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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 Rainee on April 17, 2004, at 9:09:07
I'm depressed and full of anxiety they say I'n Bi-polar II.. Used to be major depression with anxiety disorder to incluse panic attacks and agoraphobia.
Prozac was a life saver back in 1996 I never felt so good in all my life.
I was able to function at the highest level I was ever at in my life.
Then things changed My anxiety was still much better but I started to get lethargic and sleep alot and gained alot of weight.
It lost it's zest.
I guess it's safe to say it didn't hold the depression at bay.
I could not tolerate wellbutrin as an add on.
so I stayed that way for years.
until the bipolar II thing emerged and that my intial euphoria could have been mild hypomania.
hell I'd what I wouldn't give to feel that way again.
any way no I just take klonopin.. now I have alot of life issues and start with anew therapist soon so fingers crossed that will help.
but what med?
This new doc tried me on topomax talk about making me stupid and clumsy.
Geodon no..no... no... I'm petrified of that stuff.
Abilify made me bounce off the wall.
no more antipsycotics.. I won't take them
Trileptal did nothing.
How about a prozac & Lamictal combo?Thanks
Rainee
Posted by Sad Panda on April 17, 2004, at 9:29:49
In reply to I really need some input, posted by Rainee on April 17, 2004, at 9:09:07
> I'm depressed and full of anxiety they say I'n Bi-polar II.. Used to be major depression with anxiety disorder to incluse panic attacks and agoraphobia.
> Prozac was a life saver back in 1996 I never felt so good in all my life.
> I was able to function at the highest level I was ever at in my life.
> Then things changed My anxiety was still much better but I started to get lethargic and sleep alot and gained alot of weight.
> It lost it's zest.
> I guess it's safe to say it didn't hold the depression at bay.
> I could not tolerate wellbutrin as an add on.
> so I stayed that way for years.
> until the bipolar II thing emerged and that my intial euphoria could have been mild hypomania.
> hell I'd what I wouldn't give to feel that way again.
> any way no I just take klonopin.. now I have alot of life issues and start with anew therapist soon so fingers crossed that will help.
> but what med?
> This new doc tried me on topomax talk about making me stupid and clumsy.
> Geodon no..no... no... I'm petrified of that stuff.
> Abilify made me bounce off the wall.
> no more antipsycotics.. I won't take them
> Trileptal did nothing.
> How about a prozac & Lamictal combo?
>
> Thanks
> Rainee
>
>Hi Rainee,
I'm not BP, but I think the general idea with BP'ers is to get the mood swings under control first. Lithium, Lamictal & Depakote seem to be the most popular & I have noted that some people even take a combination of two out of three of them. I think for you Lamictal would be the best choice to start with, make sure you go slowly to avoid getting the dreaded rash. After you are on a stabilising dose of Lamictal, then add Prozac.
Are you 100% sure you are BP2? I get some hypomania when the dosage of my Effexor gets changed, but AKAIK I am not BP. (I think they are trying to call drug induced hypomania BP3?)
Cheers,
Panda.
Posted by Maxime on April 17, 2004, at 20:10:14
In reply to I really need some input, posted by Rainee on April 17, 2004, at 9:09:07
Hi. Sorry you are feeling so awful. But you might want to consider an MAOI like Nardil or Parnate. These anti-depressants are good for people with BP because USUALLY they will not poop out or cause a hypomanic episode. You will still need a mood stabiliser though. Have you tried Trileptal? That is what I take and I like it because it works and has hardly any side effects.
Hope you start feeling better soon.
Max
Posted by T_R_D on April 20, 2004, at 14:09:04
In reply to I really need some input, posted by Rainee on April 17, 2004, at 9:09:07
SSRIs can poop out and they can also cause manic symptoms as SadPanda mentioned. I need an anticonvulsant or I go straight to the moon. I've only tried Tegretol (precursor of Trileptal) and it stopped the manias dead in their tracks but didn't do much for the depressive lows. I've just started Lamictal and I am having some good results. Don't give up. So yes, perhaps Lamictal, perhaps Lithium and/or Depakote.
Oh and for the record, I also take Effexor and Wellbutrin...polypharmacy seems to really be the best way to treat BP.
This is the end of the thread.
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