This is like the last thing I am willing to try! I have read that it sometimes works when Celexa is augmented with Welbutrin. Has anyone had sucess with this?

Do you you have a definitive diagnosis of bipolar and if so, what form?

What medications have you tried so far?

Why is this the last medication combo you are willing to try?

I ask these questions merely for clarification so that I can formulate a response :).

Welbutrin as mono therapy (I think this was before my Bipolar II dx)
Lexapro
Effexor
Prozac
Lamictal
Geodon
Seroquel

Currently I am taking 40 mg Celexa, 80 mg Adderall IR, 0.5 Xanax as need up to 3 times a day...and many others that are not mental health related.
The reason I say this is it is because I have gone through all the meds I would take, so that leaves little open...

Welbutrin as mono therapy (I think this was before my Bipolar II dx)
Lexapro
Effexor
Prozac
Lamictal
Geodon
Seroquel

Currently I am taking 40 mg Celexa, 80 mg Adderall IR, 0.5 Xanax as need up to 3 times a day...and many others that are not mental health related.
The reason I say this is it is because I have gone through all the meds I would take, so that leaves little open...These are the medications that you have tried? Or the medications you are currently taking?

I am still confused as to your saying you have "gone through all the meds (you) would take"...what does this mean?

It means I am no going to take any of the SGA's due to weight gain and toher side effects like sedation....
Pretty much side effects dictate that....

Are you referring to antipsychotics?

I personally take 3 5-mg tabs of Abilify a day without any overt sedation, nor any weight gain. A side effect list is only a list of possible side effects, as a rule. I also have bipolar type II.

The purpose of adding certain medications to a bipolar person's regimen is to provide a degree of sedation, in order to control agitation and hypomania. Mild sedation may be necesary for some of us...in fact you are taking a medication well known to cause sedation in certain people...Xanax.

Why did you discontinue the meds you have listed as having tried?

The Xanax is different because I controll when and how much. When the "full prescribing info" is like hundreds of pages (lamictal) I just can't risk it. The harm those meds could cause would GREATLY compromise my sanity, especially a chronic thing like diabetes.

The Xanax is different because I controll when and how much. When the "full prescribing info" is like hundreds of pages (lamictal) I just can't risk it. The harm those meds could cause would GREATLY compromise my sanity, especially a chronic thing like diabetes.Are you saying you have diabetes too? Bipolar is a chronic condition and its progressive as well.

I happen to take Lamictal and so do several other here. Its not about the pages for prescribing info, its about what works.

its about the outcome as well isn't it. No, I do not have diabetes, and could not handle such a disease.

its about the outcome as well isn't it. No, I do not have diabetes, and could not handle such a disease.I don't know what you mean by "outcome" :confused: if the outcome is that you becoms stable isn't that a good thing?

I wonder why you say you cannot handle so many things. I bet you are stronger than you realize :)

i was on celexa 40mg and wellbutrin 300mg and I didn't have a good experience with the wellbutrin...it made me agitated...but then what doesn't. I have heard many people like wellbutrin... good luck

Jenny,

As a very cautious person when it comes to medication, could I offer some input? It sounds like you read the inserts for the meds and become terrified of the drug and then rule it out without a trial. You could be missing a medication that could really help you. Not everyone experiences those side-effects, or they can be mild and tolerable and so on. Note that there are 3 levels of side effects-most common, frequent, and rare.

As a side note, during clinial trials, any illness, reaction, problem, etc is recorded. Example: During the trial for drug ABC to read depression, a woman has a mammogram and cancer is discovered. This would have to be listed. But it was not cause by the trial drug. The FDA requires reporting of anything medical-so if sinusitis, toe fungus, dry skin occurs, it is reported.

So you will see a lot of possible "side effects" on the rare or infrequent list that may or may not be caused by the drug. Then add in that people do not usually get all the side effects and some experience no effects-it becomes impossible to predict if you will or will not have problems with a medication.

What I am trying to say is, don't rule out a drug just because you read the information and it scared you. What you need to look at is the RISK TO BENEFIT RATIO of each medication. I take Ritalin, but cannot take Adderall. I have friends who have bad side effects to Ritalin and take Adderall. Each person's physical make-up is different-and their reactions to a medication cannot be predicted.This is where you discuss your concerns with the doctor and/or pharmacist and make an informed decision about the medication for you and your diagnosis.

This is why the psychiatrist's mantra is start low, end high. Starting with low doses and titrating or increasing the dosage gradually has several purposes.

it lets your body adjust gradually
if you have side effects, they will be less severe and easier to stop the drug
gradually increasing the dosage allows you to get the maximum benefit from the drug at the lowest dose possible. This reduces side-effects.
Read and learn about the medications, but don't be afraid of a trial of a medication. Your doctor can tell you what to do if you have severe, negative side-effects. You approach right now could actually prevent you from finding a good effective medication for you and you could end up suffering more from your physical/mental health problems than is necessary.

Remember, suicide is a side-effect of untreated depression-as is a lot of emotional pain to you and your loved ones. That is why these drugs were researched and developed-to help.

Take care of yourself and try to set your fears aside so you can find the meds that work best for you. Hoping all works out for you. Without certain meds and surgeries, I would be dead, so there is reason to carefully consider trying needed medications.

VI

i was on celexa 40mg and wellbutrin 300mg and I didn't have a good experience with the wellbutrin...it made me agitated...but then what doesn't. I have heard many people like wellbutrin... good luck
Nala,

Like CF, I am Bipolar II. I tried Wellbutrin before I had my Dx of bipolar and it made me agitated, hostile and increased my anxiety. I also take xanax.

I started Lamictal in late March and finally titrated up to the dose that seems to work w/fewest side effects, 150 mg.

I like the effect of the Lamictal, I had a slight headache for a day or so when I would increase the dose. For me, the only side effect that is a problem -- is that it is making my ADHD (inattentive type) worse. I am more absent minded than ever, and I have always been absent minded. I am going to the psychiatrist tomorrow to add a stim of some kind. We tried Strattera, but it was not for me.

I have been diagnosed as "depressed" for about 15 years. I have taken zoloft, Paxil, Effexor, Wellbutrin, and mayby some I can't remember... Most of them caused some kind of mania, and none of them helped my depression. I liked zoloft the best, and probably took that the longest. Paxil in particular led to weight gain, and the Effexor and Wellbutrin were just...awful!!!

So I like how I feel on Lamictal. I still have little ups and downs, BUT I find that I feel less "overwhelmed." That has been a bad bad problem for the last 10 years or so. I can't start anything, because I don't know what to start or where to start or which of the 100 things on the to-do list is most important, so I end up avoiding most everything. Especially at home. I function at work pretty well most of the time.

The other thing I notice about being on Lamictal, is that before, I told my neuropsychologist that I wasn't suicidal, but didn't really care of I lived or died. I definitely feel like I want to live, and my depression has finally lifted.

With minor setbacks due to emotionally charged situations. Still learning who I am without antidepressants and with a mood stabilizer.

I have only been on the 150 mg of Lamictal for a few weeks, so everything is kind of new. The effects are very subtle, and they kind of sneak up on me. I find myself surprised to feel happy and excited sometimes about a little thing, which I haven't felt for years.

Two things have made a huge difference-- I found a wonderful doctor who finally diagnosed all my "stuff" BPII, ADHD, etc. AND I found this forum, which has been a wonderful resource. People here, especially the other bipolar people have been supportive and full of information and really supportive!!!

If you already have the diagnosis of bipolar, then you are on the right path. I personally have decided to completely avoid antidepressants and stick with the Lamictal. Otherwise, I only take xanax, .5 once a day at night and I take thyroid meds for my thyroid.

I've never taken Geodon or Seroquel. How have those worked for you? I did try Topomax (sp?) once and it made me stupid. (er)?? :rolleyes:

Tell us more about yourself, and also tell us what your goals are for "feeling better." Welcome to the bipolar section!! :) :p ;)

Incidentally, regarding the use of your benzodiazapines PRN...where did you get the idea that APs cannot also be taken PRN? My daughter has taken Risperdal PRN...I know others here who do the same, or take other AP's PRN.

Untreated bipolar presents a risk to your sanity as surely as I am sitting here typing, too. Full-blown mania can result in psychotic episodes, and as somebody who supports a member here with bipolar type I? I am willing to bet that he prefers his meds and his hard-fought-for stability over psychotic episodes any day.

Nala,

Like CF, I am Bipolar II. I tried Wellbutrin before I had my Dx of bipolar and it made me agitated, hostile and increased my anxiety. I also take xanax.

I started Lamictal in late March and finally titrated up to the dose that seems to work w/fewest side effects, 150 mg.

I like the effect of the Lamictal, I had a slight headache for a day or so when I would increase the dose. For me, the only side effect that is a problem -- is that it is making my ADHD (inattentive type) worse. I am more absent minded than ever, and I have always been absent minded. I am going to the psychiatrist tomorrow to add a stim of some kind. We tried Strattera, but it was not for me.

I have been diagnosed as "depressed" for about 15 years. I have taken zoloft, Paxil, Effexor, Wellbutrin, and mayby some I can't remember... Most of them caused some kind of mania, and none of them helped my depression. I liked zoloft the best, and probably took that the longest. Paxil in particular led to weight gain, and the Effexor and Wellbutrin were just...awful!!!

So I like how I feel on Lamictal. I still have little ups and downs, BUT I find that I feel less "overwhelmed." That has been a bad bad problem for the last 10 years or so. I can't start anything, because I don't know what to start or where to start or which of the 100 things on the to-do list is most important, so I end up avoiding most everything. Especially at home. I function at work pretty well most of the time.

The other thing I notice about being on Lamictal, is that before, I told my neuropsychologist that I wasn't suicidal, but didn't really care of I lived or died. I definitely feel like I want to live, and my depression has finally lifted.

With minor setbacks due to emotionally charged situations. Still learning who I am without antidepressants and with a mood stabilizer.

I have only been on the 150 mg of Lamictal for a few weeks, so everything is kind of new. The effects are very subtle, and they kind of sneak up on me. I find myself surprised to feel happy and excited sometimes about a little thing, which I haven't felt for years.

Two things have made a huge difference-- I found a wonderful doctor who finally diagnosed all my "stuff" BPII, ADHD, etc. AND I found this forum, which has been a wonderful resource. People here, especially the other bipolar people have been supportive and full of information and really supportive!!!

If you already have the diagnosis of bipolar, then you are on the right path. I personally have decided to completely avoid antidepressants and stick with the Lamictal. Otherwise, I only take xanax, .5 once a day at night and I take thyroid meds for my thyroid.

I've never taken Geodon or Seroquel. How have those worked for you? I did try Topomax (sp?) once and it made me stupid. (er)?? :rolleyes:

Tell us more about yourself, and also tell us what your goals are for "feeling better." Welcome to the bipolar section!! :) :p ;)
thanks for your post...i have been dx with just about everything and been on a lot of different stuff. Just recently though I was dx with ADD and my NEW and much better doc tried addreall which worked great at first, but then I got agitated again...we have been trying different doses and concerta and just recently tried celexa (which I was on before) with adderall which has worked better than I thought it would...it seems to lesson the agitation I get when the adderall is not being effective??? it is strange...i go see my doc on thurs...we will go from there i guess...it gets so frustrating sometimes trying to figure out what the best med/dose will be?!?!? :mad: thanks for your support and input :D

I did try Topomax (sp?) once and it made me stupid. (er)?? :rolleyes::D Dopomax...Stupomax...Dumb-to-the-MAX! I couldn't take Topomax, either. Trileptal gave me booming and unrelenting headaches. I do not even want to remember the Great Gabitril Fiasco of 2006!

Sigh...finding the right medications through trial and error can be rough? But when you find the right meds, its worth all that struggle. :)