Posted by MidnightBlue on August 5, 2005, at 15:15:51
In reply to Re: What to try next for stubborn Biplar? » holymama, posted by barbaracat on August 5, 2005, at 12:30:10
Barbaracat,
Question if you don't mind. You said you resisted the bipolar dx. Were you "obviously" manic or hypomanic at times? or was it because you did not respond to SSRIs well? I have a long long history of severe depression. At one point Lithium was suggested along with 1000 depakote (for migraines) 350 Wellbutrin and Ambien. I flat out said no. I was sick of the doctor stacking up drugs that just make me apathetic and fat. He said he did not think I was/am bipolar. That was about 4 years ago. I wasn't eager to jump on the Remeron bandwagon either because of weight gain.
MB
> Lithium has made all the difference in my life. It actually augments the effect of ADs so you generally don't need as much and the dose stays more stable. Microdosing is not something that you'll easily find references to on the internet, but a few of us bipolars on this board have discovered that it works for us.
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> For whatever reason, our chemistry and genetics seem to make it difficult to clear certain meds out of our system and they end up circulating longer and building up causing the various serotonin syndromes and noradreline anxieties from too high concentrations. Micro dosing takes care of this since lithium and the bipolar chemistry seems to potentiate the meds.
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> I can now get by with about 1/4 or less than the typical dose of SSRIs that would be prescribed for unipolar depression. More than that wigs me out badly. This doesn't extend to benzos unfortunately. I need to keep my anxiety levels very cool and calm and so I take the standard dose of ativan and ambien for sleep. Although ANY med changes character and has an effect at a very small dose. I can take a sliver of a benzo and feel it definitely affect me with a different feel. All so interesting.
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> I really urge you to look into your hormone profile, thyroid especially. If they are out of whack you'll have all the symptoms of a serious mood disorder that no psych meds can help with.
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poster:MidnightBlue
thread:537167
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050803/msgs/537910.html