bipolar/meds

[suzanner395]

I have been bipolar for many years and have tried many meds. recently I was taking lamictal and effexor. they havn't seemed to help. I am lethargic and have no motivation whatsoever. It has become a challenge to take a shower or make dinner for my family. sometimes I will have fits of rage where I will throw/break objects. I did see my dr today and she wants me to discontinue the lamictal and start taking lithium 300 mill 3xday. I have heard alot about this medication and read the side effects. It states that it can make you drowsy and cause muscle weakness. I have also heard from others that have taken it that it made them zombie like. I am leary on taking it since I am already lethargic and have no energy. I will be taking the effexor along with it, but will it help my lack of energy and increase my motivation?

[notxub]

I'll make this short, I have tried several things, they did not help at all,  I was put on DIVALPROEX 500MG 24hr I take two at bed time and I feel great and it dosent turn you into a zombe.

[tashi72]

Oh and PS, as soon as I got off, A's! even though I still wasn't very good about coming to class more than 4 times. I guess I was just so happy to be alive and have my eyes sink back into my face, mmhhmmm, good stuff.

[tashi72]

OH, please be careful. First of all, I have read over and over again that getting off of effexor is like trying to get off heroin. People have had to go on disability over the brain shocks and withdrawls that last for months and months. It's supposed to be great, but I grow tolerant to antidepressants and I can't risk that kind of disability. Go slow. Also, I took lithium 10 years ago. It destroyed my life. Is there nothing else? I gained 20 lbs on it, 35 all told when I added depakote. I shook like a leaf, my depression got so bad I couldn't even leave the house and when I did, I was so scared that I ran back inside all the time. I was in college at the time at my dream school that I worked so hard to get into, and I went from being a kick *** straight A, highest A geek to being someone who was terrified the entire time I had to go to class, which, by the way, often I'd only go 4 times a semester. This was at Berkeley, so I was lucky to scrape by.
I had a horrible psychiatrist who watched me disintegrate totally and ignored my despair so I went off of them behind her back. I continued to see her and she was pleased that the medications were finally working. I LOVEd watching her face when I told her I'd been off of it for six months.
Please, please be careful. Going off of it was the best thing ever. Hair became coarse, eyes bugged out, face bloated, tremors, ugly. Just plain good old fashioned ugly. I will NEVERRRRR go on it again.
Also Tamlloyd, I went off both lithium and depakote cold turkey and my weight loss was *immediate*, I took hair and nails vitamins and my hair looked gorgeous. However, since they are anti-epileptics I should have probably had seizures. I didn't. I had severe migraines all day everyday for three months and had to go on Midrin/Verapamil. I hate to be so negative but I feel like I should share my story because it was so devastating to me.

[tamlloyd]

I tried Ability and it worked initially but then had me so wired I couldn't stay still. I just recently quit Geodon and I feel VERY good. I'm working on stopping the Depakote ER but not sure yet how to do it. My goal is to be drug free.

[suzanner395]

ok, so I tried lithium for 5 days and couldn't deal with it. I felt drugged and dizzy. the 5th day I started throwing up. I couldn't keep any food down, I had to stop taking it. I havn't called my dr yet. I'm at the end of my rope!!!

[smurfergirl]

hi!
I just want to let you knowa couple quick things- my quick bio:

26/ F/ bp1, rapid cycling

I have been on Lithium and can tell you that it took me from 60 to ZERO, and it was good for mania but I was a "zombie"- it was worse than lethargy.
Lamictal can have a similar effect, but I was told you can play with the time of day you take it and maybe a combination that seems unlikely- such as one with Citalopram [Celexa]- talk to your doctor about different combinations and the times of day- it makes a uge difference!
I am currently having difficulties bc the meds I take [ Topamax and Wellbutrin] work so very well, but I am having too much energy and difficulty concentrating- Topamax affects motor skills once you get over 200mg- I take 300/day.I am trying to get off meds and take a controversial homeopathic route but I think meds are an importantpart of treatment to get correct.
The two I take also cause weight loss so be careful when considering them- if you do speak with a provider about wither one. The Topamax is an anticonvulsant- the research I have found indicates that they may work bc they are finding that possibly our "episodes" are caused by mini seizures that are too small to record. I find that interesting. The Wellbutrin is an antidepressant.

Oh- also talk to your doctor about your vitamins [ multi- including B6, B12, C Folic acid and Omega 3's ] if you are aout of whackus there it can inhibit your medication working properly.

FYI: Abilify can cause severe tremors.

good luck!

[stanky74]

have you considered ABILIFY?

[wickedwanderer]

hi...

ok, so the lathargy and no motivation - i felt the same on effexor.

the rage and throwing/breaking things - i feel now; i'm on lamictal 200 mg.

i know nothing about lithium.  did your doctor tell you much about it?  i'm guessing the effexor should be working on the depression and maybe the lithium will work as a mood stabilizer (which is what lamictal is).