jarn Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 And are hopefully weight-neutral. Invega is not cutting it as a mood stabilizer, though it does my psychotic features just fine. Am now on too low a dose of Seroquel for mood stabilization (at 200mg right now - it works for me at 800mg, but I'm not going back onto it). Geodon has too many negative side effects for me. Since I'm on Invega, I wasn't going to bother with Risperdal. I've heard Abilify isn't very good with mood. I also am overweight and trying to lose weight - I HAVE to lose it. My psychopharm prefers that I be on one med, ideally (currently on 3). I see him next Monday. I would prefer not to switch meds, though if I don't, I want a mood stabilizer other than Lyrica. So no matter what, I think I am looking at some form of med switch. Sigh. But without a mood stabilizer I have been depressed on the Invega. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SashaSue Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 Abilify is pretty good for depression, but not great for a lot of people for overall mood stabilization. Zyprexa is maybe your best bet at this point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sorrel Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 I agree, Zyprexa would be the best for what you're looking for, except for the weight thing. (Can't have it all!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steves Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 i agree zyprexa or abilify although abilify is a bit activating . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jarn Posted November 24, 2009 Author Share Posted November 24, 2009 I don't think I will take Zyprexa - I've heard the weight gain is like 90%, and that's not acceptable to me. I can't have it, I'm already overweight. Sigh.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnneMarie Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 Generally, the AAPs are the antipsychotics with mood stabilizing powers. You've already named all except for the latest releases. Given the meds you've ruled out, your best bet may be to add Lithium or a stabilizing anticonvulsant (Depakote, Tegretol, Trileptal, etc). Then you might be able to take lower doses of it and an AAP or loose the AAP altogether, maybe. The rationale is that if you are stable, you should not have psychotic symptoms since those are part of an episode. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizmo Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 Don't cut out zyprexa before you try it first. You really don't know if you are a weight-gainer or not on it until you try. I've been on it since February, and I've gained a couple of pounds during months 4-5, and then have been slowly losing them since. All told, I've gained about 8 pounds, but like I said, I'm slowly and steadily losing it. To be honest with you, I probably wouldn't have gained the weight if I didn't have an insatiable urge for bacon sandwiches every day, lol. And honestly, 8 pounds for 9 months of sanity is a pretty even trade in my book. Also, I just started taking the zyprexa zydis, and it really does help the appetite issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jarn Posted November 24, 2009 Author Share Posted November 24, 2009 Thanks guys. I really am terrified of the weight gain w/Zyprexa - I need to lose weight, derailing that process would be very bad for me. Stacia, I have been on lithium (and lamotrigine) before - by itself, lithium did not work as a mood stabilizer, though it might in conjunction w/another med. Worth asking about, especially if they put me on synthroid right off the bat this time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
netsavy006 Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 I've taken Zyprexa for mood stabilization and it works pretty well. Not everyone gains weight on that medication. I was on 15mg @ bedtime. I did have some restlessness but that was it in terms of the Zyprexa side effects for me. Don't knock it till you try it. It may work very well for you. I wish you the best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
remedy48 Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 Zyprexa is definitly a good mood stabilizer in your case but this med is known to cause serious weight gain. And I know you said you are trying to loose weight. Abilify is good to especially for depression. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jarn Posted November 25, 2009 Author Share Posted November 25, 2009 Thanks. I will talk to my doctor. The problem is I'm an endurance athlete and the extra weight I am already carrying is already a big problem, so more is a disaster. I'm having some mild breakthrough paranoia, so we'll see what he says. Depression normally is not an issue for me - literally just since I started taking the Invega, so maybe now I'm thinking it makes me depressed - don't know if that's a side effect or not. Huh. I am wondering about Invega (up to 9mg from 6mg for the breakthrough stuff????) + lithium, and hoping it works as a mood stabilizer this time. I'm sort of torn. I don't want to change meds, AGAIN. This year has been a lot of med changes, sheesh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
remedy48 Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 Well maybe invega up to 9mg would be a benefit. It sounds like its doing something good for you. Lithium is good too to help with any mood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 Talk to your doc about the zydis formulation of zyprexa. It really is better for a lot of folks in the weight gain department. It's hard to say FOR SURE how any particular AAp is going to impact your mood.... The individual responses really do vary quite a bit. What is perfect for one person may be a complete train wreck for others. Abilify is pretty split down the middle with some folks finding it helpful, and others not. So, it may be the time (as much as you hate it, and I don't blame you) for some judicious experimenting. Keep a mood and side effects journal, so that you know what's what, while you are doing so. Good luck Anna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jarn Posted November 25, 2009 Author Share Posted November 25, 2009 Thanks. I wonder if the Zydis is available in Canada - well, I'll see what the doc says about switching. But I am pretty sure that the Invega is causing the depression, I've tended to the other pole for a few years until exactly the time I started taking the Invega. Too coincidental. Journalling! Yikes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ehygon Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 jarn - i live in canada as well. I checked the health canada website, it says zydis is available. 5,10,15,20mg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jarn Posted November 26, 2009 Author Share Posted November 26, 2009 Thanks Ehygon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lluvia_z Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 jarn, i have had tremendous good luck with zydis and the small amount of weight gain has been worth the self confidence I feel in myself now in terms of my stability and resilience. The weight gain doesn't happen overnight, the trick is you have to follow a very restrictive diet, for example, a diet which would cause most normal people to lose weight would be weight-neutral with zyprexa. so you have to FILL your kitchen with salad, fruits, nonfat yogurts, and such for when you get the munchies. If you're an athlete, then burning more calories than youre taking in should not be too much problem. At any rate, I have found zyprexa to be worth the hassle. --lluv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jarn Posted November 30, 2009 Author Share Posted November 30, 2009 Thanks lluv! I saw my psychopharmacologist today and I'm staying on Invega and Lyrica, going off Seroquel, and going on Lamotrigine for mood stabilization/to counteract the depressive side effect of Invega. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
netsavy006 Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 Thanks lluv! I saw my psychopharmacologist today and I'm staying on Invega and Lyrica, going off Seroquel, and going on Lamotrigine for mood stabilization/to counteract the depressive side effect of Invega. Best of luck with the change. Hope it all works out for you... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jarn Posted December 2, 2009 Author Share Posted December 2, 2009 Thanks. We had a discussion about which route to take, but this seemed best. We know the Invega works well for my ideas of reference etc, and that's important. ....hopefully this will be weight-neutral! So I can keep losing! I'm already feeling a bit of nausea. Possibly from stopping the Seroquel though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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