mghalt Posted March 2, 2008 Share Posted March 2, 2008 My irritability and agitation are the main major, major players in my mental illness. No matter what I take, do, what therapist I see, breathing techniques, yoga, whatever, I have no patience and am majorly irritable and agitated ALL the time. Did any of your meds prove to be super helpful with agitation or irritability? If so, which one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiaB Posted March 2, 2008 Share Posted March 2, 2008 definitely seroquel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel1 Posted March 2, 2008 Share Posted March 2, 2008 Seroquel. I went off it and switched to abilify and went back to seroquel because abilify made everything worse. once i got back on seroquel, it was an "Ahhhhh" moment. Highly recommend it. oh and for some strange reason, the second time around, it has not made me gain wt. in fact, i have lost wt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvet Elvis Posted March 2, 2008 Share Posted March 2, 2008 seroquel or topamax Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gentledove Posted March 2, 2008 Share Posted March 2, 2008 seroquel for sure I tried to go off of it and I was yelling at my kids almost within three days. gdove Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
confused Posted March 2, 2008 Share Posted March 2, 2008 It's hard for me to tell what med does what, but I think my mood stabilizer, lamictal, helps me with aggitation. I hope you feel better soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit37 Posted March 2, 2008 Share Posted March 2, 2008 Seroquel. I take 50mg 3x/day, then 400 at night. It's a miracle worker. I'll never give it up. I was having anger problems too, that seemed to kinda be linked to anxiety. Lexapro (10mg, low dose) fixed that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IHeartAAPs Posted March 2, 2008 Share Posted March 2, 2008 Yep, Seroquel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zenbean Posted March 2, 2008 Share Posted March 2, 2008 like rabbit, seroquel and lexapro are working for me. bean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
withing Posted March 3, 2008 Share Posted March 3, 2008 I"m gonna jump in with this crowd. Seroquel helped me, and Topamax. One caveat on the Topamax though, I had to give up coffee when I first started taking it because the coffee actually *increased* my irritability. YMMV. I'm drinking half caff now without noticeable effects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antiks Posted March 3, 2008 Share Posted March 3, 2008 Trileptal and Geodon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witchywoman Posted March 3, 2008 Share Posted March 3, 2008 Im also with Trileptal. Geodon didn't do it for me alone, but we added the Trileptal and all was good again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SashaSue Posted March 3, 2008 Share Posted March 3, 2008 Seroquel,no question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CastorFache Posted March 3, 2008 Share Posted March 3, 2008 My original thought upon reading this... "None, now F*ck-off." It depends on the agitation...I am kind of wierd, I get hinky when I am manic and when I am depressed. I am agitated easily in both cases. Thus, my original answer...but these days I would have to say that the seroquel helps keep me level so...that would be one. Sorry, I cannot finish answering, I am getting a little irate trying to figure how much of what drug I am taking now... Damn drugs...I feckin hate em. I love the looks the TSA people give me when they open my med bag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chinacat Posted March 3, 2008 Share Posted March 3, 2008 Cant take Seroquel--I take Tegretol, but the "brake glass in case of emergency" is definately Klonopin. The Zoloft I take at nigte, when it went up to 150 mg, was a big help. There are so few meds I can take--I am a pharmaceutical "wonder" Tried ativan--like asprin, and Xanax was evil,. evil--actually had withdrawal. So--Klonopin for the last 3 or 4 years, but I am an evpensive date, and there are days I need 3, even 4 to keep me from strangling the cat. Just took 2--the old 5 PM Drive by mixed state is back, kiddies, and worse than ever. My life is falling apart yet again, so drugs, drugs, drugs--nothing else helps. Sure wish someone would let me know more aout the "Cyst" I apparently have on my brain-- Time to go hack up the smoke detector==china Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stasis Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 Seroquel@ 200mgx3 still the benzos are less disturbing as to initial side effects, I take some with me always the klonopin Don't leave home with out them. S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazynotstupid Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 Topamax and risperdal. Both work great, though I always liked topamax better, but for work reasons I can't take the dose I'd like. But risperdal fills in the blank nicely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madwonderland Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 Definitely Seroquel - the Lamictal made me extra agitated and I mean EXTRA - after an adjustment period on the Seroquel kicking in and leveling out in about 10 days - 2 weeks - it's a miracle drug - but in those 10-14 days before you get leveled out you might as well plan on lots of sleep until you are titrated because Seroquel is notoriously sedating - especially at low doses and I was one of those people who asked "how is this possible?" Trust me and others the 25mg kicked my butt and I'm on 300mg a day now fine and dandy - just slowwww in the mornings especially if I take it too late at night Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
szoidqxope Posted March 6, 2008 Share Posted March 6, 2008 I suppose it can't be said enough - Seroquel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anelize Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 Seroquel, hands down. Like the previous poster, I attempted to try Abilify, and it was a friggin' nightmare. I take 550mg of seroquel every night, and it holds me throughout the day. If I'm having an exceptionally crap day, I'll take another 50-100mg, and I'm golden. I have had to adjust my dose upward because of the gastric bypass--seroquel absorption is decreased when you only have a small portion of your stomach left. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mghalt Posted March 10, 2008 Author Share Posted March 10, 2008 did the Seroquel help quell Anxiety and Depression too? How did you fight the initial tiredness and how long did it take before the tiredness went away? I tried 50 mg of Seroquel previously and I dropped like a fly for 2 days. lol But I'm willing to give it another try being it helped so many others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
withing Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 It took me about two weeks for the "tiredness" to wear completely off from Seroquel - of course YMMV. It helped my anxiety, but I don't think it helps with depression... I believe it's more for mania. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazynotstupid Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 Well, generally, seroquel has been shown to be helpful for depression in conjunction with an antidepressant. I'm pretty sure. But antipsychotics aren't known for helping with depression by their lonesome selves. It's great for anxiety though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mghalt Posted March 12, 2008 Author Share Posted March 12, 2008 Well I described my symptoms and got put back in Seroquel for a second trial, this time at 12.5 mg instead of 25 or 50 mg because of the sedation... so we start there and work our way up. I'm pleased with the idea and will be glad to get some sleep! I hope this time around we get it right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raining Posted May 7, 2008 Share Posted May 7, 2008 So Seroquel seems to be getting all the votes. What dose are you folks taking them in? As for me, in the long run, Lithium helpped most with agitation, but for immediate effect nothing beats a benzo or Zyprexa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
withing Posted May 7, 2008 Share Posted May 7, 2008 So Seroquel seems to be getting all the votes. What dose are you folks taking them in? As for me, in the long run, Lithium helpped most with agitation, but for immediate effect nothing beats a benzo or Zyprexa. I take 100mg of Seroquel at night. It works for me. I started at 25mg and worked up. I did take 200mg, but that didn't work for me, so we went back down to 100mg. As always YMMV. Lithium sent me into ultra rapid cycling like you would not believe! (I know my second husband was blind-sided, poor thing). Just don't know how something will affect ya until you take it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lachesis Posted May 7, 2008 Share Posted May 7, 2008 Lithium is the best I have experienced. I'm taking it along with Seroqel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serotonin junkie Posted May 7, 2008 Share Posted May 7, 2008 seroquel as well... and when I reeeeeally need something, clonazepam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isis Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 seroquel, yeh.... and now im taking pericyazine - seems to help also Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psychotic State Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 I f--king hate Lithium but it's the only thing that really gets me out of a hellish anger state. I'm on it now for having a few episodes. It really helps with delusional/stupid thinking... & dumb decisions too. I don't know... it's like a Lamictal booster for me during breakthroughs. Seroquel always made me too tired so I wouldn't take it. I'd rather feel a little high still than be falling through the floor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnlyZ Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 Risperdal calms me down pretty well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scatty Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 Risperdal! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anelize Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 Seroquel. I went off it and switched to abilify and went back to seroquel because abilify made everything worse. once i got back on seroquel, it was an "Ahhhhh" moment. Highly recommend it. oh and for some strange reason, the second time around, it has not made me gain wt. in fact, i have lost wt. I could have written this. I, too, tried the evil Abilify,and it just made things muchhhh worse. I went back to Seroquel, and yes...it was an "aaaahhhhhh" moment. Perfect description. I currently take 450mg at bedtime. I can tell when I need to mess with my dose, because the agitation starts creeping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Faustus Posted May 16, 2008 Share Posted May 16, 2008 Benzos for the win! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anelize Posted May 16, 2008 Share Posted May 16, 2008 mqhalt--Seroquel in doses below 200mg a day is notoriously sedating. YMMV, but I thought I'd throw that out there. I *started* at 100mg, and went up from there. Yeah, I was a zombie for about 10 days, but once above 200mg it went away almost overnight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raquin Posted May 16, 2008 Share Posted May 16, 2008 I don't remember how much seroquel I was on. It wasn't much... anyway it knocked me out and I was sleeping for something like 14 hours a day. I also gained weight and it gave me bad pill hangovers. My friend told me I was basically a zombie. I didn't stay on it for long. At one point in time I was prescribed Thorazine. That just made me an idiot, it didn't help with my anxiety or anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
netsavy006 Posted May 19, 2008 Share Posted May 19, 2008 I take Zyprexa Zydis for irritability and agitation. It works great for me @ 5mg dose. It has made me gain weight though, but other then that, I've not had any problems with Zyprexa Zydis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wakko926 Posted May 19, 2008 Share Posted May 19, 2008 funny no one mention Neurontin - which is what I take for anxiety (LOVE IT!) seroquel makes me puke & risperdal put me to sleep (can't get benzos ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gianna Posted May 20, 2008 Share Posted May 20, 2008 Seroquel actually made my agitation and irritability worse...so did other neuroleptics...coming off of them is what helped me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scream_phoenix Posted May 20, 2008 Share Posted May 20, 2008 in my experience seroquel helped me to be less sensitive to stress (the dopamine antagonism maybe?) but alone it made me more aggressive and angry (the serotonin type 2 antagonism?) i really need to take it in a ratio with my ssri to balance out. it helps level out the ssri side effects for me and lets me sleep, but if i take more of it in ratio to my ssri then i'm too droswy and i feel like i get less of the serotonin calming effect from the ssri. i'm only taking 25 mg right now, because i'm only taking 50 mg of zoloft. i don't think it has much of a calming effect at that dose, but its pretty critical for me to be able to fall asleep at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mejeba Posted May 23, 2008 Share Posted May 23, 2008 Clonazepam twice daily and prn and Ativan prn. No side effects. Since starting Wellbutrin (last Nov) and tapering off Lamictal (last few months) I've needed less of the Benzos, but when I stopped my morn. dose of Clonazepam cold, the irritability, agitation, depression and anxiety revved up again and I ended up taking much more at night. Now I'm back to the prescribed doseage and everything's settled down again, and I'm rarely needing extra Clonazepam or Ativan to cope. My doc has been using Epival to target irritability and agitation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
technogiggle Posted May 23, 2008 Share Posted May 23, 2008 klonopin has been my silver bullet for years now. buspar did squat. xanax made me sleepy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiamat Posted August 26, 2008 Share Posted August 26, 2008 Paxil ... Paxil ... Paxil ... I was a total Buddha on it. I felt godlike because nothing could upset me. And fearless. But in retrospect, it did make me more sluggish than I wanted. I didn't have a lot of motivation besides sitting there and feeling good, and was easily distracted and forgetful. I had a lot of spiritual revelations on it though. For me it was total peace and quiet. There were side effects, but I didn't care because I felt so damn good. Even now I am tempted to go back, but I don't want to go through life feeling high and dreamlike all the time. I'm on Gabapentin now. It works also but in a different way; my body is more activated and happy and my mind more focused. The only problem is I can't skip or delay doses like I could on the Paxil and it only seems to work well for 7 hours. I think I'm gonna have to stagger the pills throughout the day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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