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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by barbaracat on October 14, 2005, at 11:33:32
In reply to Re: Just Diagnosed BarbaraCat » BarbaraCat, posted by KarenRB53 on October 13, 2005, at 20:35:33
> Just wondering if you're still on Lamictal and how you're doing with it?
> Thanks, Karen
>
**Wow, that was a while back and so much has happened since then. No, I'm not on Lam. I was doing fine on 75mg for about 4 months or so. Then my mom died suddenly and threw me into a tailspin and the depression came back with force. My pdoc had me slowly titrate up. With every increase I'd feel agitation which subsided, but I wasn't getting the antidepressant relief.At 125mg I started itching ferociously, like stinging little needles or tiny biting gnats. So bad I couldn't go to restaurants cause I'd embarrass myself needing to scratch everywhere.
I didn't associate it with Lam because we'd just taken in another stray cat and I blamed it on finally becoming allergic to our many cats. Besides, I thought the Lamictal rash was just that, a rash and my pdoc didn't associate it either. When I got up to 175mg I was itching so badly I had goudged bloody tracks on my head and body and my skin was looking puffy and inflamed, but still no 'rash'. So we backed down and then off completely because it no longer worked for the depression I was dealing with. Eventually went to nortriptyline which got me over the bad spot.
A few months later, after Lam was out of my system I took an oral chelator, DMPS, to get rid of mercury toxicity. I had an immediate awful reaction to it that turned into Stevens Johnson Syndrome, or the dreaded rash. I have theories as to why this happened and not all attributable to Lamictal, but I now know that that itchiness and inflamed skin was a 'prodromal state of Steven's Johnson'. The pumps were primed, an allergy had been already born and was waiting for the scales to tip to activate it. They sure did tip and for 5 weeks I was miserable and scared that it was going to progress into TENS, which is very bad news indeed.
So now I'm taking a very small amount (approx 5mg) of Cymbalta, just an index fingertip full of the pellets, and along with lithium I'm doing well. The depression is gone. That micro-dose (5mg vs. typical 30-60mg) is just right for me. Iv'e tried more and went from extreme agitation to extreme lethargy. And how about you? - Barbara
Posted by zefdie on October 19, 2005, at 13:59:14
In reply to Re: Just Diagnosed BarbaraCat » KarenRB53, posted by barbaracat on October 14, 2005, at 11:33:32
I've been reading this thread about Lamictal and in a lot of ways it sounds right for me but I'm still incredibly confused about my diagnosis and my options. I've been on Zoloft for a while and am up to 200 mg; I feel less despondent but very, very unwell, bland and flattened out with all the same troubles yet no motivation. Because of intense negativity, occasional hypomania, a racing mind, and a recurrent depression since childhood, my doctor has diagnosed me as Bipolar II and suggested I add Depakote to the Zoloft.
I've suspected I might be BPII for a long time but the symptoms seem so slippery and even after the diagnosis I'm wary!
I don't know what to do! I'm already sleeping too much and feeling listless. I'm more interested in Lamictal than Depakote but am a very allergy-prone, sun-sensitive person and some of the potential side effects worry me! In so many ways it sounds so much better for me than Depakote, but right now I'm unsure about absolutely everything in my life. All of these drugs (Lithium too) have these big drawbacks. And I have little trouble with hypomania--my mania presents itself as negative, self-damning, endlessly erupting and speedy thoughts in the midst of depression. Any hypomanic weeks feel like a welcome change and my only real troubling behavior is spending. Does Lamictal sound better for me than Depakote? I'm just not sure what's right and I want to research it a bit before calling the doc.
Posted by katia on October 19, 2005, at 14:59:13
In reply to Interested in Lamictal but nervous!, posted by zefdie on October 19, 2005, at 13:59:14
Hi there-
I know it feels important to get the right dx, but at the end of the day, what matters is what works for you.
I've been dxed as BPII as well and have been on a somewhat stable med regime for over a year now - Trileptal 450mg, PaxilCR 12.5, and Seroquel (for sleep) 6.25-25mg a night, fish oil, and a full spectrum light during winter months.
I'm also unsure of my dx but I also realize I'm stable and on meds and it's easy to forget the unstability...I had about two years of trial and error on meds before finding this. It takes time. Good luck.
Katia
> I've been reading this thread about Lamictal and in a lot of ways it sounds right for me but I'm still incredibly confused about my diagnosis and my options. I've been on Zoloft for a while and am up to 200 mg; I feel less despondent but very, very unwell, bland and flattened out with all the same troubles yet no motivation. Because of intense negativity, occasional hypomania, a racing mind, and a recurrent depression since childhood, my doctor has diagnosed me as Bipolar II and suggested I add Depakote to the Zoloft.
>
> I've suspected I might be BPII for a long time but the symptoms seem so slippery and even after the diagnosis I'm wary!
>
> I don't know what to do! I'm already sleeping too much and feeling listless. I'm more interested in Lamictal than Depakote but am a very allergy-prone, sun-sensitive person and some of the potential side effects worry me! In so many ways it sounds so much better for me than Depakote, but right now I'm unsure about absolutely everything in my life. All of these drugs (Lithium too) have these big drawbacks. And I have little trouble with hypomania--my mania presents itself as negative, self-damning, endlessly erupting and speedy thoughts in the midst of depression. Any hypomanic weeks feel like a welcome change and my only real troubling behavior is spending. Does Lamictal sound better for me than Depakote? I'm just not sure what's right and I want to research it a bit before calling the doc.
Posted by zefdie on October 19, 2005, at 15:55:24
In reply to Re: Interested in Lamictal but nervous! » zefdie, posted by katia on October 19, 2005, at 14:59:13
Thanks for the kind words, Katia! I'm wondering if I need to reduce Zoloft to avoid getting serious side effects with Lamictal. I want to research it before I call my doctor and think I saw this mentioned somewhere.
Posted by Miriamne on October 19, 2005, at 16:07:00
In reply to Interested in Lamictal but nervous!, posted by zefdie on October 19, 2005, at 13:59:14
Yes, it's a difficult process finding the right medication, isn't it? Let me encourage you not to give up on it-- you have to be willing to stick with something long enough to make an accurate judgement, yet willing to try something else if it is truly not helping you.
I've been on Lamictal for several years now, and except for a scare about a skin rash (which turned out to be poison ivy and which I researched on this website!), it has been a good med for me. It seems to stabilize my mood swings without being overly "flattening." I also take Effexor, and recently had to throw a low dose of estrogen/progesterone into the mix for menopausal problems... but that's another story! Overall, the Lamictal has been helpful in combination with my other med(s)for Bipolar II.
I'll be glad to keep in touch via this board to see how you're doing. I've received a lot of help here myself, so I encourage you to keep posting with questions and followups.
Sincerely,
MiriamneI've been reading this thread about Lamictal and in a lot of ways it sounds right for me but I'm still incredibly confused about my diagnosis and my options. I've been on Zoloft for a while and am up to 200 mg; I feel less despondent but very, very unwell, bland and flattened out with all the same troubles yet no motivation. Because of intense negativity, occasional hypomania, a racing mind, and a recurrent depression since childhood, my doctor has diagnosed me as Bipolar II and suggested I add Depakote to the Zoloft.
>
> I've suspected I might be BPII for a long time but the symptoms seem so slippery and even after the diagnosis I'm wary!
>
> I don't know what to do! I'm already sleeping too much and feeling listless. I'm more interested in Lamictal than Depakote but am a very allergy-prone, sun-sensitive person and some of the potential side effects worry me! In so many ways it sounds so much better for me than Depakote, but right now I'm unsure about absolutely everything in my life. All of these drugs (Lithium too) have these big drawbacks. And I have little trouble with hypomania--my mania presents itself as negative, self-damning, endlessly erupting and speedy thoughts in the midst of depression. Any hypomanic weeks feel like a welcome change and my only real troubling behavior is spending. Does Lamictal sound better for me than Depakote? I'm just not sure what's right and I want to research it a bit before calling the doc.
Posted by katia on October 19, 2005, at 16:30:39
In reply to Does Zoloft increase Lamictal levels?, posted by zefdie on October 19, 2005, at 15:55:24
> Thanks for the kind words, Katia! I'm wondering if I need to reduce Zoloft to avoid getting serious side effects with Lamictal. I want to research it before I call my doctor and think I saw this mentioned somewhere.
>
>My advice would be to first ask your pdoc and then add one thing at a time so you know what's causing what. Add the Lamictal VERY SLOWLY and see how you feel and tweek as necessary either med. Lam is definitely an activating med - makes you feel euphoric at first. The second time i tried it however, I went dysphoric, not fun.
good luck.
katia
Posted by KarenRB53 on October 19, 2005, at 17:09:29
In reply to Re: Just Diagnosed BarbaraCat » KarenRB53, posted by barbaracat on October 14, 2005, at 11:33:32
> > Just wondering if you're still on Lamictal and how you're doing with it?
> > Thanks, Karen
> >
> **Wow, that was a while back and so much has happened since then. No, I'm not on Lam. I was doing fine on 75mg for about 4 months or so. Then my mom died suddenly and threw me into a tailspin and the depression came back with force. My pdoc had me slowly titrate up. With every increase I'd feel agitation which subsided, but I wasn't getting the antidepressant relief.
>
> At 125mg I started itching ferociously, like stinging little needles or tiny biting gnats. So bad I couldn't go to restaurants cause I'd embarrass myself needing to scratch everywhere.
>
> I didn't associate it with Lam because we'd just taken in another stray cat and I blamed it on finally becoming allergic to our many cats. Besides, I thought the Lamictal rash was just that, a rash and my pdoc didn't associate it either. When I got up to 175mg I was itching so badly I had goudged bloody tracks on my head and body and my skin was looking puffy and inflamed, but still no 'rash'. So we backed down and then off completely because it no longer worked for the depression I was dealing with. Eventually went to nortriptyline which got me over the bad spot.
>
> A few months later, after Lam was out of my system I took an oral chelator, DMPS, to get rid of mercury toxicity. I had an immediate awful reaction to it that turned into Stevens Johnson Syndrome, or the dreaded rash. I have theories as to why this happened and not all attributable to Lamictal, but I now know that that itchiness and inflamed skin was a 'prodromal state of Steven's Johnson'. The pumps were primed, an allergy had been already born and was waiting for the scales to tip to activate it. They sure did tip and for 5 weeks I was miserable and scared that it was going to progress into TENS, which is very bad news indeed.
>
> So now I'm taking a very small amount (approx 5mg) of Cymbalta, just an index fingertip full of the pellets, and along with lithium I'm doing well. The depression is gone. That micro-dose (5mg vs. typical 30-60mg) is just right for me. Iv'e tried more and went from extreme agitation to extreme lethargy. And how about you? - Barbara
>
> Thanks for responding. What is somatic tension? I started out feeling pretty good with low dose Lamictal but couldn't get above 75mg. because of increased agitation. I also take Prozac which up till now has been the only antidepressant that helps me. But using them together even at low doses has not worked.
Karen
Posted by zefdie on October 19, 2005, at 19:54:49
In reply to Re: Does Zoloft increase Lamictal levels? » zefdie, posted by katia on October 19, 2005, at 16:30:39
I tend toward the dysphoric. I've been in a rage my whole life and antidepressants make me incredibly cranky. I just don't know what to expect right now! It's exasperating. I have a very important deadline coming up in a little over a month and really need to make some improvements before then or else I'll be in a world o' hurt. I'm afraid if I end up on the wrong med I'll miss that deadline and a bunch of opportunities that are riding on it.
> My advice would be to first ask your pdoc and then add one thing at a time so you know what's causing what. Add the Lamictal VERY SLOWLY and see how you feel and tweek as necessary either med. Lam is definitely an activating med - makes you feel euphoric at first. The second time i tried it however, I went dysphoric, not fun.
> good luck.
> katia
Posted by katia on October 19, 2005, at 23:38:03
In reply to Re: Does Zoloft increase Lamictal levels?, posted by zefdie on October 19, 2005, at 19:54:49
You'll know right away if you get dysphoric from it. I tend towards more agitation, anxiety, etc. too. I think that's why Paxil is the only AD that seems to help me. it targets the anxiety and is a sedating AD. Zoloft made me zombie like, but I took that alone without a mood stablizer.
Just try it and see what happens. It's the only way.
Posted by B2chica on October 20, 2005, at 9:22:06
In reply to Re: Does Zoloft increase Lamictal levels?, posted by zefdie on October 19, 2005, at 19:54:49
just a comment, i too tend to get very dysphoric with my hypomania and it gets pretty strong, have major depressive episodes. i finally found a combo that fits:
wellbutrin(450), zoloft(100), ritalin(20LA), zyprexa(10mg), xanax(2mg) and ambien as needed.i mention this cuz the two antidepressants together is what helped my depression and zyprexa is the only one that really helped with the hypomania/dysphoric. i've tried a slue of others including lamictal and they barely even touched it. unfortunately zyprexa made me gain 25lbs, However, i dont miss those moods that made me what to dismember myself.
so maybe consider zyprexa?b2c.
>> I tend toward the dysphoric. I've been in a rage my whole life and antidepressants make me incredibly cranky. I just don't know what to expect right now! It's exasperating. I have a very important deadline coming up in a little over a month and really need to make some improvements before then or else I'll be in a world o' hurt. I'm afraid if I end up on the wrong med I'll miss that deadline and a bunch of opportunities that are riding on it.
Posted by rabble_rouser on November 18, 2005, at 14:57:30
In reply to Re: Does Zoloft increase Lamictal levels?, posted by B2chica on October 20, 2005, at 9:22:06
I've been in and out of treatment for so-called unipolar depression for nearly two decades. I have had no success. I'm coming to realise that I have a lot of bipolar attributes - is it common for Bipolarity to remain 'hidden' from health professionals?
Ross
Posted by katia on November 18, 2005, at 15:12:45
In reply to Is it common for bipolar to remain undiagnosed?, posted by rabble_rouser on November 18, 2005, at 14:57:30
> I've been in and out of treatment for so-called unipolar depression for nearly two decades. I have had no success. I'm coming to realise that I have a lot of bipolar attributes - is it common for Bipolarity to remain 'hidden' from health professionals?
>
> Ross
Yes, definitely. Especially the BPIIs. There is a good book called "Why Your Depression isn't getting better" by Bartos.
get it. It says a lot.
good luck!
Posted by BarbaraCat on November 18, 2005, at 19:10:19
In reply to Is it common for bipolar to remain undiagnosed?, posted by rabble_rouser on November 18, 2005, at 14:57:30
You bet, it happened to me after 3 decades of trying every antidepressant out there and getting worse. It wasn't until I started lithium things started becoming less than awful. I still need a small dose of an antidepressant, but I can handle it now without cycling all over the place.
I second the book "Why your depression isn't getting better" (Hi Katia!). It's a real eye-opener and you'll probably recognize yourself in there. The next step is finding the right mood stabilizer but at least you'll be on the right track. - Barbara
> I've been in and out of treatment for so-called unipolar depression for nearly two decades. I have had no success. I'm coming to realise that I have a lot of bipolar attributes - is it common for Bipolarity to remain 'hidden' from health professionals?
>
> Ross
Posted by musico on November 18, 2005, at 21:40:20
In reply to Re: Is it common for bipolar to remain undiagnosed? » rabble_rouser, posted by BarbaraCat on November 18, 2005, at 19:10:19
Hi yes yes yes! I am 43 years old, just diagnosed this past year after a gazillion meds and pdoc's and what not. NOT to mention near death experiences due to psychosis. After what I now know in retrospect was rapid cycling likely induced by trying every antidepressant on the market(as you know BAD news for BP)I am having a life-changing experience with the anti-psychotic Zyprexa, the mood stabilizer Lamictal...some weight gain issues so I'm looking at other options but will not hesitate to return to this combo if need be...also sexual side-effects with Zoloft blah blah. I hope that you find a good doctor like I finally have and you find some relief. Hugs!
Posted by CareBear04 on November 22, 2005, at 9:25:33
In reply to Is it common for bipolar to remain undiagnosed?, posted by rabble_rouser on November 18, 2005, at 14:57:30
yes, i was still undiagnosed even after lexapro made me manic and psychotic. it wasn't until after a psychiatrist added lithium on a trial basis that I was eventually and gradually diagnosed. good luck and stick with it!
Posted by cecilia on November 26, 2005, at 3:59:52
In reply to Re: Is it common for bipolar to remain undiagnosed? » rabble_rouser, posted by CareBear04 on November 22, 2005, at 9:25:33
As we all know, psychiatric theories come and go and one of the latest seems to be that depression that doesn't respond to AD's must really be bipolar. My question-how many mood stabilizers (and which ones are best) for proving or disapproving this theory? I haven't tried nearly as many mood stabilizers as I have AD's, just gabapentin and lamictal (and a brief trial of lithium, but I didn't like throwing up every morning-if I'm going to have morning sickness I should at least get a baby out of it). Oh, and clonazepam, which I guess is a mood stabilizer in large does, though not in the small dose I take (1.5 mg/day). Is there really any point in trying tons of different mood stabilizers just in case you might be bipolar? I'll have to see if the book Katia mentioned is available from the library. The Amazon review of it was pretty negative, though, and it sounded like it was mainly concerned with alcoholism, which isn't an issue for me. Cecilia
Posted by windygo on December 15, 2005, at 20:58:58
In reply to Re: Lithium Orotate, posted by mordewis on March 18, 2004, at 5:08:40
Those who are still monitoring this old thread on lithium orotate should be interested in the new thread beginning with the following URL:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20051025/msgs/586709.html
Thanks,
Wayne
Posted by justina on February 12, 2006, at 13:12:18
In reply to Hi All from Barbara! - Fluffy, Katia, Nicole, etc. » katia, posted by BarbaraCat on April 8, 2004, at 14:44:49
trying to figure out how long until your system is clean of seroquel. have to take a urine test cant have any antisycotics in my system been taking seroquel for 3 yrs now 100mg twice a day and 300 mg at night stopped cold turkey about10 days ago. not feeling very good but need to know if it will be out of my system
Posted by ed_uk on February 12, 2006, at 14:55:28
In reply to how long until your system is clean of seroquel » BarbaraCat, posted by justina on February 12, 2006, at 13:12:18
Whatever anyone is testing your urine for, they will not be testing your urine for antipsychotics.
Ed
Posted by yxibow on February 17, 2006, at 3:11:53
In reply to how long until your system is clean of seroquel » BarbaraCat, posted by justina on February 12, 2006, at 13:12:18
> trying to figure out how long until your system is clean of seroquel. have to take a urine test cant have any antisycotics in my system been taking seroquel for 3 yrs now 100mg twice a day and 300 mg at night stopped cold turkey about10 days ago. not feeling very good but need to know if it will be out of my system
Agreed... they wouldn't be testing for antipsychotics and its not their business. Further more cold turkey on Seroquel is not fun. I took a trip to Alaska and more or less switched from day to night as I got up there because it was too sedating driving with it during the daytime. I was in ecstasy in Fairbanks when it all switched to night and I slept like a baby, as I got my Seroquel back. Don't quit an antipsychotic cold turkey, it can in rare cases cause Tardive Dyskinesia.
Kind regards
Jay
Posted by paintmom on April 7, 2006, at 8:41:20
In reply to Re: Light box - Vitamin D?, posted by Elainep on February 2, 2005, at 18:06:45
> Hi Katia and Barbaracat and Lar:
> My daughter had depression last year and eventually was diagnosed with vit D deficiency after she had a simple blood test. She was given a megadose of vitamin d, and within a week all her symptoms disappeared. I'm convinced vit d deficiency is a probable cause of many depressions: I've included a comprehensive link below with good links to studies about vitamin d: scientists are discovering all the time new links with vit d deficiency and disease, check this out for all of you who suffer depression. It's very easy to have one blood test done to check out your vit D levels, supplements are probably too slow for any rapid improvement and there are always worries about overdosing on vit D so blood tests are the only safe way to go. But really, it's so easy to test for, my daughter has been fabulous for the nine months since her megadose, she just had her blood retested and it had dropped a bit despite supplementing on a good Solgar product (a vit d only product from the UK, the US solgar products include vit A) so the doctor is giving her another dose before we go into winter (we live in New Zealand). Anyway check out the site below, there's one study on it that showed vit d was far more effective than light boxes. This is not new-age stuff, I'm a scientist with a PhD and when my daughter was ill we tried all kinds of non-proven things (magnetic pulsing, light boxes, omega three oil) vitamin d was the one that worked, simply and conclusively.
>
> Good luck everyone
>
> Elaine
>
> http://www.cholecalciferol-council.com/major_depression.htm
>
Geez Louise!!
I was just searching Vitamin d deficiency and it led me here:)
I have not been feeling well...myriad of problems...I thought I had to go back on meds...
turns out I am extremely deficient in vitamin D...had my first megadose last night..I'll keep you posted...
keep your fingers crossed
:)
Posted by dms777smd on April 8, 2006, at 3:02:56
In reply to Re: Light box - Vitamin D?, posted by paintmom on April 7, 2006, at 8:41:20
Yes, I think there are many types of vitamins and minerals that can change your behavior. Like thiamin deficiancy (vitamin B1), that can really can mess up your brain. It's mainly having to do with major alcoholics or people that eat very poorly. But I know what you're saying on the vitamin deficiancy. It's just weird how that if we're lacking something, our body definitely tells us,,, just like cravings. I get the weirdest cravings sometimes. I never liked milk before, but i've been craving it alot lately, I think my body is low on calcium. Or broccoli, I used to hate it, but I crave it now. I think foods that have alot of vitamins and minerals in them do you very well(keep you healthy).
Posted by KarenRB53 on April 8, 2006, at 8:30:31
In reply to Re: Cyclothymia & mood stabilizers, posted by Cynthia on August 7, 1999, at 16:31:34
> > Does anybody have experience with medicating or counseling for soft cycling? I have some cycling going on that may or may not fit the definition for cyclothymia.
> > The cycles usually last from 6 days to two weeks. In the down portion of the cycle symptoms include lower physical energy, lower mood, increased sensitivity to pain (esp. neck aches) increased social anxiety and sleeping more. In the up portion of the cycle I sleep less; I have good mood with occassional euphoria; good energy and at times ‘crazy’ energy; a sometimes flighty, overactivated mind; and a more talkative, outgoing manner.
> > I’m curious if anyone has experience with taking a mood stabilizer for soft cycling, for example, valproate, lithium or gabapentin? Is the mood stabilizer taken at a lower dosage than it would be taken for a manic depressive condition? How long would it take for a mood stabilizer like gabapentin to become fully effective? What mood stabilizer has the lowest side effects?
> > Is there a cognitive aspect to this seemingly physical condition that can be helped through counseling? Can for example personality issues such as low self-esteem and social anxiety contribute to cycling?
> > Any responses to this post would be very much appreciated.
>
> Hi Andrew and Sean,
>
> My high/low cycle is one week long, it's also seasonal (like yours Sean). Funny Andrew I'm thinking that you're cycles are a week or a month long. Cycling may very well be tied into our living cycles of weeks, months and years. Of all the medications I've tried for cyclothymia, I've had my best luck with 600mg of lithium; it controls my highs (most are not pleasant, although a few can be incredible - communicating with spirits kind of stuff) and helps with my 'treatment resistant' - ADs don't seem to work on the low part of my weekly cycle - depression. Although lately (I'm hoping I'm not speaking too soon) my depression is getting better and better and for the past two weeks, I would not even say I am experiencing any depression on my 'down' days. I attribute this to it being summer, lots of light in the sky; keeping my body on a very regular schedule, getting up, going to bed at the same time, eating at the same times, taking my medications at the same time everyday - this tells my body 'oh, this medication must mean it's time to get up and have a full day, or 'oh, this medications means that I will probably be going to sleep soon'.
>
> Now that I pretty well have my medications right (please god yes!), I've also begun to receive counselling from a psychologist. For although I know I've inherited a genetic predisposition for psychiatric illnesses, unfortunately for me I was also abused as a child. As a consequence of this, I have a low self-esteem. I'm making major headway here and although it so hard sometimes to isolate the factors that are helping you to feel better, I'm thinking counselling is one of them.
>
> I went a little off track there Andrew. Lithium, 600 mg. I tried a few other medications (sorry I can't remember their names but they didn't help as much as lithium and one of them did something to my blood). Once I got on lithium I stopped looking.
>
> I'm getting real close to being a normal human being with all this medication and help and hard work.
>
> Good luck
>
> One thing I find about being cyclothymic is how painfully aware of my depression I am when I am suffering from it because I have just been feeling so good.
>
> Cynthia
>
>
Just wondering what meds you take along with the Lithium. I sound so much like you.
Thanks, Karen
Posted by jodi k on July 22, 2006, at 17:10:08
In reply to Re: Cyclothymia mood stabilizers, posted by KarenRB53 on April 8, 2006, at 8:30:31
I was diagonosed with mild bipolar disorder just last week. I got on the internet to find out it's called cyclothymia! My dad had a bipolar experience a couple of years ago, and I knew I didn't have what he did. He really got "high". Not sleeping, spending lots of money, talking about sex a lot, starting arguments, and thought he was filled with the Holy Spirit. He went to the dr. and wouldn't accept any medications to help him. I was shocked to find out I have the same thing in milder form.
I began seeing a counselor 2 months ago and am having better communication with people who have run over me for years. But I was still depressed. I have been on 20 mg lexapro for about 6 months, after being on prozac for years. I was given
xanax for anxiety and have been on 100 mg of trazadone for 10 years till it was "upped" to 200 mg. last fall. That was all from a family dr. Now a psychiatrist has added 5 mg of abilify to that 5 days ago.I have a son who got picked up for 4 owi's in 1 1/2 months last fall. I really rocked down after that. But even when he finished his jail time, I didn't feel happy about it. I guess that's part of why I was diagnosed with this disorder.
The first day on abilify, I felt really bad. I got on the "net" the night before starting it and read the side effects about it and almost went into a panic mode. But after realizing I'm not having any of the bad effects, I think I'm really feeling lots better. Either that, or I have extremely high expectations of the medicine. I've already had people who have visited with me on the phone tell me how normal I sound.
I guess now all I am worried about is weight gain. I have low self esteem in that area anyway. I am not over weight now, but am never happy with my weight. I could be a scarecrow and feel fat.
Anyway, that's my story so far. I go back in to talk about the abilify a week from Monday. I'm praying that this will be my answer!
Jodi K
Posted by Andre Levy on November 14, 2006, at 0:32:12
In reply to Re: Sean/andrewb and Susan. Hints for your down days!, posted by Sean on August 9, 1999, at 12:18:56
You're right on the money, Sean. Have a look at these findings:
Dark Therapy
http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/darkrx.htmBipolar Disorder, Light, and Darkness
http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/LightDark.htm> Thanks for the tips. From everything I've read,
> the AD's do quicken the cycle. I can actually
> feel my circadian clock shift earlier and earlier
> (usually my clock is getting later and later)
> and then I need to stop for a few days.
>
> The depression side is the main problem for me
> too. When I get hyper ideas, I just don't do anything
> for a couple of weeks. If it still looks good,
> then I pursue it. Of course by the time I realized
> my moods were driving everything, I'd already
> dropped in and out of grad school twice... I
> would be willing to bet most people with strong
> mood cycles have "colorful" academic histories.
>
> I gained lots of weight on Lithium, and it seemed
> to work better for the ups than the downs. The
> magic combo was Li + TCA for a while but I
> developed heart arrythmias, which while not life
> threatening, were not fun and gave me headaches
> from the changes in blood pressure or something.
>
> Am thinking about the light therapy thing. I'm
> pretty convinced that part of what is going on is
> a dysregulation of the circadian clocks, so
> anything that can help stabilize that might be
> key. It's always too much sleep or too little!
>
> Gotta go now,
>
> Sean.
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