Best Bipolar Med

[drachir]

I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder about 7 months ago. My depressive side is much more dominant than my manic side. They firsy put me on lamictal and I wound up in the hospital with serious rashes. Now, I am on zyprexa qhich makes me want to eat everything in sight. It seems to have me syabilized but now I have read about the countess thousands of people who have gotten diabetes from taking zyprexa. I have high blood sugar anyway, so I assume I am at high risk. What should I do? Switch meds? If so, yo what? Or, stay with zyprexa? Any advice would be appreciated.

[ames67]

The rash side effect of Lamictal can be fatal so thank goodness you are okay. I had not heard of the diabetes with Zyprexa before, I would read the fine print on your med insert for sure. I wonder what Topomax would do for you or possibly Abilify which has fewer side effects, especially in the eating department. Ya know we are unfortunately part of the pharmaceutical rat race and often times doctors have more experience with one med or another due to what the drug reps are pushing. DEFINITELY talk with your doctor about the high blood sugar and your concern for diabetes and see what they think about Abilify which is approved to treat bipolar.

[Crystlas]

How did you come up with your handle?  There was this guy I used to work at a Ren faire with named drachir and I thought he made it up!  Anyhow, it is trial and error with this illness.  I went through 10 different meds until they found the right combo for me.  I use Lithium/Wellbutrin.  Love it!  Maybe you should try a mood stabilizer with an anti-depressent since you have deeper depressions?  

[Venora Moonwind]

First zyprexa doesnt cause diabetes . the weight gain does . and it is possible to control your weight while on zyprexa. I have been on it for 7 years and at first I did gain gain weight but I have since lost all that I have gained on the zyprexa eat small 6 meals a day and exercise even if its just a brisk 30 minute walk. It will also help with the depression. No caffiene and no sugar as these both aggravate depression in bi polars.
Love Venora

[Crystlas]

Along with alcohol!  Drinking and bipolar disorder do not mix!!  

[drachir]

Drachir is Richard spelled backwards. As for the meds, zyprexa seems to be working pretty well. My moods have definitely stabilized. I also take lexapro for the depression. I gained some weight at first on the zyprexa but am gradually getting that back off. I was slender to start with. Thanks for your thoughts.

[dazed999]

I have been on te Bi-Polar "trip" for some time now.  It sucks.  Be careful with Topomax if it is suggested by your shrink..... I was started on 25 mg for the first week; 2nd week up to 50; 3rd week up to 75mg.  By the 3rd day on 75mg. I was ready to kick some serious butt.  I got very, very hostile.  I was taken off of it immediately.  Abilify was good for awhile.  But, after I got up to 20mg. I developed this "clicking" habit with my jaw.  I was taken off of that too.  I WAS taking 900mg lithium, 300mg wellbutrin xl, 10mg lexapro and .5mg ativan daily.  I was forgetting everything.  I never really got settled into any perticular cocktail that worked for a long period of time.  I was on this roller coaster ride since 1997.  Check out Omega-3.  good luck.

[Crystlas]

Your welcome.  Now I remember, that was his real name...duh me!!  We had to come up with character names and I guess he thought it was an original idea! LOL... anyhow, I just want to add to dazed999's post.  Omega-3 is good to take in addition to regular bipolar meds.  I have been taking it daily for about six years.  It was recommended to me when I was still diagnosed as unpolar.  So see, it does not work by it self because when my mania got bad enough I got diagnosed BP.  However, I enjoy it as a suppliment and it is wonderful for skin, nails, hair and your heart!  Every doctor I have asked said, only as a suppliment not a treatment for BP.  BTW, Zyprexa made me dizzy like crazy, did not like it.  Amazing how all of us need different drugs to control this crazy thing.  

[dazed999]

I guess I am willing to do the natural thing because I didn't just get depressed I got hostile.  My shrink has seen me about every 3 months (average).  I am the crazy bi-polar person that didn't mind jumping out of my vehicle if you decided you would try to hassle me while in your vehicle.  I am the person you run into once in a while that if you decide to be rude to me I will get in your face.  I am the manic depressive person that you don't want to run into if you decide you are in a bad mood and want to look at me funny.  I have tried all these wonderful drugs that will make everything rosy again.  For a while.  Then you have to try something else.  It gets real old after awhile.  If I am still that person you don't want to run into while I am medicated; why not try my own cocktail as the doctors so cheerfully put it?  I wasn't this hostile when I originally went on all these medications.  Have you noticed that 95% of the medications used for this disorder list aggitation as a "possible" side effect.  What do you suppose happens when you combine 3, 4, or 5 of these medications that have this "possible" side effect in common?  Is it truely a wonder why every time you crank on the news or open the paper some one is expressing violence and hostility.  There are so many medicated people in the United States that 29 of our States are finding Anti-depressants in our drinking water.  Where do you suppose all the medications in the water are coming from.  Don't believe me.  Check it out.  It's on the web.  Great Britan is experiancing the same problem.  The U.S. became aware of this in 2004.  Funny it just hit the news 2 months ago.  Are we being over medicated as a whole.  Huh....  Could be.  Couldn't it.

[Crystlas]

I posted in the other thread and it covers this post of yours.  I also meant to say, yes I know Lithium is the only true bipolar med.  Luckly, it was my first med, not really any side effects except a little shaky while adjusting and it works great for me!  

[maxbipolar]

I would definately try abiliify and what dose did they start the lamictal at cause you have to start at 25mg and work your way up to prevent what happened to you. I switced from tegretol to lamictal do to tegretal interacting with all my other meds. but that is another mood stabalizer that works quite well. I went off the abilify cause it mae me extremely hyper during the day then crash so i am on seroquel at a low dose during the day and a larger dse at night for sleep