Posted by Ruth on August 12, 1999, at 20:32:34
In reply to Help with a depressive cycle, posted by Justin on August 12, 1999, at 19:18:52
As I'm sure you know finding the right "cocktail" of meds is a hard one and made more difficult in that sometimes a med that has been working stops. Given the prospect of returning to school now might be a good time to get a consultation with another psychopharmacologist. I know it can be awkward to raise with your doctor but I would be straightforward with him/her making it clear you have confidence in him but that given that your response has not been total you'd like to add some additional thinking to the problem.
Ideally I would go to a psychopharmacologist who is affiliated with a med school (more likely to be up on the "latest latest" in research. In a perfect world it should someone with specific expertise in depression/bipolar issues. It is worth searching for someone with the specific expertise.
Good luck> Right now I'm in "the depressive end" of my Bipolar NOS disorder. I am currently taking:
>
> Lithium 675mg (max tolerable)
> Neurontin 200mg (ramping up over the next couple of weeks)
> Clonazepam .5 every other day to control panic attacks
> Risperidal 2.5mg
> Amitriptyline 50mg
>
> Most days I feel out of sorts and very disorgainized.
> I feel like I'm falling apart yet I don't seem to be
> exhibiting any hypomanic or manic symptoms, just
> depressive ones.
> We have been trying for several months now to get me
> out of this "funk", trying Paxil, Prozac, and
> Wellbutrin. I have previously tried all of the SSRIs,
> additionally Remeron, which caused binge eating, and Clompiramine
> which caused heart palapetations and low blood pressure.
> Although Remeron and Clompiramine seemed to work, the
> side effects made continuing with them unadvisable.
>
> I've got college starting soon and I need desperatly
> to be better. I fear I may end up crashing and having
> to be rehosipitalized once I experience stress again.
> Does anyone have any ideas on what I should do? I
> trust my pdoc and take all my meds, but they don't
> seem to be doing anything more than barely preventing
> a major relapse.
>
> Thank you.
>
> Justin
poster:Ruth
thread:9966
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990726/msgs/9972.html