Posted by colin wallace on July 30, 2002, at 8:33:38
In reply to Re: Was it the SAM-e or AD that induced rage? » colin wallace , posted by Ron Hill on July 27, 2002, at 20:07:14
Hi Ron,
> Are you absolutely positive that the AD was inducing the rage and not the SAM-e?
Actually Ron, painful experimentation proved that both zoloft and sam-e were, in varying degrees, responsible for activating my manic/rage symptoms.As I mentioned, zoloft, in common with many AD's I have taken seemed to work successfully for a period of months before triggering the manic response (or 'mixed episode',to coin my pdocs. terminoligy).
This occurred without any sam-e on board.After discontinuing zoloft with a slow taper (I only briefly ventured above 25mg anyway), I discovered that sam-e would prompt a similar response; I stopped all meds, with the exception of a tiny dose of diazepam for a few weeks, and then cautiously re-introduced sam-e at 200mg.It sent me way over the edge pretty quickly- a barely containable anger.
Subsequently I have found that I can, with caution,take 200mg of sam-e (ONLY)in conjunction with a further 5MG or so of diazepam, but to my mind this is self-defeating.
I think we should bear in mind though that sam-e, with its (latent in our cases) capacity for
activating 'mania' after being otherwise taken successfully for a period of months, is no different in causing a bipolar11 type response to any AD medication. Indeed, I view it as a testiment to its AD efficacy; we know it works, but its not what's needed as far as our delicate brain chemistries are concerened!>>The rash and the Depakote induced depression were the main reasons I stopped using it (Lamictal)
That really is a shame, especially after the promising influences lamictal seemed to exert.
Depakote has without doubt managed to quell these awful rage/mixed symptoms in my case-but then again they were caused in the first instance by AD meds- fighting fire with fire maybe??
Sadly, it is almost inevitable that I will relapse into a depression at some point (especially now my father, who brought me through the worst of my own illness, is terminally ill. This has put paid to my desire-and opportunity- to return to work too).
Being very mindful of everything that you and Mitch have said, I have no alternative but to try to forestall this with either lamictal or lithium ,or the addition of one of the two.
Much thought and research will go into this before I take the plunge, rest assured.
As you say, preliminaries with valproate are good, so I think it may be prudent to experience a coupla months of sanity before I go tinkering further with my med regime.
>>if Lance Armstrong can come back from testicular cancer and become a four time winner of the Tour de France, you can come back from this injury. The same thing applies to coming back from your brain chemistry issues. You are going to win this battle!>
> Armstrong is an inspiration!!Thanks for the vote of confidence Ron.
I used to think of Lance Armstrong as an inspirational figure, years ago following his recovery and grit in just getting back on a bike-at that point he was virtually unknown- glad he won the tour again- amazing character.
My swollen testicle is healing nicely too- Beardy said it was looking so much better this morning..... *_-Col.
poster:colin wallace
thread:113419
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020725/msgs/114359.html