[Sunshinesworld]

I quit taking my meds a couple months ago and restarted taking 200 mg of lamictal 3 days ago because of bad anxiety. I had quit taking it to lose weight because zyprexa made me gain 60 lbs or so. I have lost about 30 lbs in yhe last couple months. After getting off meds I didn't feel depressed but sooo spacey and anxious on and off. I meet with a new pdoc on Thursday. Risperdal is the only med that works great for spaciness/Excessive daydreaming. So I want to get on it again. But the thing is, every time I take risperdal after not taking it, it gives me hypomania, which is great, sort of. But not good long term. But after the hypomania ends it keeps me stable and normal. All other aps make me gain weight, tired, or anxious. So should I take it again even though it gives me hypomania?

Hi Sunshinesworld. Though I'm happy for you that you lost some weight, I'm sorry you had to learn in a slightly hard way that medications are indeed generally necessary for people with bipolar disorder. Was it not possible for you to convince your doctor to switch from Zyprexa to a more weight friendly medication, instead of quitting meds altogether?

I am a little concerned. Did you just up and start 200 mg of Lamictal on your own? 0 mg to 200 mg? No titrating up? I assume you know that that can be risky with Lamictal. Lamictal, specifically, is generally started at a very low dose and increased gradually to prevent the possibility of the dangerous SJS rash. Please be very observant if you notice any sign of rash. If you do, that must be looked into immediately. Immediately! Did your psychiatrist suggest you get back on Lamictal again? It's very dangerous to play doctor to oneself with prescription medications. Sorry that this sounds like a lecture. I'm only sharing based on the lessons I've learned the hard way in the past. The very hard way!

I hope you will be open to your psychiatrist's medication suggestion(s). If you liked Risperdal, I hope you tell the psychiatrist that, along with your concern about your past history of hypomania while on it.

From my experience, it is possible that your experience with Risperdal will be slightly different a second time around than the first.

[Sunshinesworld]

I did go from 0 to 200 but I don't have a rash so I think I'll be fine. When I first started taking it, the first pdoc I ever had started me right off on 100 and I was fine.

[still_crazy]

hi. there are numerous other antipsychotics out there, some of which do not cause as much weight gain as risperidone.

i take abilify. i wouldn't say its weight neutral, but the weight gain is less of an issue than with risperidone, on average. perphenazine...is an older drug that can calm people down without causing much in the way of weight gain or metabolic abnormalities. if you have good insurance, there's also rexulti, vraylar, latuda...

geodon is a somewhat older 'atypical' that doesn't cause weight gain. not a good idea if you have heart issues.

[~Christina]