MellowYellow Posted February 5, 2006 Share Posted February 5, 2006 I think it's getting worse for me because I'm getting a little dementia from the meds and the bipolar at age 51. I take Seroquel at night only. My clonezepam works very well, but only for a couple of hours. I'm looking for a med that will act pro-actively, and keep me from getting angry too quickly. What has been your experience with meds for agitation? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loon-A-TiK Posted February 5, 2006 Share Posted February 5, 2006 Speaking from a lot of experience with psych drugs and BP1 (20 years of DX) Why are you looking for an Atypical to do that? I personally think this class is way over-prescribed for everything from insomnia to a hang nail. They are very, very heavy drugs, as I have learned from taking EACH of them, and are not all they're marketed/cracked up to be. Personally, I'd talk to your pdoc about SSRI drugs. Really. They may seem old-fashioned but help with so many things. My pdoc likes me being on a stabilization cocktail of Abilify (grumble), Wellbutrin, and Lamictal, along with Klonopin prn. Of all the Atypicals, I find that Abilify is the most tolerable and most effective FOR ME. Risperdal made me lactate (I'm a 27 year old woman), Zyprexa made me gain 20 lbs (and join Weight Watchers and a gym), Seroquel made me literally a walking zombie, and Clozirl (sp?) was way too tough to maintain with all the tests and shit. You may want to try a combo to keep the BP stable while you try an SSRI. Paxil was good for me for years until it became a knife in my back. Anyway, end of rant. Look into Paxil (unlikely to cause mania) or another SSRI. --------loon-------- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sensation Posted February 7, 2006 Share Posted February 7, 2006 Zyprexa keeps me from lashing out at people all day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MellowYellow Posted February 7, 2006 Author Share Posted February 7, 2006 Speaking from a lot of experience with psych drugs and BP1 (20 years of DX) Why are you looking for an Atypical to do that? I personally think this class is way over-prescribed for everything from insomnia to a hang nail. They are very, very heavy drugs, as I have learned from taking EACH of them, and are not all they're marketed/cracked up to be. Personally, I'd talk to your pdoc about SSRI drugs. Really. They may seem old-fashioned but help with so many things. My pdoc likes me being on a stabilization cocktail of Abilify (grumble), Wellbutrin, and Lamictal, along with Klonopin prn. Thanks, I am on 50 mg Zoloft and it's the first anti-depressant that's worked on me in years. I'm thinking I actually need 100 mgs, but it makes my mouth so dry that I'm terrified of cavities from it (my dentist warned me). What else do you think SSRIs help with? I'm curious. It does make me a little bit less grumpy, but I still need Klonopin and that only lasts 4 hours. Not long enough. I agree that this class is way overprescribed. I take Seroquel for sleep only and it's like killing an ant with a bulldozer. But nothing else works on me. I'm sick of sleeping my mornings away on this med, too. I've heard stories of Ablify making people hypomanic or agitated. That would probably happen to me, because Lamictil did it to me. Thanks, I'd like to hear more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batou Posted February 7, 2006 Share Posted February 7, 2006 Trileptal helped me with rage and anger, not so much agitation. But like the atypicals, the ACs are also powerful drugs and the decision to add an AC to your cocktail needs to be discussed and evaluated with your pdoc. I took a small dose of Trileptal 150-300mg. As I have become more stable the Trileptal is no longer part of my cocktail. I also take Lamictal. Trilpetal was not activating for me but neither is Lamictal. Also, many of the ACs can have side effects on the teeth and gums, not necessarily for the same reason the SSRIs do, but still something to be aware of. I take Seroquel at night and sleep too soundly, I would not be able to wake up if the house was burning down around me, and it has made me into a daytime zombie. I still need klonopin twice a day. Abilify was activating for me, too activating. But as always, YMMV. Talk things over with your pdoc and let us knwo if you find something that works. Erika Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MellowYellow Posted February 7, 2006 Author Share Posted February 7, 2006 I take Seroquel at night and sleep too soundly, I would not be able to wake up if the house was burning down around me, and it has made me into a daytime zombie. I still need klonopin twice a day. Abilify was activating for me, too activating. But as always, YMMV. Talk things over with your pdoc and let us knwo if you find something that works. Erika <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I am in the middle of moving to California right now, so there has to be a doctor change. I know what you mean about Seroquel and sleeping too soundly. Although last night I only took 50 mg, and felt less rested, but I woke up an hour or two earlier. My goal is to find the right dose of Seroquel so that I can wake up at a normal hour, like 8 am. Does "activating" mean irritable? Hypomanic? Hyper? Do you get extra irritable when you are sick, like with a cold? I do. More than the average person. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackCat Posted February 8, 2006 Share Posted February 8, 2006 Mellow, I can't speak for Erika, but "activating", to me, is yes, being hyper, agitated, or angry and i get very impatient, can't sleep. Liable to say anything...just like my mania..maybe not quite as bad. I'm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batou Posted February 8, 2006 Share Posted February 8, 2006 I am in the middle of moving to California right now, so there has to be a doctor change. I know what you mean about Seroquel and sleeping too soundly. Although last night I only took 50 mg, and felt less rested, but I woke up an hour or two earlier. My goal is to find the right dose of Seroquel so that I can wake up at a normal hour, like 8 am. Does "activating" mean irritable? Hypomanic? Hyper? Do you get extra irritable when you are sick, like with a cold? I do. More than the average person. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Seroquel seems so odd, in that many people say it is more sedating at lower doses and less sedating at higher doses. Drowsiness is a side effect that many peoople say they get used to at higher doses of Seroquel but for me 50mg or 400mg it doesn't matter I am still a zombie. And I have taken a dose of 400mg long enough for the side effect to wear off but it never has. Activating to me means getting hypomanic, but disphoric, so all the nasty stuff, irritability, physical agitation -- not able to sit still, want to crawl out of my skin feeling --, and racing thoughts, unpleasant thoughts. Umm... I don't know if when I am sick I am more irritable. I guess I would have to ask my SO. But my SO is male and he fits the male stereotype when he gets sick, whiny, irritable, etc. Good Luck with your move. Erika Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whatsgoingon Posted February 9, 2006 Share Posted February 9, 2006 I found that with Seroquel, at each dose the sleepiness would wear off, and then I'd up the dose, get the sleepy side effect for a bit, and then it'd wear off again. Strange. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit37 Posted February 9, 2006 Share Posted February 9, 2006 What has been your experience with meds for agitation? I've been much calmer with the cocktail listed below. I don't exactly know what's responsible, since I'm going through constant changes at the moment. Non-meds, I'm thinking that hermiting in a remote cabin in Vermont would do the trick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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