Posted by Ritch on July 18, 2002, at 10:07:53
In reply to Re: slowed thoughts » Ritch, posted by mist on July 18, 2002, at 1:13:42
> >So I am currently on Depakote, Klonopin, Effexor, Wellbutrin (all low-dose-esp. the AD's).
>
> Are these meds effective for you?
>
> I believe I have Limbic ADD (in addition to unipolar depression). I have all the signs of it and have since childhood. I'm hoping to try provigil and see if it does anything, or else Adderal or another stimulant. I'm afraid of ADs because of reactions I've had to them which rendered me as incapacitated as the depression, so until something better comes out I'd rather try other types of meds.
Mist,Yes, they do work reasonably well. After trials of all sorts of "mood stabilizers" Depakote works the best for hypomania and temper outbursts (mixed hypomania-rage reactions) that I can tolerate. The only thing I don't like is a little weight gain (I have countered it with a super low-fat diet and increased exercise, however). Lithium worked better for the depressive side of things, but I have to push the dose up in order for it to control the hypomania and irritability (as well), and when I get the dose of lithium up it becomes tough to tolerate because of the gastrointestinal upset it causes me. Klonopin keeps the panic attacks away and helps with social anxiety. It also seems to settle hypomania as well. But, I have to be careful with Klonopin when I am depressed and I will feel better if I cut the dosage (which I am doing now). Effexor+Wellbutrin.... Well, the Wellbutrin comes the closest to being a stimulant as possible (of the AD's). All I am really taking that for is so I can stay AWAKE during the day, otherwise I will be yawning, sleepy, etc, all day long (I am just taking 18.75mg). I can't tolerate it as well when I am hypomanic-it is more prone to setting off rages. The Effexor.. well I just take about 12.5 mg a day, that's it. Any more and it will disrupt my sleep and give me bad heartburn and reflux. All the SSRI's aggravate my reflux problems bigtime. I wonder if duloxetine, when it comes around next year, will be weak enough on the serotonergic side for me to tolerate, and yet still be activating and alerting enough for me to concentrate. Wellbutrin by itself is too anxiogenic. Effexor by itself is too "numbing". I never realized just how numbing SSRI's can be until I raised the dose up on the Effexor-whew!
Mitch
poster:Ritch
thread:91928
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020718/msgs/112765.html