Bipolar Meds

[bastet56]

Has anyone else out there had trouble with meds? I have been on all the old meds(MAOI's, tricyclics, most of the SSRI's, all the anti manics including lamictal, old antipyschotics and the new antipsychotics, which thanks to them I am now prediabetic. I am now on Lexapro,xanax and tegretol. The tegretol is recent but I am having trouble with restless legs with it. I might mention that I have also had 21 sessions of ECT. Is there anything left for me?? I am feeling pretty hopeless at this point.

[bastet56]

Thank you for the list of meds... Every time I have to change meds my psych dr acts like she can't think of any other meds to put me on. I was on klonopin for years and it became ineffective which is why I am now on xanax.

[ILADVOCATE]

This has a list of mood stabilizations that are FDA approved used off label:
http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/meds/moodstabilizers.htm
It explains about them and there are many more options such
as:
Neurontin, Topomax, Keppra, Trileptal, Lovaza (anti-cholesterol medication used experimentally for bipolar it works like fish oil but is an FDA approved medication) and Clonidine (which I take having exhausted all other options). Those are only the ones I've tried and am familiar with. I wouldn't reccomend one over the other but speak to your psychiatrist about any of these options (or others listed on that site which is clinically accurate). And Klonopin which I take is longer lasting than Xanax and is used more long term as an anti-anxiety medication (among others). If needs be ask for a referral to a mood disorders specialist. There are other options and one should be able to help you.