Bi-Polar w/crazy Mania

[KKReno]

I was diagnosed Bi-polar in my mid 20's.  I took several different medications, Lithium, Lexapro, Prozac, Geodon, to name a few and had horrible side effects of weight gain and extremely lethargic.  Even after having 3 children I was always very small, 5'8" and at my biggest 130 lbs, well until medication.  Within 2 years my weight had sky rocketed to over 200 lbs.  And I would literally have trouble most of the day keeping my eyes open.  After almost having a near death car accident, because of falling asleep, I stopped taking the medication.  Quickly the weight fell off with no change to life style.  But now after almost 6 years of being off meds I am noticing that my manic episodes are becoming more and more frequent and more severe.  I am concerned with getting back on meds due to the weight gain and feeling of not being able to wake up and stay awake.  Does anyone have suggestions on medications to try that do not cause this?

[Bubulous]

You know that you need to be on medicine right now and that is the case for us most of the time.
We realize when we need to be medicated but are not aware of when meds need to be adjusted or changed until it is crisis.
I can't tell you what medicines to take but I can tell you what I experienced with the medicines I have tried:
Lamictal- Worked well but I still had some small breakthroughs of mania.  No weight gain or lethargic feeling.

Lithium- Lathargic feeling and weight gain-no manic breakthroughs but severe depression

Depakote- Extreme weight gain- lethargic

Seroquel- Little weight gain but I could control it- Great mood stabilization with frequent breakthroughs of hypo-mania.
Good luck with whatever decision you make and let us know how it goes.

[ILADVOCATE]

  There are still many options left as regards mood stabilizers. For example, Lamictal has less of a potential to cause weight gain and sedation although each person responds differently to each medication. This has some helpful information about known mood stabilizers and medications that are used off label for bipolar that you could discuss with your psychiatrist:
http://www.medhelp.org/tags/health_page/34/Mental-Health/Useful-Bipolar--Depression-Webisites?hp_id=523
There is an increasing amount of research and there may be medications used not listed on the sites. For example I am prescribed Lovaza as a mood stabilizer and found it to be of help and not experienced any significant side effects.
  It would be worthwhile to discuss what options your psychiatrist would be willing to consider and if they have used all options they are familiar with see if they can refer you to a mood disorders specialist.