find that combo though....i was about to be labeled drug resistant myself.  good luck!!

[Jikan]

Namste,

I've also been classified as drug resistant, although after 7 years I've found a combination that helps somewhat and that is Remeron, Valium and Lamictal. I'm still not where I need or would like to be, but I'm much better off than I was.

I also had several visits to the hospital, but haven't had to visit there for over a year since taking this combination.

Let us know how you are doing and take care of yourself!

Michael

[monkeyc]

Drug resistant *****.  I know a few people who have been classified as that and its a hard one as nothing works for them, they go through hell although one of them found CBT helped her control her mood states with some work.

BTW on the internet using all capitals is considered shouting and in many places seen as very rude and invites nasty comments, just thought I would tell you in case you place other places without nice people around :)

[monkeyc]

That was meant to be in case you post other places.. Oh for an edit function

[suzsage]

Hi, I am also drug resistant and have paradoxal effects with a few meds.  I just got out of the hospital yesterday (72hr hold) for suicide attempt.  I am on Lamictal, Paxil and Ativan.  What is your maintenance dose of the Lamictal?  Also, have you every tried ECT?  I cant even get up in the mornings anymore, I need help badly.  One more question for anyone, - I cant seem to get permanent disability, do any of you have it?  Sorry about all the questions......I am so confused with this.

[imsmiley12]

get an attorney and make sure all your doctors and therapists are on board.  Took me 5 years and two different attorneys to get mine.  good luck!!

[Taurus_79]

I have been diagnosed with Bi-polar Mania. They first put me on a drug called "Lexapro". It worked very well for a few weeks then they had to keep upping my dosage. Then I went somewhere else and that NP had me on "Symyax" Which is a fairly new drug that has Zoloft, Paxil and Prozac all in one... Don't quote me on the prozac, I think that was the other one. But with that, they kept me on "Lexapro" And also added... Can't think of the name right off-hand. It was a nerve pill, similar to a valum. I slept all the time. I woke up long enough to go to work and back to bed I went. But after all the battles for several years, They finally put me on a pill called "Trileptal". It seems to be working fine. It takes awhile to get into your system so DO NOT let them up your dosage if it doesn't work fully within a month or so. They had me on so much, I had a really BAD episode and didn't remember anything about it. And my short-term memory started to go right after the raised the dose. So now, I am on 150mg twice a day, Xanex 3 times a day, and Ambien at night. It seems to be working for the most part as I do still have mild mood swings on occasion... I am a woman! :) I hope this helps anyone that is struggling. Don't let them put you on too much! It could really mess you up! And in some cases, and mine as well, mess up your family as well. Good luck to all who have this disorder. It is hard for you to deal with and harder for loved ones to deal with and accept sometimes!
Best wishes,
Les

[Taurus_79]

Correction of my last comment...
The drug I described before is actually spelled Symbyax!  And the nerve pill I referred to was ativan. :)
It always comes back AFTER you have submitted! lol

[ILADVOCATE]

As I put in previous posts I went through this issue too and have tried everything and was unable to find something tolerable until recently When you are unable to tolerate the standard medications don't assume there is nothing out there. There is. There are just underused or experimental medications. Experimental as in they have been FDA approved for other uses but not for bipolar yet. Go to a mood disorders specialist and since there are a variety of forms of bipolar they can figure out which one is best for you. It may take a while to figure out the right medication and combination but while there are a set series of anti-psychotics, there are a wide variety of FDA approved medications which can be used off label as mood stabilizers. Here's a link to a well known mood disorders specialist and experimental medications in off label use and of course there are more beyond that but keep yourself updated and get a referral to a mood disorders specialist and I'm sure they will find the right combination:
http://www.psycom.net/depression.central.bipolar.html

[tigger8596]

I am actually Bipolar 1 with psychotic features and I know all about being drug resistant.  I have been on so many medications in the last 9 years that it would make anybody's head spin.  To name a few:  Wellbutrin, Zoloft, Geodone, Haldol, Depakote, Tegretrol, Lithium, Klonopin, Ativan, another antidepressant that begins with a C.  I am now on a combination of sertraline, trileptal and risperidone.  I take 1600mg of trileptal per day which is the maximum dose you can take. I take 3 mgs of risperidone and 100-125mg of sertraline.  And yet, I do still get ill.  I have been under so much stress the last 7 months that I ended up being signed of of work again for over 2 weeks.  I just don't think there is very much hope for me out there.

[bernie40]

You've certainly been through the mill!  Its seems to be quite common for those of us with BP to have to try a whole host of medications before finding the right treatment.  I don't think any combination can make us completely better all of the time because of outside triggers (work, relationships, family, finances etc).  

Are you just on medication or are you receiving therapy as well.  The best plan is to have both in situ.

Don't give up, there is hope for everyone.

[LeftCoastChick]

I agree with bulldozer - meds alone aren't the cure, it's part of the treatment. Talk therapy, group therapy are just a couple of thinngs that can make it easier. I have"refractory" depression. I've been on all the SNRI's and most of the SSRI's minus paxil and prozac. None of those worked for a long period of time, I found out that is normal with BP folks because our brain chemistry is different.  Do you have a Psychopharamacologist in your area you can consult? Sometimes it's just a matter of tweaking and augmenting drugs to get the right fit. I just had my lamactil upped to 250omgs/day from 200 and Lithiim upped from 300 to 450mgs because I'm still getting painful mood swings. I was told, don't expect everything to work the first time out, but good and honest communication is very important in order to tweak the right meds and get the right therapy. You have to be actively engaged in your healing, and you are your best advocate. Don't just sit on your hands, talk!

[Shaylene]

In my readings I have sound many refrences to small doses of thyroid hormone making people who were derug resistant no longer so. Some even sugested that low doses of thyroid can sometimes be used alone. Either way there has been significant results with our with out abnormal thyroid lab results
Shaylene

[ILADVOCATE]

Well I wouldn't say there is no hope and I agree talk therapy and cbt are essential as well. I'd just say given that new medications are found to helpful for use off label as mood stabilizers. The antipsychotic agent I am on glycine is experimental and is still in Phase II FDA study (read through my posts) and hasn't been studied on mood stabilization yet. But there are many FDA approved medications that are experimental for bipolar. For example the anti-cholesterol agent Lovaza which works in the same manner as fish oil but is an approved medication is being used experimentally for bipolar and showing quite good results. At least in the United States, any medication can be prescribed off label for any usage. But not all psychiatrists will know about every medication in study or know how to use it. I'd suggest that you obtain a referral from your psychiatrist to a mood disorders specialist. I've been on 30 mood stabilizers in my life time and the reason is easy which is that the brain wants to return to the "natural" state it is in with bipolar and depression so needing to change mood stabilizers frequently (as long as you give them a working chance) isn't unheard of but if you run out of common options a mood disorders specialist would know of more that are already FDA approved for another purpose.

[jimgreg]

lithiem is a real good one...just get ur blood levels checked the 1st 28 days then every 3 monthes to make sure ur in range..theres alot of people on this med for years..and yrs to come..good luck to you...james

[freebird227]

Hi..I am bp1 rapid cycler My cocktail is Lithium900mg Klonopino.5mgx3 Lamictal (started today so I'm on step up plan) Serequil100mg@night for sleep. Ihave been on meds for 7 years I am extreamly med compliant. I don't like to change my meds  I on the other hand am med sensitive. I take vit. supplements.....Ilimit my caffeen intake. I dring lots of water to keep things moving. My lifestyle doesn't have a lot of drama in it. I have a therapist that I see bi-weekly and my pdoc once a month.I can dot all my eyes and cross all my t and I can still have an eposide. I try to keep things in the confort zone. I'll keep you in my thoughts