Neverly Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Hi. Background-Diagnosed with progressively worse forms of depression since 2000. Current Diagnosis-Bipolar 2 Current Meds-Latuda 60mg, Klonipin 2mg, Concerta 54mg, Wellbutrin XL 300mg My Current Situation-went back on Lexapro for a month in June. Worked ok but caused major sex issues and being that I remarried in January and my husband already thinks I'm lacking something in bed, it had to go. Started with 150mg Wellbutrin in July and felt so bad (depression) that I called the dr and they upped the dosage early to 300. 300 makes me feel ok...for about four hours. After that I'm a varying form of a train wreck for the rest of the day. It honestly runs out of my system like Ritalin out of a kid. My dr wants to try some newer med but I am already WITH insurance paying out the ass for the Latuda. I actually miss my "manic" episodes because I am never happy. Additional Info-Two sons and a stepson ALL with ADHD and my oldest son also takes Zoloft for Mood Disorder NOS. My husband's first wife committed suicide with a healthy handful of Zanax and painkillers. I am positive he's depressed too but he refuses to take anything which doesn't help. I've been on almost every one of the popular antidepressants. Most of them helped-for a while and then they quit working. I go back to the dr in about 2 weeks IF I can make it that long. Any suggestions that don't include secretly drugging my husband or sending all of my children to boarding school? In other words I'm looking for med help... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoenix_Rising Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 I have had good luck with AAPs (atypical antipsychotics) like Latuda. Right now I take Zyprexa and Prozac (along with a host of other meds). I have also found stimulants to be very helpful. You may just need to try some different types of drugs in these classes. Zyprexa did not affect my sex life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neverly Posted August 7, 2014 Author Share Posted August 7, 2014 I have not tried Zyprexa-thanks for the advice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revan Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 (edited) Mood stabalizers are the most helpful for me. With a few exceptions most APs and antidepressants just cause emotional numbing. Since we are mentioning AP's what about risperdal? I liked that one, but my prolactin got too high and was gaining 2lbs a week while eating the same. I kind of sound like you. My pdoc is considering adderall or amphetamine salts to augment for depression/energy/motivation. I might give the risperidone another try myself ... just in much lower doses than before. I also agree that the zyprexa can help. Depakote can also squash mania (if that's a main issue) like nothing else. PS. Have you tried remeron? That did precisely the opposite of the lower sex drive thing the SSRI's do. 30mg at night got me through some rough times. Closest thing to a "happy pill" I have been on so far. Edited August 7, 2014 by Revan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt07 Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 I am not bipolar, but my magic cocktail is always some form of antidepressant + anticonvulsant + antipsychotic. Tegretol has been a lifesaver for me and is the backbone of my cocktail. I literally am here because of it. It destroys suicidal thoughts and keeps me from getting too depressed. Abilify has turned a light on in my brain and has pulled me up out of the depths of depression. I also liked Risperdal, but it didn't work the same for me the second time around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neverly Posted August 7, 2014 Author Share Posted August 7, 2014 Thanks to all! I have been on Risperdal before and it mainly made me sleepy. I also need to avoid the weight gainers as I am 20lbs overweight. I'm aware of some of the issues with generic Wellbutrin but to be honest my insurance sucks and I can only imagine the price for a name brand where generic is available. I may almost be to the point where I would spend the extra money though. I need to get better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt07 Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Thanks to all! I have been on Risperdal before and it mainly made me sleepy. I also need to avoid the weight gainers as I am 20lbs overweight. I'm aware of some of the issues with generic Wellbutrin but to be honest my insurance sucks and I can only imagine the price for a name brand where generic is available. I may almost be to the point where I would spend the extra money though. I need to get better. I'm sorry that I don't have the information as I haven't taken Wellbutrin lately, but I believe the problem is only with certain generics. You might be able to request a "good" generic from your pharmacy. I am able to request a certain generic lamotrigine from my pharmacy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissaw72 Posted August 8, 2014 Share Posted August 8, 2014 Were you on the fast-acting Wellbutrin? If so I can see how it would wear off. Wellbutrin SR is sustained release, so it keeps a steady level in your system. Would that maybe help, enough to ask pdoc about? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lysergia Posted August 8, 2014 Share Posted August 8, 2014 i was about to make a similar suggestion about the wellbutrin - in the past, i split dosages in the morning and afternoon so i could avoid that "crash". the extended release version works better for me, and it is true that some generics are better than others. brand name is my preference, but the Mylan version has been pretty good to me. the Biovail (sp? can't remember) formulation didn't work for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtac Posted August 8, 2014 Share Posted August 8, 2014 There's always lithium. I avoided it for years due to the possible side effects + blood work and went through every major AAP except zyprexa without success. I've only been on it for less than 3 months, and it's been the most effective drug yet. No weight gain, although the PI sheet says weight gain is common (low, like 5lbs maybe?). Lithium is also dirt-cheap. My pdoc said wellbutrin XL takes about 4-6 weeks to become optimally effective, so you may want to give it a bit more time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
San Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 Depression blows, I'm sorry you're dealing with it right now. Give the Wellbutrin some more time, and like others have said, see if you can get the non-generic version. Have you ever tried a mood stabilizer like Lamictal? I know AAP's can act as mood stabilizers, (I take Risperdal Consta, it stabilizes my mood, for example) but Lamictal is one of the first line treatments for BP2. A lot of people here take it, and the titration up sucks, but it can be really good once you hit the therapeutic dose. Something to discuss with your doctor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcjimjam Posted August 10, 2014 Share Posted August 10, 2014 Have you tried lithium? It is great for me. Mood is very stable and antidepressants actually work when I take them with lithium. No side effects except a mild tremor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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