Posted by Barbara Cat on June 13, 2003, at 21:55:59
In reply to Re: Which meds for mania and depression ?, posted by AWorriedMom on June 13, 2003, at 19:33:51
Topomax - ugh, ugh ugh!!!! I was on it for a month hoping to lose some of the Remeron pudge. This was before I was on lamictal. I felt antsy, irritable, erratic. I hated it. Plus I didn't lose a pound. I can't say for sure if lamictal is the magic bullet. I had tremendous response to it at a low dose for about 2 months and then it started pooping out. I had some extreme stressors even after it pooped so my pdoc added nortriptyline for the black hole I was falling into. This combo, lithium, lamictal, nortriptyline seems to be working for me. I also notice a very definitely response from high quality fish oil at about 13-14 grams a day. I can tell when I don't take it for awhile. I hope her diet is pristine (yeah, like a schoolage kid is going to have a pristine diet). She needs good nutrition, especially at her age.
One other thing to consider is comorbid ADD along with her bipolar. I'm reading more and more about how these two states are looking like similar dysfunctions. In fact, fibromyalgia/bipolar/ADD are looking like similar dysfunctions. I'll be seeing my pdoc in 2 weeks and we're going to try a trial of a stimulant. I have a very disabling recurring case of fibro and we're hoping it relieves it, along with remnants of classic ADD symptoms.
> Your description of mixed states sounds exactly like my kid. I am interested in what you said about lithium with the lamictal.
>
> One time, her pdoc tried a combo of lithium and topomax. At first she seemed better, then she became very erratic and uncharacteristic in her behaviors and interactions with peers, teachers, etc. Don't know if lithium level wasn't right or if topomax had the bad effect. Pdoc put her back on combo of lithium and depakote. That doesn't seem to be working either, but not as bad as topomax.
>
> Is lamictal related in any way to topomax?
>
poster:Barbara Cat
thread:232648
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030609/msgs/233835.html