Posted by Elizabeth on December 10, 2001, at 19:44:38
In reply to Repeat request, posted by akc on December 10, 2001, at 11:38:41
Hi akc.
> My doctor is thinking of changing some stuff -- depakote for lithium (scared to death on this one) and gedeon for seroqel.
Why scared of switching from lithium to Depakote? Depakote is usually a better mood stabilizer than lithium if you have mixed or rapid-cycling states as opposed to traditional mania. If what you're scared of is going off the lithium, I think you can take it and Depakote together.
You might try a different benzo such as Xanax or Ativan if you think that the Klonopin is causing the depression. A possible alternative explanation is that the Klonopin is relieving the manic part of your mixed state but not the depression, and if that's the case then something you might try would be (cautiously) raising the Effexor.
Another thing you might consider, if you haven't tried it, is Lamictal, a mood stabilizer that can also help with mania.
I think your doctor's ideas are good although it would be best not to make two changes at the exact same time.
As other people say, one question to be asking is: are all these medications helping? Does each one have a purpose that it's serving? And also, of course, consider whether any of them might be making some of your problems worse.
It's not necessarily "too many" meds, especially for a complicated case (bipolar + alcoholism + PTSD is "complicated" IMO), but it's important to know what's doing what and be sure that they're all contributing.
-elizabeth
poster:Elizabeth
thread:86463
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011202/msgs/86519.html