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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by SheilaC on December 15, 2009, at 15:27:36
Back to square one. I need to find a mood stabilizer that will keep me even and not so darn mean an irritable.
Lamictal is out due to serious side effects.
Trileptal and Tegretol were ok, but they gave me night sweats and I didn't know if that side effect would go away? Anyone know?
I tried a tiny dose 125mg of Depakote and it seemed to depress me. Would a higher dose be more likly to depress me more or would it give me a boost?
I haven't tried Lithium. That would be a last resort.
Any suggestions on tolerating Tegretol or Depakote? Would either of these brighten my mood? (tiny dose of Abilify seems to work for that).
Is there a mood stabilizer I am not thinking about?
Posted by RocketMan on December 15, 2009, at 16:35:15
In reply to Really need your brain power..., posted by SheilaC on December 15, 2009, at 15:27:36
> I haven't tried Lithium. That would be a last resort.
>That would have been my 1st, or 2nd choice!!
Rocket
Posted by SLS on December 15, 2009, at 16:50:52
In reply to Really need your brain power..., posted by SheilaC on December 15, 2009, at 15:27:36
Hi.
You don't want to rely on what little brain power I have left, but...
Topamax 100mg can help with bipolar mixed-states, especially where rage and impulse control are issues. For me, it had some mild antidepressant effects.
> Is there a mood stabilizer I am not thinking about?
Here are some drugs that are said to have mood-stabilizing potential.
Depakote
Dilantin
Gabitril
Keppra
Lamictal
Lithium
Lyrica
Neurontin
Tegretol
Topamax
Trileptal
Verapamil
Zonegran
ZyprexaDoes fish oil increase your irritability?
How is your anxiety level?
- Scott
Posted by linkadge on December 15, 2009, at 16:56:56
In reply to Re: Really need your brain power..., posted by SLS on December 15, 2009, at 16:50:52
Yeah, try lithium. I found it a lot less harsh than some of the other mood stabilizers you've tried.
Linkadge
Posted by willyeee on December 15, 2009, at 17:04:56
In reply to Really need your brain power..., posted by SheilaC on December 15, 2009, at 15:27:36
The combo of gabpentin and klonopin seem to have a gabergic synergy and togther seem to help a lot with anger outbursts,emotional out bursts,and severe social anxiety.
Posted by Phillipa on December 15, 2009, at 17:13:07
In reply to Re: Really need your brain power..., posted by willyeee on December 15, 2009, at 17:04:56
You could try a low dose of lithium and see how you feel. Sometimes a very low dose does work or at least you'd know if you tolerate it. Good Luck!!!! Phillipa
Posted by SheilaC on December 15, 2009, at 17:55:44
In reply to Re: Really need your brain power..., posted by Phillipa on December 15, 2009, at 17:13:07
What is considered a small dose of Lithium? I am a slow metabolizer and have trouble with side effects. What's a good starting dose?
Also - what other mood stabilizers help with depression and not just the irritable side of BPII?
Posted by SheilaC on December 15, 2009, at 18:09:03
In reply to Re: Really need your brain power..., posted by SLS on December 15, 2009, at 16:50:52
> Hi.
>
> You don't want to rely on what little brain power I have left, but...
>
> Topamax 100mg can help with bipolar mixed-states, especially where rage and impulse control are issues. For me, it had some mild antidepressant effects.
>
> > Is there a mood stabilizer I am not thinking about?
>
> Here are some drugs that are said to have mood-stabilizing potential.
>
> Depakote
> Dilantin
> Gabitril
> Keppra
> Lamictal
> Lithium
> Lyrica
> Neurontin
> Tegretol
> Topamax
> Trileptal
> Verapamil
> Zonegran
> Zyprexa
>
> Does fish oil increase your irritability?
>
> How is your anxiety level?
>
>
> - ScottI do have anxiety, especially in social situations. I have been taking Klonopin. Could the Klonopin and Depakote together cause depression? Maybe I should try the Depakote again without the Klonopin?
Posted by willyeee on December 15, 2009, at 19:06:58
In reply to Re: Really need your brain power..., posted by SheilaC on December 15, 2009, at 18:09:03
Yess the two can create depression as they are both powerful sedatives,the reason i mention klonopin and gabpentin is because klonopin is strong while gabpentin is more mild,and even said to posses light anti depressant attributes.
Posted by twinleaf on December 15, 2009, at 20:50:04
In reply to Re: Really need your brain power..., posted by SheilaC on December 15, 2009, at 17:55:44
I take 150 mg. of Lithium once daily. I think that's about as low as you can get! Still, I do notice that it acts as a mood stabilizer. (I have trauma-related unipolar depression which is partly in remission). Taking this amount gives me a blood level of about 0.2- well below the therapeutic level of 0.6 which we are supposed to aim for. It still does make a difference, though, as I notice more intense dysphoric reactions if I go off it.
Lithium is supposed to a high up on the list of neuroprotective agents, working through the glutamate system. Another reason why I like it! And taking such a low dose eliminates most of my worries about toxicity.
Posted by floatingbridge on December 15, 2009, at 21:13:55
In reply to Really need your brain power..., posted by SheilaC on December 15, 2009, at 15:27:36
Sheila,
You mention a tiny dose of abilify. I forget--how do you tolerate abilify? Would that alone be enough of a mood stabilizer for you? Some people get by w/ small doses.
Klonopin has mood stabilizing properties--and it can depress some people's moods. Maybe not the right anti-anxiety med for you? (However, it is a deep anxiety-buster.) I switched to xanax xr for my anxiety because of suspected effects of klonopin on my mood.
My MIL was on gabapentin (spelling) and while it worked for her post-hepatic neuralgia, it depressed her mood and she discontinued--just for your information.
good luck aligning your treatment,
fb
Posted by Phillipa on December 15, 2009, at 21:22:46
In reply to Re: Really need your brain power..., posted by twinleaf on December 15, 2009, at 20:50:04
That's exactly what a pdoc I worked with did gave doses to start of 150mg and the changes in some people were incredible. He even once suggested for PMS take that small dose mix in juice and take about 25mg. I tried it a few times. His belief was that theraputic responses were the individual patients response and not a number. Phillipa
Posted by SheilaC on December 16, 2009, at 10:29:06
In reply to Re: Really need your brain power... » twinleaf, posted by Phillipa on December 15, 2009, at 21:22:46
I really hate taking Abilify because I retain so much water and I gain weight so easily on it.
I wouldn't mind trying a little higher dose of Depakote, but it gave me insomnia (not sure what to take for that) which I think made me a little depressed because I wasn't sleeping.
Posted by Maxime on December 16, 2009, at 16:12:46
In reply to Really need your brain power..., posted by SheilaC on December 15, 2009, at 15:27:36
What about Keppra? Have you ever tried that as a mood stabiliser. I took Dilantin once and that worked well with no side effects. I think you still have options before you try the Lithium.
This is the end of the thread.
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