Posted by Ritch on September 16, 2002, at 9:42:28
In reply to Re: Need advice: meds for bipolar rapid cycling » Ritch, posted by Lorelai on September 16, 2002, at 9:00:14
> **Mitch,
> Thanks for the reply--I appreciate it! My pdoc's having a tough time with me, I think, because I seem to have such adverse reactions to everything we try. I don't get this, really, because as a teen I did a wide range of drugs on a near-daily basis (trying to self-medicate, I suppose the shrinks would say, though at the time I thought I was just having fun) and was always one of those people who could maintain control, drive a car, function in school, etc., no matter what drug I was on. So it doesn't make sense to me that as an adult my system is so delicate. Neurontin is my pdoc's latest suggestion, but I hadn't realized I'd have to take it 3 or 4 times a day??? Guess I'd better do some indepth digging, reading around. The idea of bone density loss might be a big problem for me since I'm of Asian descent (more prone to osteoporosis, or so I've heard), so the Depakote/thyroid hormone route doesn't sound like an option. I'm just starting a new job tomorrow and don't like the idea of anything messing with my ability to think (I have bad memories of starting out a new job and having my boss think I was some sort of moron because a couple of weeks into the job I was starting a new med--and I guess I SEEMED like a moron. I stopped the med and she probably thought I'd suddenly grown some brains, lol), so that seems to rule out Topamax, though maybe if I take tiny increments and let my system build up to it slowly...Well, I'll discuss all this with my pdoc on the 24th and see if she has any other ideas. It'd be ideal, of course, to simply not take anything. But, as I'm finding, pretty unrealistic. *sigh*
> Best,
> Lorelai
>
>
Hi again,I forgot to mention Tegretol (carbamazepine) or Trileptal (oxcarbazepine). They aren't as good for rapid-cycling (generally) as Depakote, but pretty close. The good thing about them is they aren't very sedative and have a lower incidence of cognitive side-effects compared to some other antimanic agents. Also, twice daily dosing is usually sufficient. Weight gain isn't a big trouble with them either. I found Trileptal to be too nauseating for me, however (rats, the *only* thing that I couldn't tolerate about it!). But, everybody's different. The more options the better. You might bring those two up at your next visit.
good luck,
Mitch
poster:Ritch
thread:119887
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020914/msgs/120002.html