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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
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,
Lizbeth
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?
Posted by lizbeth on July 1, 2003, at 12:21:54
In reply to Re: Seasonal BPII meds adjustment, Ritch » lizbeth, posted by Ritch on June 27, 2003, at 23:37:43
Thanks Mitch,
I appreciate your response. It seems like you are a sage here on the board! I did a little experiment (only took one day, and my husband hates when I do it w/o talking to my psychopharmacologist) and went down to 250mg one night. Not such a good idea--could tell it wasn't enough by how vehemently I reacted to something that doesn't normally bother me! I'm thinking I need to be @375 at least through the end of August. The sunlight definitely gives me more energy/hypomania. This winter, though, now that I know the Adderall helped, I'll be watchful come October/November, maybe starting then @ 2.5mg.
Take care,
Elizabeth
Posted by Ritch on July 1, 2003, at 13:16:10
In reply to Re: Seasonal BPII meds adjustment, Ritch, posted by lizbeth on July 1, 2003, at 12:21:54
> Thanks Mitch,
>
> I appreciate your response. It seems like you are a sage here on the board! I did a little experiment (only took one day, and my husband hates when I do it w/o talking to my psychopharmacologist) and went down to 250mg one night. Not such a good idea--could tell it wasn't enough by how vehemently I reacted to something that doesn't normally bother me! I'm thinking I need to be @375 at least through the end of August. The sunlight definitely gives me more energy/hypomania. This winter, though, now that I know the Adderall helped, I'll be watchful come October/November, maybe starting then @ 2.5mg.
>
> Take care,
> ElizabethI wish they made a 375mg ER tablet. I would probably move up on the dose if they did. At 500mg I definitely gained significant weight-want to avoid that. The last time I was on Adderall (a few months ago), I was just taking 2.5mg with a little Effexor and it worked OK-I just get too much muscle tension from stims (and WB).
This is the end of the thread.
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