alternative for depakote (bipolar ll)

Hi I've never posted on this particular sight but here I go..I am currently back on depakote (was taken off during pregnancy) but am reaching out and asking if any 1 who has bipolar ll and anxiety disorder has had any luck w/ another mood stabilizer?? I am thinking of trying lamicatal b/c I have read alot about it and heard of many ppl who really feel good on it w/o the weight gain..I feel I am basically on my own in finding a med that works for me b/c my psy. just seem's very limited in the meds she uses and doesn't take my concerns of the side effects of depakote I have very serious. Depakote has along list of side effects and weight gain being a huge one. Ik there are other alternatives to depakote and am also aware that every med has side effects but I guess I'm just asking for others opinions or results from diff. meds. I also just don't feel like depakote is working as well as it was befor the baby,also Ik finding anew psych. is another option which I will be doing but for ins reasons I am stuck w/ her for now so any suggestions would be appreciated also if taking lamictal what other meds (if any) are taking in combo w/ this for good results and some real stability!!!thanks to any 1 that can help

[lindahand]

I use lamotrigine (generic Lamictal) and it works quite well for me and I don't have any side effects anymore. A bit of sleepiness at first if I remember correctly. Depakote and lamictal react with each other (I can't remember if it increases or decreases effectiveness of Depakote) so be careful with that.

It isn't 100 percent effective for me though. I have had some breakthrough episodes but they were caused by adding Wellbutrin to the mix. I also take an antipsychotic and trazodone for sleep.  Although not 100% it is one med I would not do without. By far and away the most effective med for me.

[daisy699]

Thankyou, no I plan on stopping the depakote and starting the lamictal, I was just wondering what other's have to say about it. I also take celexa (for now) for a little bit of break through depression seasonal...I was on seroquel for sleep but since the baby $ mos) ago I had to stop b/c it really knocked me out I've done ok w/o it. she tried me on abilify  and I felt very lethargic.so stopped that so I am now on nuerotin depakote xanax and celexa but am def looking to replace the depakote w/ something that can be taken along w/ these meds so I lamictal looks/sounds like a good alternative for me.I really don't lk the sside effects I'm having from the depakote this time around..thankyou for ans me I appreciate it

[lotuspond]

Hi dear, i am on lamictal after having tried other medication and suffered weight gain myself. i even told my psychiatrist once that i dont care taking the medication if i put on that kind of weight because whatever the benefits of the moodstabilizer are fading away in view of the depressed felling i get because of my body body image...
About lamictal: overall it is working and no side effects. At the beggining i was on effexor because of the severe depressive symptoms. The two were working well togehter but the goal was to just stay with a mood stabilizer. The thing is that my last blood exam revealed high hepatic -sgot- levels. they want to check if it is because of lamictal.It might well be a reaction to any virus infection i might have gone through -even a cold! so i cannot tell. What i know is that for the past two years i did not feel any side effect.  Anyway i like lamictal and dont want to change eventhough my doctor wants me to take lithium instead....

[daisy699]

That's exactly how I feel,after having my second baby 4 mos ago the weight was coming off until she put me back on the depakote and I feel my body image and not seeing my weight coming off is also causing me to feel depressed and self concious. I am also experiencing alot of hair loss which is a side effect from depakote along w/ alot of others. I am going to tell her I am not comfortable taking this anymore and wld like to try the lamictal. Even my counselor agrees that there are other options for mood stablilization and I should beable to try/do what's right for me.As I had stated earlier I don't even feel as if it's working as well as it was before the pregnancy and w/ winter coming (seasonal depression) I really need to get squared away & IK I'm not feeling as well as I could be. thankyou I really appreciate you sharing w/ me

[Seph1212]

I took Depakote many years ago, and I remember feeling rather dulled by it. I don't remember any weight gain, but maybe that was because I was on Wellbutrin too, which is known for weight loss.

I've been on Lamictal for a while now, and I love it. At first the side effects were muscle and joint aches and kind of an occasional blue-green vision. These went away after about a week and would come back (but less so) with each dose increase.

The benefits are great. I'm now one cool cucumber. I don't shred friends and family. My spending and drive for more, more, now, now is lowered. I'm able to think clearly at work. I can focus on my creative projects...no dulling like the Depakote. But this last thing makes it worth it even if it  didn't have the other benefit...that is my sleep. I'm not exhausted at the end of the day and can choose to go to bed whenever I want, but when I go to bed, I fall asleep immediately. I sleep solidly and wake up refreshed on average about 6 hours later.

It also acts as a mild appetite suppressant for me.

[daisy699]

Seph..THANKYOU SO MUCH!!!!  I feel so encouraged now after reading your post b/c as I was reading it I realized that this is EXACTLY how I'm feeling on depakote very dull...and until you described that as a symptom you had a lightbulb went off!!!! I can't wait to switch now this has made me feel very encouraged that there is a stabilizer that WORKS for me w/o these awful side effects....You sound alot like me w/ the now,now now that is controlled but I'm feeling exactly what you said DULL AND UNMOTIVATED!!! Again thankyou for giving me that AHA MOMENT b/c I wasn't sure if it was the depakote making me feel blah!!!!

[rainenee]

I have a 12 yr old girl, who I just took off Focalin, because it made her meaner than she was. she was screaming she hated everyone, and nothing makes her happy. I am thinking of putting her on depakote, but then I am reading good about lamictal. I need help and fast, before she hurts someone or herself. She punched 2 big holes in her bedroom wall. I don't know what to do for her. HELP