Posted by Ame Sans Vie on January 12, 2004, at 8:45:56
In reply to I'm very confused.................., posted by ann72 on January 12, 2004, at 8:17:03
If your assumption does prove correct and you are bipolar II, there's no law that says you have to start with lithium. There are plenty of other quite effective mood-stabilizing drugs available: Depakote (valproic acid), Trileptal (oxcarbazepine), Tegretol (carbamazepine), Gabitril (tiagabine), Lamictal (lamotrigine), Keppra (levetiracetam), Zonegran (zonisamide), Neurontin (gabapentin, though its efficacy is debatable), Zyprexa (olanzapine), Risperdal (risperidone), Seroquel (quetiapine), Geodon (ziprasidone), Abilify (aripiprazole), Klonopin (clonazepam), etc. Zyprexa, Risperdal, Seroquel, Geodon, Abilify, and any other antipsychotic should be reserved in case safer drugs fail though. Also, though I really think of it as a pathetic marketing ploy, Eli Lilly just received FDA approval for a "new" drug for bipolar depression called Symbyax. It's just a combination of an antipsychotic (Zyprexa) and an antidepressant (Prozac) in one pill.
Of course I want to make it clear that should your doctor start you on lithium, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. Just letting you know there are many other options available. :-)
It's no guarantee that lithium will turn you into a "zombie", but if it does, it seems the combination of lithium and Lamictal is a very common and effective one. Lithium is actually an anti-manic, not a mood-stabilizer, and Lamictal is a mood-stabilizer with antidepressant properties.
Michael
poster:Ame Sans Vie
thread:299727
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040109/msgs/299740.html