dreams in neon
05-06-2009, 08:34 PM
Hi everyone,
On another bipolar message board, someone's pdoc told them Klonopin is a mood stabilizer.
When I did an Internet search, I found out that this is true and is something I never knew.
Then again, when you think about the way this med works, it makes perfect sense.
With this being the case, I'm on 4 mood stabilizers. (Depakote, Risperdal, Topamax and Klonopin)
This just goes to show that you learn something new every day!
On another bipolar message board, someone's pdoc told them Klonopin is a mood stabilizer.
When I did an Internet search, I found out that this is true and is something I never knew.
Then again, when you think about the way this med works, it makes perfect sense.
With this being the case, I'm on 4 mood stabilizers. (Depakote, Risperdal, Topamax and Klonopin)
This just goes to show that you learn something new every day!
Sponsor
BipolarPrincess
05-06-2009, 10:12 PM
Hi everyone,
On another bipolar message board, someone's pdoc told them Klonopin is a mood stabilizer.
When I did an Internet search, I found out that this is true and is something I never knew.
Then again, when you think about the way this med works, it makes perfect sense.
With this being the case, I'm on 4 mood stabilizers. (Depakote, Risperdal, Topamax and Klonopin)
This just goes to show that you learn something new every day!
Hm..Interesting. I was on Klonopin before for anxiety. 1 mg 4x's a day. I have a HIGH tolerance - not sure why. Might have to google that. My therapist I met with today thinks I'm a drug seeker which is BS. I am angry at that. My "mood stablizer" is Neurontin, which doesn't do anything for me.
On another bipolar message board, someone's pdoc told them Klonopin is a mood stabilizer.
When I did an Internet search, I found out that this is true and is something I never knew.
Then again, when you think about the way this med works, it makes perfect sense.
With this being the case, I'm on 4 mood stabilizers. (Depakote, Risperdal, Topamax and Klonopin)
This just goes to show that you learn something new every day!
Hm..Interesting. I was on Klonopin before for anxiety. 1 mg 4x's a day. I have a HIGH tolerance - not sure why. Might have to google that. My therapist I met with today thinks I'm a drug seeker which is BS. I am angry at that. My "mood stablizer" is Neurontin, which doesn't do anything for me.
dreams in neon
05-06-2009, 10:21 PM
Hm..Interesting. I was on Klonopin before for anxiety. 1 mg 4x's a day. I have a HIGH tolerance - not sure why. Might have to google that. My therapist I met with today thinks I'm a drug seeker which is BS. I am angry at that. My "mood stablizer" is Neurontin, which doesn't do anything for me.
You're not alone. Yesterday my pdoc told me I require a much higher dose of meds than alot of people. For example, my Depakote is 1500mg which is on the higher end (maximum dose is 2500mg). My PRN dose of Trazodone is 300mg (maximum dose is 400mg) and my 6mg/day of Risperdal is the most that can be prescribed unless you're IP in which case you can be given up to 16mg.
If Neurontin isn't helping to improve your mood, you might want to think about Lamictal or Lithium. Both of them are excellent for treating depression.
You're not alone. Yesterday my pdoc told me I require a much higher dose of meds than alot of people. For example, my Depakote is 1500mg which is on the higher end (maximum dose is 2500mg). My PRN dose of Trazodone is 300mg (maximum dose is 400mg) and my 6mg/day of Risperdal is the most that can be prescribed unless you're IP in which case you can be given up to 16mg.
If Neurontin isn't helping to improve your mood, you might want to think about Lamictal or Lithium. Both of them are excellent for treating depression.
katlin09
05-06-2009, 10:29 PM
I have a high tolerance to meds also and generally have to take large amounts, some of us are just like that.
I had asked my pdoc about Klonopin being used as a mood stabilizer last week when I saw him, and he said they've been doing studies on that for a couple years now, so it's not a new thing, they just haven't gotten FDA approval to label it as such. He also gave me a new timeframe for taking it, becasue it takes a while to kick in and wasn't making me tirred until 2 or 3 in the morning. So now I take 1 at dinnertime (7ish) and the second at 9 and this seems to work better, when I go to bed I take my Trazadone and I fall asleep after an hour or so.
kat
I had asked my pdoc about Klonopin being used as a mood stabilizer last week when I saw him, and he said they've been doing studies on that for a couple years now, so it's not a new thing, they just haven't gotten FDA approval to label it as such. He also gave me a new timeframe for taking it, becasue it takes a while to kick in and wasn't making me tirred until 2 or 3 in the morning. So now I take 1 at dinnertime (7ish) and the second at 9 and this seems to work better, when I go to bed I take my Trazadone and I fall asleep after an hour or so.
kat
dreams in neon
05-06-2009, 10:32 PM
I have a high tolerance to meds also and generally have to take large amounts, some of us are just like that.
I had asked my pdoc about Klonopin being used as a mood stabilizer last week when I saw him, and he said they've been doing studies on that for a couple years now, so it's not a new thing, they just haven't gotten FDA approval to label it as such. He also gave me a new timeframe for taking it, becasue it takes a while to kick in and wasn't making me tirred until 2 or 3 in the morning. So now I take 1 at dinnertime (7ish) and the second at 9 and this seems to work better, when I go to bed I take my Trazadone and I fall asleep after an hour or so.
kat
When I'm manic (as I am now), Klonopin takes a much longer time to work.
However, when I'm feeling level, it works in about 20 minutes.
I went to the drugstore to pick up my prescription for Klonopin. The prescription says 1 tablet 3-4x/day.
We'll see how well this works in continuing to reduce my mania and improve sleep. If it doesn't help tonight, I'm calling my pdoc and giving him permission to raise my dose to 2mg.
I had asked my pdoc about Klonopin being used as a mood stabilizer last week when I saw him, and he said they've been doing studies on that for a couple years now, so it's not a new thing, they just haven't gotten FDA approval to label it as such. He also gave me a new timeframe for taking it, becasue it takes a while to kick in and wasn't making me tirred until 2 or 3 in the morning. So now I take 1 at dinnertime (7ish) and the second at 9 and this seems to work better, when I go to bed I take my Trazadone and I fall asleep after an hour or so.
kat
When I'm manic (as I am now), Klonopin takes a much longer time to work.
However, when I'm feeling level, it works in about 20 minutes.
I went to the drugstore to pick up my prescription for Klonopin. The prescription says 1 tablet 3-4x/day.
We'll see how well this works in continuing to reduce my mania and improve sleep. If it doesn't help tonight, I'm calling my pdoc and giving him permission to raise my dose to 2mg.
BipolarPrincess
05-07-2009, 12:30 AM
You're not alone. Yesterday my pdoc told me I require a much higher dose of meds than alot of people. For example, my Depakote is 1500mg which is on the higher end (maximum dose is 2500mg). My PRN dose of Trazodone is 300mg (maximum dose is 400mg) and my 6mg/day of Risperdal is the most that can be prescribed unless you're IP in which case you can be given up to 16mg.
If Neurontin isn't helping to improve your mood, you might want to think about Lamictal or Lithium. Both of them are excellent for treating depression.
What about tegretol or depakote? I don't want to be on lithium because they have to always take blood and test levels and thats a pain in the butt I don't need. My one psychiatrist was against Lamictal saying of the awful side effect it could have that's life threatening, and I asked what it was, and he said I'm not going to tell you because I'm not putting you on that. He was THE WORST pdoc I've ever met in my life. And I'm scared of weight gain. I already have weight problems and a slow metabolism. :(
If Neurontin isn't helping to improve your mood, you might want to think about Lamictal or Lithium. Both of them are excellent for treating depression.
What about tegretol or depakote? I don't want to be on lithium because they have to always take blood and test levels and thats a pain in the butt I don't need. My one psychiatrist was against Lamictal saying of the awful side effect it could have that's life threatening, and I asked what it was, and he said I'm not going to tell you because I'm not putting you on that. He was THE WORST pdoc I've ever met in my life. And I'm scared of weight gain. I already have weight problems and a slow metabolism. :(
BipolarPrincess
05-07-2009, 12:34 AM
Oh, and they think I'm a "drug seeker" because I have a high tolerance(and history of abusing marijuana,pain pills and such), and the therapist accused me of it that I went for an intake with today, and said not to fight with the psychiatrist if he wont prescribe me a benzo, and I'm so irritated.
dreams in neon
05-07-2009, 12:46 AM
What about tegretol or depakote? I don't want to be on lithium because they have to always take blood and test levels and thats a pain in the butt I don't need. My one psychiatrist was against Lamictal saying of the awful side effect it could have that's life threatening, and I asked what it was, and he said I'm not going to tell you because I'm not putting you on that. He was THE WORST pdoc I've ever met in my life. And I'm scared of weight gain. I already have weight problems and a slow metabolism. :(
The side effect of Lamictal that your pdoc was referring to is a rash.
Having said that, this side effect is rare. There are many people on Lamictal who have not experienced this side effect, so you don't need to worry.
Depakote and Tegretol both cause weight gain as do all mood stabilizers, antipsychotics and anti-depressants.
The only exceptions are Topamax (which is used as a mood stabilizer off-label for bipolar) and Geodon which is a dual acting mood stabilizer/antipsychotic.
I should warn you that when I started taking Depakote, I gained 30 pounds in one year. I ended up losing all of it after several depressive episodes. I weighed 157 at the time and my GP told me I was pre-diabetic. Once I lost 30 pounds, I dropped down to 127 and continued losing weight due to rapid cycling since I don't eat when I'm manic or depressed. I'm now at a current weight of 114 despite the fact that I'm on Depakote, Prozac and Risperdal which all cause weight gain.
The side effect of Lamictal that your pdoc was referring to is a rash.
Having said that, this side effect is rare. There are many people on Lamictal who have not experienced this side effect, so you don't need to worry.
Depakote and Tegretol both cause weight gain as do all mood stabilizers, antipsychotics and anti-depressants.
The only exceptions are Topamax (which is used as a mood stabilizer off-label for bipolar) and Geodon which is a dual acting mood stabilizer/antipsychotic.
I should warn you that when I started taking Depakote, I gained 30 pounds in one year. I ended up losing all of it after several depressive episodes. I weighed 157 at the time and my GP told me I was pre-diabetic. Once I lost 30 pounds, I dropped down to 127 and continued losing weight due to rapid cycling since I don't eat when I'm manic or depressed. I'm now at a current weight of 114 despite the fact that I'm on Depakote, Prozac and Risperdal which all cause weight gain.
BipolarPrincess
05-07-2009, 01:32 AM
The side effect of Lamictal that your pdoc was referring to is a rash.
Having said that, this side effect is rare. There are many people on Lamictal who have not experienced this side effect, so you don't need to worry.
Depakote and Tegretol both cause weight gain as do all mood stabilizers, antipsychotics and anti-depressants.
The only exceptions are Topamax (which is used as a mood stabilizer off-label for bipolar) and Geodon which is a dual acting mood stabilizer/antipsychotic.
I should warn you that when I started taking Depakote, I gained 30 pounds in one year. I ended up losing all of it after several depressive episodes. I weighed 157 at the time and my GP told me I was pre-diabetic. Once I lost 30 pounds, I dropped down to 127 and continued losing weight due to rapid cycling since I don't eat when I'm manic or depressed. I'm now at a current weight of 114 despite the fact that I'm on Depakote, Prozac and Risperdal which all cause weight gain.
Hmm. I know people on anti-depressants with no weight gain. It effects everyone differently I suppose. I WISH I WAS 114!!!!!!!!!!!! I weigh 173 right now and I'm 5'1. However I carry it well, but it's not healthy. I need to exercise but I don't. I'm so depressed and distraught.
Having said that, this side effect is rare. There are many people on Lamictal who have not experienced this side effect, so you don't need to worry.
Depakote and Tegretol both cause weight gain as do all mood stabilizers, antipsychotics and anti-depressants.
The only exceptions are Topamax (which is used as a mood stabilizer off-label for bipolar) and Geodon which is a dual acting mood stabilizer/antipsychotic.
I should warn you that when I started taking Depakote, I gained 30 pounds in one year. I ended up losing all of it after several depressive episodes. I weighed 157 at the time and my GP told me I was pre-diabetic. Once I lost 30 pounds, I dropped down to 127 and continued losing weight due to rapid cycling since I don't eat when I'm manic or depressed. I'm now at a current weight of 114 despite the fact that I'm on Depakote, Prozac and Risperdal which all cause weight gain.
Hmm. I know people on anti-depressants with no weight gain. It effects everyone differently I suppose. I WISH I WAS 114!!!!!!!!!!!! I weigh 173 right now and I'm 5'1. However I carry it well, but it's not healthy. I need to exercise but I don't. I'm so depressed and distraught.
dreams in neon
05-07-2009, 01:42 AM
Hmm. I know people on anti-depressants with no weight gain. It effects everyone differently I suppose. I WISH I WAS 114!!!!!!!!!!!! I weigh 173 right now and I'm 5'1. However I carry it well, but it's not healthy. I need to exercise but I don't. I'm so depressed and distraught.
I wouldn't weigh 114 if it weren't for my rapid cycling. Without that component to my bipolar, I'd weigh far more than 157.
I wouldn't weigh 114 if it weren't for my rapid cycling. Without that component to my bipolar, I'd weigh far more than 157.