Question:
What are the safest medications to use if you have been diagnoised being BiPolar?

I have been on a emotional rollercoaster since surgry. Lo and behold I found out I am BiPolar. The meds they tried me on I noticed increased my appetite. I actually had a 8 lb weight gain, tho I dropped it off plus and additional 4 lbs. All this happened the days prior to New Years Eve. I have been diagnoised late in life since I am 48 yrs old...so it seems all these years I somehow managed the chemical imbalance myself. I noticed however I started becoming more manic thus exercising more since being diagnoised. When I was told what the culprit was almost 2 weeks ago I was on the low end. So for those who are BiPolar what meds do not effect or increase the appetite since this is crucial to me after getting this far down the road?    — TerryS (posted on January 11, 2005)

January 10, 2005
Terry, there are several different medications used to treat bipolar disorder. I myself have been put on Symbyax, however, it is causing me to gain some weight and has increased my appetite. My physician told me that if I didn't get the weight back off, we would have to change my medication. Also, I was recently diagnosed with Adult ADHD and from what I'm learning, it is very common for the two disorders to go together. I take Strattera for that.
   — SnowWhiteDove459

January 11, 2005
HOW ABOUT A MOOD STABILIZER? I HAVE BEEN ON OVER 20 DIFFERENT MEDS SINCE BEING DIAGNOSED BIPOLAR. DEPAKOTE HAS WORKED BEST FOR ME. MY SON (ALSO BIPOLAR) TAKES LAMICTAL FOR MOOD STABILIZATION. ANTIDEPRESSANTS AND ANTIPSYCHOTICS MADE ME GAIN WEIGHT. (I GAINED 110 POUNDS ON THE LAST ANTIPSYCHOTIC SO I DONT TAKE THEM ANYMORE) I ALSO TAKE LUVOX AS IM OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE TOO. THE COMBO. OF DEPAKOTE AND LUVOX WORKS WELL FOR ME. GOOD LUCK. LESLIE
   — leslee4567

January 11, 2005
Hi! I understand your problems with the weight gain and it has been a battle with me now being 1 year out on 1-8-05. I have found that Topamax has been VERY helpful with my BiPolar. Ask your Doctor. Good Luck!
   — Kathleen G.

January 11, 2005
I am 21 months post-op and was diagnosed with BiPolar in 1998. None of my medications have affected my weight loss. I'm below my goal weight of 154#, with a total weight loss to-date of 130#, and I'm still losing. My current medications are Wellbutrin, Geodone, Paxil CR, Gabitral and Trazadone.
   — Lorna R.

January 11, 2005
I was diagnosed with Bipolar about 4 years ago. I had WLS 13 months ago. I take lithium as a mood stablizer and either prozac for depression or melirrial for mania when needed. I have not had problems with loosing weight or keeping it off. I have lost 120 lbs to date. I have passed my doscotr's goal weight for me and I am only 12 lbs shy of my goal weight for myself. I do have to do more blood work more often to make sure that I am not becoming toxic on the current dose of lithium as I lose weight but other than that I have had no problems.
   — KittyKatt

January 11, 2005
I'm Bipolar myself and have been on all these medicines that make you gain weight. Then, I told my Psychiatrist no more! Since then, I make sure that none of the medicines I take will increase my appetite. For the past two and half years, I've been taking Lamictal (Mood Stablizer) and Lexapro (Anti-Depressant) They have minimal side effects and with the Lamictal you don't have to have blood work done. These medicines are actually known to decrease your appetite, plus Lamictal is a miracle drug, in my opinion. Anyhow, I hope that helps! Kim
   — Kimberly H.

January 11, 2005
I have "treatment resistant" bipolar. I take 200 mg Lamictal, 20 mg Lexapro, 2 mg Klonopin & 200 mg Provigil. I, too, became manic after surgery (8/25/04). My Lamictal was increased from 100 mg to 200 then. I've been on dozens of different meds but my current regimen is the most effective. Lamictal can be purchased in dissolvable/chewable tablets (25 mg each) and Lexapro comes in liquid form. I am 48 years old and was diagnosed 7 years ago although I've had symptoms my whole life. The meds I take do not affect MY appetite either way. But the thing to remember is that what works for one person won't necessarily work for another. It's pretty much a trial and error process. May God bless you and help you find what you need. Jeanette (8/25/04 Lap RNY) -76 lbs
   — jnetk

January 12, 2005
A big THANKS to all who responded. I at least have an idea as to what to suggest to the Psychiatrist when I go in to talk to him now. Luckily believe it or not the Psyche Dr had the surgery himself so hopefully he will understand why meds that don't increase the appetite are important to me. I am taking the Lexapro but they started me off on that so far. The manic episodes have been so extreme. The mood stabilizer was what I was searching for...and since this is all new to me, I was not certain what it was called. Thanks for all input and advice at least I now have a starting point. Terry
   — TerryS

January 12, 2005
i HAVE BEEN ON SEVERAL MEDICATIONS SINCE BEING DIAGNOSED BIPOLAR. I WAS PUT ON SEVERAL MEDICATIONS AND THEY MADE ME GAIN WEIGHT. IHAVE NOT HAD MY SURGERY AS OF YET, BUT I HAVE FOUND THAT PAXIL MAKES YOU GAIN,TOPAMAX MADE ME SLEEP ALL THE TIME, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE REST THAT I HAVE BEEN ON, BUT WELBUTTRIN XL IS GREAT FOR WEIGHT LOSS AND TO QUIT SMOKING. MY PSYCHIATRIST TOLD ME A LOT OF DOCTORS USE WELBUTTRIN TO HELP THEIR PATIENTS TO QUIT SMOKING. I DID NOT HAVE THAT PROBLEM,THANK GOD, BUT BEING OBESE THAT IS WHAT HAS HELPED ME MOST. I TAKE IT AROUND 3 OR 4 IN THE AFTERNOON AND I DON'T EAT AS MUCH AT NIGHT. I HOPE THIS WILL HELP YOU, THE PSY. KNOWS WHAT WILL MAKE YOU GAIN AND WHAT WILL NOT. YOU JUST HAVE TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO THEM THAT YOU DO NOT WANT ANYTHING THAT WILL MAKE YOU GAIN WEIGHT. GOOD LUCK JUDY MORRIS
   — Judy 52

January 12, 2005
Hi- I noticed people were mentioning Topamax and I just wanted to let you know I just had to get off of tomamax for depression because it should not be taken if you are on a high protein low carb diet and it can cause kidney stones...I was taking topamax for about 3 years and I developed a kidney stone and it wasnt until I was reading "carefully" the leaflet enclosed with this last mailorder refill that these warnings jumped out at me. I had lapband surgery 2 months ago and my new "lifestyle" is high protein (60+ grams) low carb so I ran to my doc and was taken off and put on another med. Just thought I would share. Hope you find the right meds Happy losing Monie
   — simone O.

January 12, 2005
I am bipolar and take Trileptal. It is an anti seizure medication that is used as a mood stabilizer. I also take Paxil for the lows. This med has been very successful in other coutries an is being used more and more here in the States. You may want to ask your doctor about it. It has no side effects. I have not regained any of my weight.
   — esmeraldas7

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