I have bipolar is there a better medication that is cheaper other than depikote ?

Question

Does lamictal have side effects- ?

How much does a typical prescription cost I get so worried because my depikote prescription is almost 120.00 a month and allot of times I find myself taking only half the dosage to save money

Answer 1

You have to understand that not all medications work for all patients. What works for me, may not work for you, and so forth. Also changes to the treatment plan may be needed at various times during the course of bipolar disorder to manage the illness most effectively. A psychiatrist should guide any changes in type or dose of medication. Be sure to tell the psychiatrist about all other prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, or natural supplements you may be taking. This is important because certain medications and supplements taken together may cause adverse reactions. As for the prices, it all varies on he type of insurance you have, or if you quqlify for assistance through the pharmacudical manufactuers.


* Lithium, the first mood-stabilizing medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of mania, is often very effective in controlling mania and preventing the recurrence of both manic and depressive episodes.

* Anticonvulsant medications, such as valproate (Depakote®) or carbamazepine (Tegretol®), also can have mood-stabilizing effects and may be especially useful for difficult-to-treat bipolar episodes. Valproate was FDA-approved in 1995 for treatment of mania.

* Newer anticonvulsant medications, including lamotrigine (Lamictal®), gabapentin (Neurontin®), and topiramate (Topamax®), are being studied to determine how well they work in stabilizing mood cycles.

Anticonvulsant medications may be combined with lithium, or with each other, for maximum effect.

*Atypical antipsychotic medications, including clozapine (Clozaril®), olanzapine (Zyprexa®), risperidone (Risperdal®), quetiapine (Seroquel®), and ziprasidone (Geodon®), are being studied as possible treatments for bipolar disorder. Evidence suggests clozapine may be helpful as a mood stabilizer for people who do not respond to lithium or anticonvulsants.

*If insomnia is a problem, a high-potency benzodiazepine medication such as clonazepam (Klonopin®) or lorazepam (Ativan®) may be helpful to promote better sleep. However, since these medications may be habit-forming, they are best prescribed on a short-term basis. Other types of sedative medications, such as zolpidem (Ambien®), are sometimes used instead.

Answer 2

Just for information, Lamictal is NOT cheaper than Depakote. I work in a mental health institute and we prescribe Depakote all the time for bipolar disorder. Try the generic...Valproic Acid. It works exactly the same but is much cheaper. Don't change your dose without consulting a doctor because that can really mess up your system. With Depakote, you are supposed to have blood levels drawn to check and see if it is at a therapeutic level in your system. It can be toxic if you take too much, and will be ineffective if you don't take enough.

Answer 3

I've had difficulty finding the right medication too.. most people do. as all the other users have said, an anti-depressant will not help you. I had those too until I switched to another psychiatrist who knew what he was doing. At first I had Abilify, Topamax and Seroquel which did help me, but in the end it was Lamictal and Seroquel which did it for me. There are a lot of good medication. Lithium is supposed to be very good but it has to be controlled with blood tests every month or else you might get physical issues for example with your thyroid gland. I really like Lamictal because it mainly prevents my depressive episodes but still lets me get a little high every once in a while :) hope you find the right meds soon!

Answer 4

You should be on whatever medication your MD prescribes. Depakote is a pretty old drug- passed by the FDA in 1983. It's a first generation anticonvulsant now being given for mood stabilization. Lithium is even older- passed by the FDA in 1974 is often used for bipolar, but has more side effects. Talk to you MD about these issues please. And take your meds!!

Answer 5

Talk to your doctor. Some doctors help out their patients that do not have healthy plans and give the medication for cheaper.

Answer 6

Have you tried Rispidol (not quite sure if that's the correct spelling). My son tried it and it worked okay for him, but now he's on Depikote and it seems to work better.

But, everyone is different. With bi-polar you have to keep trying until you find the right meds that works for you.

Best of luck honey, Marilyn

Answer 7

Well, we would need more information about your insurance situation. If you don't have insurance your doctor should be able to help you get it through needymeds.com. Or she/he might have a program where you get them free. Ask others in your situation. Or your doctor. I am on Lithium, before insurance I was paying 40.00 per month for a supply.

Answer 8

Lamictal is a mood stablelizer as is depikote. I' am not sure if its cheaper, but definitly has less side affects. Be careful,depikote can really make you gain weight.

Answer 9

Lithium

Answer 10

Talk with your doctor. Maybe he or your psychiatrist can get some samples or you could go through Patient Assistance Program. Check Montel Williams' website for PAP details (I think).