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Lithium, Abilify, Geodon, Lamictal??? Thoughts please.
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<blockquote data-quote="susiestar" data-source="post: 363644" data-attributes="member: 1233"><p>Every person reacts differently to every medication. I had no problem with having Wiz try lithium. While it does have substantial side effects that are possible, it is also the medication that is effective on the most patients with bipolar according to several studies our psychiatrist and pharmacist gave us (about 8 yrs ago). the side effects are very well known so they are easy to spot. Newer medications are not as well known. There is a greater chance that some so far unknown side effect will show up and be dangerous as you use the newer medications. For us it was a moot point because no mood stabilizer ever made a difference wtih my difficult child. from what I have read Lithium is still considered the gold standard for bipolar treatment.</p><p></p><p>I am sorry the medications are not working. It can take 6 weeks to see results from depakote, but if he cannot tolerate it then it doesn't matter.</p><p></p><p>Lamictal is well tolerated by many and seems to be helpful more for depression than mania. Or so my psychiatrists have told me in the past. </p><p></p><p>The only way to really know what will and won't work is to keep trying. Make one medication change at a time. Period. Otherwise you have no way of knowing which change is doing what. Docs do not like to move this slowly. Sometimes you have to insist. Push the doctor to start with the lowest possible dose. If you start low and increase slowly you have a much better chance of being able to adjust to side effects with the fewest problems. </p><p></p><p>You have to follow your instincts when you evaluate whether a medication is worth staying on. If you think the side effects will pass, they very well might. If your gut is saying no way, then you must push for change. </p><p></p><p>NEVER forget that the docs and therapists know the disorders and medications. YOU know the child. You spend every minute of the day being aware on some level of what is going on with your kids. You are there to see what is and isn't happening. Docs see them for 10 mins every few weeks or months, tdocs for maybe an hour a week. None of the "experts" really knows your kid well. They don't know if your child's temp goes down if he gets a virus, or if he smells different when he is getting sick, or any of the myraid little things that you monitor with-o even knowing you are doing it to see if your child is doing well or not. Don't ever let the docs push you into something you feel is just wrong, or into staying on a medication you know is hurting more than helping.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="susiestar, post: 363644, member: 1233"] Every person reacts differently to every medication. I had no problem with having Wiz try lithium. While it does have substantial side effects that are possible, it is also the medication that is effective on the most patients with bipolar according to several studies our psychiatrist and pharmacist gave us (about 8 yrs ago). the side effects are very well known so they are easy to spot. Newer medications are not as well known. There is a greater chance that some so far unknown side effect will show up and be dangerous as you use the newer medications. For us it was a moot point because no mood stabilizer ever made a difference wtih my difficult child. from what I have read Lithium is still considered the gold standard for bipolar treatment. I am sorry the medications are not working. It can take 6 weeks to see results from depakote, but if he cannot tolerate it then it doesn't matter. Lamictal is well tolerated by many and seems to be helpful more for depression than mania. Or so my psychiatrists have told me in the past. The only way to really know what will and won't work is to keep trying. Make one medication change at a time. Period. Otherwise you have no way of knowing which change is doing what. Docs do not like to move this slowly. Sometimes you have to insist. Push the doctor to start with the lowest possible dose. If you start low and increase slowly you have a much better chance of being able to adjust to side effects with the fewest problems. You have to follow your instincts when you evaluate whether a medication is worth staying on. If you think the side effects will pass, they very well might. If your gut is saying no way, then you must push for change. NEVER forget that the docs and therapists know the disorders and medications. YOU know the child. You spend every minute of the day being aware on some level of what is going on with your kids. You are there to see what is and isn't happening. Docs see them for 10 mins every few weeks or months, tdocs for maybe an hour a week. None of the "experts" really knows your kid well. They don't know if your child's temp goes down if he gets a virus, or if he smells different when he is getting sick, or any of the myraid little things that you monitor with-o even knowing you are doing it to see if your child is doing well or not. Don't ever let the docs push you into something you feel is just wrong, or into staying on a medication you know is hurting more than helping. [/QUOTE]
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