Posted by Ritch on June 27, 2003, at 23:37:43
In reply to Seasonal BPII meds adjustment, Ritch, posted by lizbeth on June 27, 2003, at 11:36:58
> Hi there,
>
> I've been diagnosed BPII for 2+ years. Currently on Lithobid 600mg, Prozac 20mg and Depakote 375mg. I also take klonopin 0.5mg once a week. I get bad winter SAD. This past winter we added 5mg Adderall in early February and it did the trick. By March 1st, was down to 2.5mg, and March 21st I went off because getting hypomanic with spring. I was still hypomanic, even off it, so we added an additional 125mg of Depakote (to current level, usually just take 250mg at night). Helped a lot, but now at beginning of July feeling a bit flat on 375 mg. For those folks who live in northern climates (I'm in chicago) and need to adjust seasonally, do you think it's safe to go back down to 250mg? Mitch, you sound like you do the same type of thing in the winter. I don't think I have summer SAD, though.
>
> Thanks,
> LizbethIf you aren't getting depressed in the summmer, then you are at least losing your manic tendencies and less Depakote might be OK. Depakote at 250mg wasn't quite enough last month when I was flying along pretty hot. Adderall 5mg also did wonders for me during wintertime depression previously. If the Depakote reduction doesn't work-you might have the summer SAD thing, but less intense than the winter one. You are in a cooler clime-so may not experience it as badly during the summer. Maybe 2.5mg Adderall just for a few weeks could tide you over?
poster:Ritch
thread:237502
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030624/msgs/237617.html