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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by elainen on September 28, 2004, at 15:05:25
I really feel like I have hit the wall.
I have bp2 and am on
Wellbutrin 75 mg 2 x day and Klonopin .75 mg a day.
This was working well for me, but lately have been having awful ups and downs, with more downs of course. FOrgetting things, word finding difficulty, spelling difficulty, extreme agitation, you know,,,,,so we tried Trileptal...I had a bad reaction to it, we tried it out twice. My throat was getting tight and I got the rash. SO, we stopped it.
I have tried so many other mood stablizers: depakote, olanzapine, risperdone, topomax, and now trileptal. Here is the kicker::they all worked to stop the madness almost right away, but I had horrible side effects or allergic reactions.
And, at a fraction of the normal dose.
Any suggestions on what I can try? My new pdoc is a stick in the mud, won't try anything new.
I need help/advice please. I am so tired of this.
I want to function, and I really want to be able to speak properly and write again.
Yes, I do exercise, at least 3 times a week for an hour. I look after my diet, but must have pringles.Thanks in advance!
Posted by jms600 on September 28, 2004, at 16:34:50
In reply to Running out of options and meds to try!!!!!!!, posted by elainen on September 28, 2004, at 15:05:25
Hi,
A few weeks ago my P/Doc started me on Sodium Valproate. He says it has a very good side effect profile - and I have to admit that I don't notice any side effects on my current dose of 1000mg.
I'm not bi-polar, but take the Valproate for severe anxiety. I'm also on 40mg Prozac for depression. Unfortunately at the moment the Sodium Valproate is having little effect on my anxiety, but that doesn't mean it won't work on your BP2!! Also I'm only on 1000mg. I believe it can be taken in doses of around 2500mg.
Posted by Racer on September 28, 2004, at 18:00:37
In reply to Re: Running out of options and meds to try!!!!!!!, posted by jms600 on September 28, 2004, at 16:34:50
Have you tried lithium? I just read an article about it in either Science or Nature, and it talked about lithium still being the most reliable choice for a mood stabilizer. It does come with problems, but most are said to be avoidable.
Hope that helps.
Posted by Lex Luthor on September 29, 2004, at 8:54:34
In reply to Re: Running out of options and meds to try!!!!!!!, posted by Racer on September 28, 2004, at 18:00:37
Sounds like Wellbutrin is not doing you any good. It usually works for people with moderate and non - chronic depression. Doesn't do much good to people that NEED antiepileptics.
Mayby an SSRI will work on you.
Support.
Lex Luthor.
Posted by woolav on September 29, 2004, at 9:04:15
In reply to Running out of options and meds to try!!!!!!!, posted by elainen on September 28, 2004, at 15:05:25
Hi, I agree with Lex, wellbutrin may not be the drug for you. I dont even have BP2 (i have panic disorder/depression) and my pdoc said wellbutrin would be too mild for me. I am on prozac (so far its had the least side effects than any other ssri that i have tried) and I take the mood stablizer Lamictal.
Good Luck
Posted by elainen on September 29, 2004, at 13:35:45
In reply to Re: Running out of options and meds to try!!!!!!!, posted by Lex Luthor on September 29, 2004, at 8:54:34
Thanks,
I tried Prozac, was on it for years, then had an SSRI overload and started massive cycling.
THen tried Paxil.
That was a bomb too. I figured then that the SSRIs might not be the best thing for me, so did my former pdoc.
What others should I look at?
When you say people who NEED antiepileptics, what do you mean?
I had an amazing focus and clarity when I tried the Trileptal, was too bad about the throat and rash though.
thanks!
Posted by prodgirl on September 29, 2004, at 14:45:08
In reply to Running out of options and meds to try!!!!!!!Lex, posted by elainen on September 29, 2004, at 13:35:45
I, too, have been on the cocktail roller coaster. Started off with Lexapro, then Effexor, until my pdoc saw me extremely hypo and dx BPI. Because of work, I am lucky to see her once every two months (which is not helping to get the right meds).
The agitated depression/mixed state is all over the place. My hypos have evened out, much to my chagrin, but my lows are extremely low. I called my pdoc this morning telling her it is time to change again.
It is so frustrating, and I must constantly remind myself to hang in there. I don't have much support, my family lives on the east coast, me on the west. They don't get it at all, think it's a phase and the LA way to dx everything as a psychological disorder. I feel like a burden to my best friend, who hasn't yet broken under the emotional strain, which I worry about every day, since he is all I have.
Someday, we will find the right combo. My pdoc told me that I will never get better, but will find a way to manage this. I just want to get to the point where I wake up and not dread going somewhere and finding out that this is a really bad day, to know what it feels like to not be afraid and embarrassed. More like the dawn of a good day ahead of me, at least a string.
Sorry to turn this into a real downer.
Posted by elainen on September 29, 2004, at 15:48:18
In reply to Re: Running out of options and meds to try!!!!!!!Lex, posted by prodgirl on September 29, 2004, at 14:45:08
I totally understand. I look forward to when I can wake up and not have to worry about forgetting things, saying wrong things, getting lunch made for the kids, wondering if I am being irrational, wondering why am I here....the whole slippery slope of nonsense. We are stationed in Germany, I get in to see the doc when I get lucky. She is recluctant to make any changes. She said my mood swings were not so bad, and that I wasn't in any legal trouble yet, right> I didn't dare tell her about the death thoughts that trip through my mind. Which is my big symptom that a whopper is coming on. I do have the support of my mom and a friend. My husband thinks I use this as an exuse.
An excuse for what???? I want to be able to finish a task. A year ago I was functioning fine, working full time, taking care of three kids while he was deployed, then suddenly, it just all fell out from beneath me.
I do get that dysphoric (sp?) mania. I wish it were euphoric..then at least I could write some kickin poetry.
So, I am relooking at the AD, maybe the Wellbutrin is not the best thing for me.
But, my next appt is Oct 18, so I have to hang in until then. Today, I cried alot.
Maybe self-pity, but it's been awhile since I had a pity party.
Tomorrow, I will kick my self in the rear and get in motion and get all my tasks accomplished...
Thanks for your story. It makes so much difference to know I am not special.
Posted by prodgirl on September 29, 2004, at 16:36:46
In reply to Running out of options and meds to try!!!!!!!, posted by elainen on September 29, 2004, at 15:48:18
> Thanks for your story. It makes so much difference to know I am not special.You are not the only one, however, remember, you are special.
Why is it that the ones we love do not understand? Maybe it is because they cannot see it - much like the addage that a man does not get pregnancy until the second trimester, when you start to show. There is no tangible evidence. Maybe it is that they are too afraid to look inside themselves.
I am self employed, ie, a freelancer. It is so hard to work at times. I will lay in bed for two days in a row, crying, and not be able to look for work. I only work about 5-6 mo/yr because of this. Most people would think that is a luxury, but it is nearly impossible to be a single woman and survive, especially with no insurance. I make too much to qualify for state assistance, sometimes my meds are $500/mo, depending on the flavor of the month.
I am deathly afraid to tell my pdoc about how suicidal I can get. She is supposed to be there to help me, but somehow, I am fearful. Maybe that she will want to hospitalize me, which I cannot afford. Maybe we need to make a pact to both say it next time we have an appt.
This is the end of the thread.
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