Depakote - caused massive weight gain, was on it for three years and didn't do a thing to control cycling. I am a rapide cycler Bipolar I with mixed states. Turns out its not recommended for any of these conditions. Combo of topomax, risperdol and lamictal working great, been stable for three years and lost 45 of the 140 lbs I gained.
Don't fancy Risperadol at all. Lad I knew who used to weight train at my Dad's gym is on it - he was in shape, active, socially competent. Diagnosed with schizophrenia & put on Risperadol he's now 19stone & dull-witted, mouth hangs open, feet shuffle when he walks: nobody home in his eyes. The weight gain's been scary, like watching someone fill him up with water.
Ok, he's got a lot of serious mental problems, but this gymbody-to-immense-slug transformation has only been since Risperadol, & from the evidence of that I'd be scared to touch it.
Spare a thought for Phil, trapped, lost & alone, & suffering.
Hi-I have the same as you Morganah-my first med was Depakote-had 1000mg a day-took it for 8 months and started to change into my mania situation.Doc put me on Topamax with seroquel.Disobeyed the taking of seroquel 100mg and only took 25mg-Topamax made me angry and anxious for a month-I am currently only taking seroquel 200mg at night and boy it knocks me to sleep which is fine as I am under control during the days.Have started putting on weight again as when I was on Depakote. I think the guy at the gym-his dose is too high perhaps??? Over and out. Lyn
Worst: Effexor ~ prescribed when I was misdiagnosed with depression; sent me spiraling out of control. Also...Prednisone was prescribed for my asthma. That s*** really screwed me up! Apparently it's soooo not recommended for those with mood disorders. But when I asked my family doctor AND pharmacist about that, they said it was a rare side effect. Well, it affected me, and it wasn't pretty!
Lithium was the best medication for me having bipolar. They took me off it when I was in the hospital in 1986 and that was the worst thing they could have done. I'm suffering today because of that mistake. I'd say any anti depressant is the worst drugs for me. They make me feel like I need to go back in the hospital.
Best drug - lamictal, stopped my racing thoughts, let me stay on one topic and boy was I strange by that point, had 1 idea, then maybe 4 more, then cycled back to explain the first one. Wow. Very ill. Great drug but not perfect, still need something to add on.
Very worst drug in the entire universe for me - lithium. Tried it as an add on, right level, all that. Disaster. Ruined all the mood stability I had, it's come back now no lithium, friends who saw me in that trial said you looked terrifying, could not stay on any idea more than 2 minutes and such obvious mood swings. Completely horrible and I have no idea even why it is still recommended as the best starting drug considering not only was it utterly destructive the physical side effects were almost intolerable, wretched physical illness on that drug.
I have since found out it does not have a great track record in ultraradian.
on Depakote 1500 per day and a new "wonder-drug" Pristiq 50 mg pd was on abilify 20 mg pd as well but insurance wont cover abilify any more soooo oh well... just have to go with ok and not great anymore BAD horrible worst I have ever taken was risperidol and trazedone... made me almost like a zombie, no emotions just dull.
But dep, pris, and abil made me like my old self again... now just a little less spirit on only the two, but functioning well enough
Worst and best for bipolar
Posted - 07/16/2005 : 13:29:54
and not great
