New Manic/Mood Stabilizing Medication? - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

princessloki · 12-21-2006, 01:39 AM

Hello,
I dont know about the rest of you here, but whenever I'm put on a new anti-manic medication it completely wipes me out...I go into depression very very easily, tired all the time, absolutely useless. I heard about this new medication called ABILIFY - aripiprazole, looks good, does anyone have any experience with it? Know more about it?

cstep · 12-21-2006, 01:53 AM

No-I currently take depakote-have you tried that?

tattoogirl · 12-21-2006, 05:14 AM

MY sister takes abilify with lamictal, she loves it! No sexual side effects which she had for many years on a slew of medications. I am on lamictal and love it. It took a good month in severe depression and I was very lethargic but I am finally up to 100mg and the side effects are starting to wane. The medicine will be slowly uped to about 300mg, I am keeping my fingers crossed. I didn't find depakote very helpful to me, then again I think I really didn't give it a chance to build up in my system. None of these meds are perfect but I am feeling alot better and any of the side effects are worth it at the moment and they seem to be getting better. Good luck.
Bella

tsohl · 12-21-2006, 06:44 AM

My 25-year old son likes lamictal. It has almost no side effects for him. Abilify was the one drug he took himself off of prior to his next appt with his pdoc. It made him feel like he was about to jump out of his skin and he just couldn't stand it. All the pdocs seem very enchanted with it and are prescribing it a lot these days and many seem to do well on it. Guess you won't know til you try!! Good luck.

cstep · 12-21-2006, 08:13 AM

depakote does take awhile to build up in your system-about a month, it was shorter for me, but I think it's because I'm skinny and respond to and rx's I take rather quickly-I currently take 1000mg's a day. The best thing about depakote for me is there are no side effects-none! That doesn't meen you won't have any. Every bipolar patient is different-all the time since our moods can change so easily, just keep trying and you'll find the right one-give each medicine you take it's chance to work-then when it doesn't move on to the next. Good luck honey