So many ADs to choose from...

[vandeeje]

I'm really not sure if this is the right place so if it fits better somewhere else feel free to move it.

I so unbelievably frustrated when it comes to my meds lately. First the Latuda caused neuropathy. Then they put me on Fanapt and I gain 10 lbs in a week of water weight. And now I'm to Saphris which is good but gives me akathisia that I'm treating with cogentin.

Here's the AD part. I started have hypomanic and mixed episodes on the venlafaxine. I literally got 3 hours of sleep last night. I know my pdoc is going to change my AD tomorrow and I'd like to have some suggestions. Anything that didn't work at all for you? I have tried almost everything on the market.

I also want to talk to him about putting me on an AC like depakote or tegretol so this doesn't keep becoming an issue. I feel really uneasy with my meds being so out of whack, any info would be helpful. I did read some of the stuff on previous threads but I'm hoping to get more info this way.

[gizmo]

I can't see your signature to see what meds you're on/have tried. So sorry if this is general.

There are the SSRI's like Zoloft and lexapro. Then there are SNRI's like Effexor and cymbalta. Then there are tricyclics like amatryptiline. Then there's Wellbutrin, which is kind of a category all it's own. Then there are the generally last-line MAOIs.

As for what works and doesn't, you generally try a couple of different meds from each type to see if one doesn't work in the category (SSRI for example) maybe another will. But then you have to switch to another category and see if something there will work.

It's a frustrating experience to be sure, but you will find a med that works for you. And if that doesn't happen, you start trying old meds again in different configurations and dosages and combos. It took me six years to find my base depakote/Zoloft/risperdal combo that helps keep most of my symptoms at bay.

[midnightman]

I agree with Gizmo's advice. I think it's very difficult to find the right medication cocktail for optimal treatment results, and that it often requires a period of trial and error. It definitely sucks in many ways, but I'd recommend continuing on in your search for the optimal combination. If I were you, I'd try to make a list of all of the AD's you've taken - then write what other meds you were on while taking that specific AD, why you didn't like it / it didn't feel like it was working, etc. After this, look at the classes of AD's you've tried. If all of them are SSRI's, then maybe an SNRI would be helpful. If you've tried both of those, perhaps wellbutrin is worth a try if you tolerate stimulants. There are also, as gizmo mentioned, always tricyclics to fall back on and try, too. Definitely don't give up - maybe you just need to organize your thoughts and past experiences to really try to figure out what you wanna try next?