Wondering....med change....
 

I wonder if I could just take lithium instead of lamictal and geodon?
any thoughts?
bizi

Bizi, an on-line friend of mine has found that lithium (only) is very effective in managing her Bipolar.

If you decide to try it then I think that you need to know that its therapeutic range is quite narrow - what that means is that too little will not help but too much can have adverse effects.

What that means is that, if you do decide to try it, your health care team will probably want to monitor you closely for a while.

The information here might help you with this; Safe and effective use of lithium | Issue 1 | Volume 36 | Australian Prescriber.

:hug:

Good idea. It has worked for you in the past.

In 1994 when I was first diagnosed, I was put on lithium. I did not like it. Don't remember why.
Maybe I did not want to effect my thyroid, or get the tremors..
These are still concerns of mine. Some one in my family has shakes so bad that she doesn't want to eat in public. Now I don't know that was from lithium or not, maybe an antipsychotic that she is taking???
I sent her a question regarding that very issue.
I think I am talking myself right out of trying....
bizi

Bizi

I don't know with bi-polar but I know that when you have epilepsy and take
lamictal that they change you to zonegran many times. Reason being it
works the same, but has lots less side effects.

Derrick had taken lamictal for many years, but we knew it wasn't working as
well as it should. He was changed to zonegran and it worked better for him.
When it comes to side effects he never really told me those. So I don't know

Donna :hug::grouphug:

Thanks donna, I will look into that.
bizi

I just looked it up. You can not take it if you are allergic to sulfa drugs, which I am.
rats.
bizi

Bizi,

Let the pdoc do the work of recommending a new medication for you.


M

already been there she doesn't know what to do.
bizi

You really need to change pdocs. And when you do, you need to let him or her come up with a med plan as Mari suggested.

Researching drugs and asking for input on the forum is a good thing, but I wouldn't get my heart set on a particular drug, or rule anything out (unless prior history dictates it) until you talk to a pdoc.

There should be a discussion about any med changes. The pdoc should provide relevant information, answer all your questions, and respect your input. I don't see your current pdoc doing that :hug::hug::hug:

Thanks kay,
I think she is tired of me and my drinking. (I am tired of my drinking)
She does not want to prescribe for me due to the fact that fact, she has basically said this. So there is the threat that I may lose her. Which frightens me.
Have not heard too much about abilify....Have you?
I wonder if it is weight neutral?
bizi

I took Abilify without any issues, but it wasn't working for me at the time I tried it (post-hospitalization for agitated mania mess). I was almost maxed out when I had to stop taking it for financial reasons because I hit the medicare donut hole. That's when I started taking seroquel.

It's another good drug that works well for a lot of people though.

Thank you kay.
I wonder how expensive it is, we have to pay out of pocket, have a $4k deductible each year starts again in january, we may be switching plans to pay higher premiums but have co pays for doctor visits and such. I would like to go back into counseling again.
And who knows what jeffs heart is doing?
bizi

FDA approves first generic Abilify to treat mental illnesses

Abilify is available in generic.



M

i had trouble with ability with unwanted movement

I am sorry that you had that bobby:hug:.
It looks like it is being marketed as an adjunct for depression.
bizi

Of course it's available in an affordable generic NOW!
I looked up the prices on GoodRx and it can be obtained in some strengths and quantities for under $100 at some places with their coupons now. I was looking at $500 prices on their site when I was taking it.

It's widely used as a mood stabilizer for BP.

since it is an antipsychotic and a mood stabilzer does that mean I would only have to take abilify and not geodon and lamictal?
could that be my only medication?
bizi
besides my klonipin for my sleep.
bizi

Yes, that is possible.

I see my pdoc next week, getting up the courage to ask her about switching meds. Am worried bobby about your limb movement. I guess that is a possibility with all antipsychotics.
I have been lucky that I experience no side effects except for a gradual decline of cognitive ability over all from meds over the years, who knows which one to blame maybe all of them.
It just gets harder and harder to do the things that I used to do easily.
bizi

I'm almost certain going on Abilify would mean getting tapering off the Geodon. It doesn't necessarily mean you would go off the lamictal though… I didn't.

Abnormal muscle movements are on the list of possible side effects for Abilify (and a lot of other meds). You happen to know someone who has experienced that while taking it, but that doesn't make it more common or increase your risk.

Being on the meds we have to take can definitely cause a decline in cognitive function, but for some people BP itself can be a factor too, especially if it goes un or under treated for a long period of time. I think I fall into both of those categories (plus the added insult from MS).

I'm glad you are going to see your pdoc. I hope that she's willing to try a different medication. Before you make a suggestion, see what she has in mind...

my mouth was moving

Bobby, what you were experiencing was a severe side effect, and the Abilify should have been discontinued immediately because the involuntary limb and mouth movements can become permanent if the med isn't discontinued.

I'm glad that the med was stopped and that didn't happen to you :hug: