Posted by littlebaldy29 on July 30, 2002, at 15:01:13
In reply to Need help please confused about BP and Meds, posted by whitewave on July 29, 2002, at 17:11:37
I would say that you exhibit the symptoms of manic depression (bipolar). I can empathize with your medication choices, I also refuse to take lithium and depakote made me very ill.
Lithium can be good for some people but I have found in my research that people who rapid cycle, have mixed states, who have waited a long time to get treated, and who have chemical dependency issues do not respond as well to it.
Anti-convulsants are effective for these types of people but the side effects can be unpleasant and the drugs are older. Usually blood levels have to be monitored and the drugs are metabolized through the kidneys or the liver, so special doctor visits are required. Depakote is an example of an anti-convulsant.
Anti-depressants are tricky for Manic depressives because they tend to make you manic especially SSRI's (i.e Prozac) and tri-cyclics (tofranil)but there are newer ones that can be effective.
Anti-psychotics can be good for anxiety and some have good anti-depressant qualities to them. I take risperdal and topamax. I would not recommend Zyprexa because of the side effect profile (mainly excessive weight gain).
You will need to access your condition a little better so that your doctor can maybe try some different meds. How often are your "bursts of energy" and depression? Is your thinking delusional? Do you also have anxiey problems?
Also figure out if your are a rapid cycler or not. If you are, then you will have a legitimate excuse to never have to take lithium if you do indeed have manic depression. Hope this helps!
poster:littlebaldy29
thread:114204
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020725/msgs/114422.html