Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 986559

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Should I try a different mood stabilizer

Posted by markwell on May 29, 2011, at 16:19:55

I'm struggling with Tegretol (unrelenting depression and anxiety) I wonder if I should give lithium another try? I am getting several hours of sleep with Tegretol but that's about all Im getting from it. I have suicidal ideations again so I need to do something. The trial I had last year with lithium was no sleep. Maybe it would be different this year I don't know. I have depression with anxiety. My pdoc suggested lithium and Tegretol but I think the two downers together will put me in a greater funk. Ive been taking Wellbutrin for about a week but I had a panic attack last night so I stopped the Wellbutrin. I need some direction

 

Re: Shwould I try a different mood stabilizer » markwell

Posted by floatingbridge on May 29, 2011, at 20:19:50

In reply to Should I try a different mood stabilizer, posted by markwell on May 29, 2011, at 16:19:55

Do you feel something like parnate and mood stabilizers could help?

Are you concerned about cycling on something parnate? But your depression seems too deep for a mood stabilizer alone. I apologize for pushing my agenda here.

Maybe someone has some other ideas.

But you have no ad on board. With lithium and tetregol if the latter isn't contraindicated w/ parnate or maoi.

Wellbutrin is not always well tolerated.

Just some ideas....

 

Re: Shwould I try a different mood stabilizer

Posted by markwell on May 29, 2011, at 21:02:24

In reply to Re: Shwould I try a different mood stabilizer » markwell, posted by floatingbridge on May 29, 2011, at 20:19:50

I would just be concerned about parnate and insomnia. Is it a good a d?

 

Re: Shwould I try a different mood stabilizer » markwell

Posted by floatingbridge on May 29, 2011, at 21:14:05

In reply to Re: Shwould I try a different mood stabilizer, posted by markwell on May 29, 2011, at 21:02:24

For some it is a life saver. However, insomnia is about guaranteed. That could be a deal breaker. Though some decide it's worth working with. There are cutrently a few thresds, one directly about parnate. It is a bit energizing which would be good for work. I don't really have an answer--just the observation that maybe you are keeping yourself too low w/o a counter-bbalance. But I am only a fellow depressive and have only learned by the seat of my pants :(

 

Re: Shwould I try a different mood stabilizer » markwell

Posted by Phillipa on May 29, 2011, at 21:38:26

In reply to Re: Shwould I try a different mood stabilizer, posted by markwell on May 29, 2011, at 21:02:24

Parnate from what I understand would not be good for insomnia. What other ad's have you tried in the past. Sometimes a mood stabalizer can take the place of an ad? Phillipa

 

Re: Should I try a different mood stabilizer

Posted by bleauberry on May 30, 2011, at 19:45:28

In reply to Should I try a different mood stabilizer, posted by markwell on May 29, 2011, at 16:19:55

Well, I don't know, it's tough. If the med's are causing problems then that isn't cool and they gotta go. The body is trying to tell you these things aren't right. I don't know your history with lithium so I don't know if that is worth repeating or not. If you do, do it different than before. Lower dose for example. Slower titration for example. Combining it with something different. I think gillman also said it doesn't work much with serotonin meds but is better with norepinephrine meds. Regardless, somewhere in his writings I think he said he stopped using it because he didn't see overall good results with it and the side effects were heavy.

There is some good stuff on the natural side. Have you ever tried those or be willing to? Actually lithium qualifies in that regard. Dosing is tricky. I think with many people lithium might be one of those things where less-is-more, despite the opposite concensus of the medical community.

I wouldn't downplay the potency or potential of botanical medicines if you run into a wall with pharmaceutical ones. A bunch of new doors open up.

Oh, and back to wellbutrin. It isn't really a norepinephrine drug or a dopamine drug. It does those things but weakly. It's true mechanisms are something else, yet to be identified. It certainly can be stimulating with some people. So no surprise on the panic attacks. I think what that means is that if you want to go forward with it and retry it, you'll have to start with much lower doses. Maybe even make your own custom sizes. Then feel it out. Sometimes even the smallest dose we can get at the pharmacy is just too much all at once to start with.

Sometimes I think people might miss out on a good drug for them simply because the beginning of the journey was too rushed. My Lyme doctor, just for an example and perspective, starts Lexapro patients with liquid so he can change doses by drops....perfect for those having a hard time with a whole pill. A couple months later they have comfortably climbed up to some other higher dose that they could not have tolerated previously.


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