Posted by Ritch on February 19, 2005, at 21:57:52
In reply to Re: Cymbalta from a BP-II, posted by Phillipa on February 19, 2005, at 17:40:03
> Is there another mood stabilizer you can go on instead of the Lithium? I know you tried depakote, but have you tried the others? Fondly, Phillipa
Tegretol would probably be the next one besides Depakote or Lithium. Trileptal is supposed to be a close relative of Teg. I can't tolerate Trileptal due to nausea. Haven't tried Tegretol since 1990 or so. I stopped it and went back on lithium back then after a 2 week or so trial (it didn't seem to be helping my depression at the time-but didn't notice any nausea though). I've expressed interest in Lamictal, but pdoc doesn't want to try it. AP's have been tried (conventional and atypical)-mixed results and plenty of EPS, yack don't want to go there. Verapamil seemed to work well for temper flares/mixed sx but made me dizzy and worsened tremor I already have with Depakote. Keppra was great for sleep and somewhat good for anxiety, but tended to make me generally irritable. Topamax just plain made me stupid and sleepy with skin crawling sensations. Gabitril caused derealization. SSRI's aggravate cycling like crazy. Neurontin helped a lot with anxiety, but seems to induce hypomania. I'm currently on Depakote 250 ER with .75mg clonazepam and 1/2 mg Celexa every 2-3 days to dust the serotonin transporters, fishoil, and 500mg L-tyrosine every other day. Magnesium + 12.5mg of Benadryl at night for sleep. Exercise a lot. This is about as good as it has ever been. Less chronic and lower dosage antidepresant use has resulted in better more stable times during times that are normally high. However, the low times are just as bad, but just less *mixed*. Left to try? Lamictal. Tegretol-no nausea as Trileptal with as good an antimanic effect? Phenytoin. My Mom was on that 400mg/day for nocturnal epilepsy and it helped her panic/GAD symptoms as well. Just don't want the gingival hyperplasia. Like to keep all my teeth.
poster:Ritch
thread:460241
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050217/msgs/460624.html