Posted by dove on April 4, 2000, at 9:46:20
In reply to Favorite Mood Stabilizers?, posted by Noa on April 3, 2000, at 17:14:46
To Noa, I miss you! My thoughts have been with you as are my prayers, especially with regard to the p-doc appointment this friday. I am sending good vibes your way, this doctor better give you the time of day, you need change, and the good kind at that!
The switch to Wellbutrin SR may be a very good idea, without the Effexor SR of course. Wellbutrin's shorter half-life should enable you to dismiss it quickly should the tinnitus become an issue.
For the ADs, what about something with a little more OOmmph! behind it, like a MAOI, or something akin to Reboxitine? Something stimulating rather than soothing so to speak. And make sure you're getting good sleep. You cannot fight depression on three-four hours of sleep per night, you just don't have the reserves.
Topiramate (Topamax) as a mood stabilizer may be an option, one of the few that holds weight-loss as a possible side-effect. I believe topiramate's safety is quite good also.
Lamotrigine is detailed on Dr. Ivan's site as having good antidepressant effects. I think this one is suppose to have more AD effects than the other mood-stabilizers. Is this the one with good libido effects, someone? If it is, then would it have effects similar to the augmenting effects of Stimulants (Ritalin, Adderall), Bupropion, and Pinadol (spelling?)which might prove useful to your symptoms.
The older ones like Tegretol, valproic acid have more side-effects supposedly, sometimes I wonder if they've just been around longer and that's why they are considered dirtier than the newer ones. I hated Tegretol, but it seems to help many others in need of a stabilizer. It numbed my brain, my body and my emotions, pretty negative, but as always YMMV.
Please keep us updated, my thoughts and prayers are with you.
dove
poster:dove
thread:28748
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000401/msgs/28825.html