Hi and I'm sorry your feeling you've gone backwards recently.
I have rapid cycling bipolar and Adhd but I have had a lot of combinations of medications I have tried, a couple helped me not cycle so often for a time then we found that they were becoming less effective and eventually after trying increases we had to find an alternative combination.
I take lamotrigine for my depressive episodes , this is what I call my staple medication as my combinations rely on this medication to treat my depressive episodess. Like a lot of people with bipolar I can't take antidepressants they make me very ill. I was taking depokote with this but like you we found that it stopped working I just started getting horrendous side effects. I took quetiapine for my mixed state episodes and to try to help my anxiety.( rather than a benzo..) This also worked for a while but then after taking this combination for around 5 years I had to stop depokote and quetiapine as they were no longer helping me infact the side effects were becoming a real issue aswell.
Quetiapine is used to help relieve depressive symptoms in bipolar disorder where I live in the UK, though I wasn't prescribed it for that and for the record it didn't help the depression in my case. Don't give up, if a change is needed go see your doctor ( which you said you were doing, I didn't miss that's. ;-) ) A different combination may be needed.
Keep in touch and let us know how you are doingx
My son on lithium 2100 mg a dayand zyprexa10 mg he has problem with short term memory and focusing on teak or school. He still have some manic behavior. Bezoar like playing with books at home he sign for real state course but can't ute dent. Idontknowifit is the medications or he just still sick
Actually the drowsiness is just a side effect. Antipsychotics control mania just because they can. Anticonvulsants work because they discovered bipolar disorder is a chronic inflammation in the brain that prevents uptake of omega 3 which explains why people with bipolar disorder benefit from taking doses of it.
I'm in the Uk and currently taking Quetiapine, Depakote and Lamotrigine. The Quetiapine for me was prescribed for rage and agitation, I don't feel any anti depressant properties from it, but it has saved my life. Lamotrigine was prescribed 7 weeks ago and I feel a lot better, I am doing things that I didn't think I'd ever feel I could do again. Nobody has ever specified what type of Bp I have, I have symptoms from across the spectrum, I have mixed episodes.
I would definitely get a med review, I have noticed that with the lamotrigine that it probably would need increasing eventually.
I hope you feel better soon!
Interesting. Over here (USA), Seroquel is actually frequently prescribed and ok for bipolar disorder when someone is really manic due to its side effect of making someone drowsy (if not more reasons); I have never had someone who was bipolar II say they were on it. Lamictal is also frequently prescribed despite the fact it is a seizure medication. I was given a reason back when I was on it but I can't recall what it was. I didn't bat a lash at the meds because of that. Perhaps it has changed since I was on both. I know a lot of meds seem to be "searching" for a disorder to treat these days.
something wrong is going on there. i have always envied pts living in the USA or Europe for being more exposed to good healthcare but apparently doctors there are as ignorant as the shoemakers we have here.
quetiapine is the only FDA approved AP for depression. Lamotrigine is also an AC suitable for depression. The only thought i have about them if you can read the brochure of both to see whether there is some sort of interaction between both. Otherwise they must help in depression.
Out of curiosity is your doctor a pdoc or a GP because the easiest thing is to label pts as having BP. This is called la mode du siecle i.e. the new fashion. The no of BP pts is in the rise. How come you are diagnosed at the age of 40 with it, although the majority are dx in late adolescence. What sort of drugs you were taking before the age of 40. Were you only depressed so you took an antidepressant that drove you manic so your doctor informed you that surprisingly you have BP Something is weird here.
Go and consult another one.
Another thing you can reduce your dose of quetiapine but you need to ask your doc first.
I wonder why you are writing the generic names of drugs. I know quetiapine the generic of seroquel appeared lately this year as Astra zeneca doesn't possess the patent anymore but the brand lamictal still exists for lamotrigine. Sometimes the brand name is more potent but usually the generics are cheaper i suppose.
i am sorry, the only thing i can propose is to consult as thatquietgirl said another pdoc
good luck
Thank you for the reply, I will do that, I booked my appt.
I don't know what to tell you other than to go back to another psychiatrist and ask for a med assessment. It usually takes a few years to find a good medicine regimen for psychiatric illnesses, and there are typically many adjustments to dosages and even complete changes in medications you take along the way.
I forgot to add the reason I have not been back to the doctor who medicated me is I no longer have private health insurance.