Risperidone and Mania

[2crazy]

I've been taking Lamictal for about 7 months, along with a secondary anti-psychotic to after a major mania episode.  I started on Seroquel for about 3 months, and the combination seemed to work well.  I had to D/C the Seroquel  when my insurance changed and it wasn't covered.  Since then I've tried first perphenazine (4 weeks), then thiothixene (six weeks), but they were too sedating and I was having a problem working.   And even sedated I started having more and more warning signs that my mania was returning.   About a week ago, I started taking Risperidone after a two week break to clear out the  thiothixene.  During that two week cleansing, I was getting more and more manic, but still manageable.  Now after a week of Risperidone, I'm completely wide open and out of control.  My question is, has anyone found that Risperidone has exacerbated mania?  I know I was already manic, but it changed pretty dramatically after only two days.   I have an appointment with my PDoc on Thursday, but in the meantime I wondered if anyone had this experience.  

[DezBennett]

I am currently taking Risperdal, Lamictal, Lithium, and Lexapro. I was on Seroquel XR for quite sometime, but switched back to Risperdal because 1) it is a heck of a lot cheaper, and 2) it really worked well for me, even better than Seroquel. I believe in the fact that medications work quite differently for everyone. I personally have not had any issues with my current combination. Usually for me, I go manic during the hot summer months, and I live in Georgia (so it's pretty much summer most of the time). I did feel a tad manic/hypomanic just before I switched to Risperdal but it did quell the impending mania.

[lindahand]

Here on our drug coverage you can apply for a special exemption that will cover medications not normally covered if the psychiatrist says it is needed. May be worth looking into. I am in Canada though and I know our systems are quite different. It seems very strange that risperadone is covered and seroquel is not as they are about the same price. I would perhaps double check and make sure it wasn't an error.

I loved what risperadone did to my brain, but it spiked my prolactin levels so I had to go off of it. I was taking lamotrigine too at the time and didn't find it tipped me high, but I am bipolar 2 so I don't get full blown mania.

[2crazy]

I've been on the Lamictal for about 8 months, and it has worked well in conjunction with something else.  I've tried taking it alone, or not taking it when on something else, but it seems like the combination is the key.  It's just finding what that something else is that's affordable.  My insurance covers this Rx, but it doesn't apply to the Rx program... meaning it applies to my Deductible. (So it might as well be not covered).   I did try talking to AstraZeneca, but didn't get very far.  Seems I don't make enough money to pay outright for the Rx, but I make too much for assistance.  If I can ask, what are you on now, and is it effective?  

[ILADVOCATE]

I had that happen when I took Risperdal in combination with Lamictal but it might have been the Lamictal which isnt as effective on mania as it is on depression but each person responds differently to each medication. If Seroquel was working for you you could try to appeal the coverage denial. Also there is the Patient Assistance Program for people who cannot obtain coverage at all for a specific medication. That would be worth asking about.