Posted by Ritch on November 24, 2002, at 10:38:36
In reply to Re: cycling, posted by Peter S. on November 23, 2002, at 22:53:28
> Ritch,
>
> You have an amazing regimen! How did you decide on all of it? I've tried fish oil and Omega 3 but never saw any real results. Can you tell when you drop a med or substance?
>
> I have intense cycling which seems to be about 3 days in duration. It has especially increased since I've been taking meds. It's driving me crazy. For the last 2 days I've been in an incredibly deep hole. 3 days ago I felt great.
>
> I really don't know what to do anymore. I've tried every med under the sun. I'm now taking Lamictal and Neurontin and have just added Lithium.
>
>Hi Peter, it was arrived at by LOTS of trial and error over years. Also, it is always evolving, so it is by no means final. The basic conclusions that I have found through going through lots of med trials and mood charting (that's a very good idea BTW), is that (for me) Depakote works the best for hostility and hypomania, and Clonazepam simply prevents panic attacks period (I haven't had ONE full-blown panic attack while I stay on a low dose maintenance). Now that leaves bipolar depression and ADHD symptoms that are relatively unaddressed. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (currently low-dose Effexor), help with generalized anxiety and can reasonably pull me out of BP depression, BUT they trigger intense hypomania like nothing else I have ever taken. Stimulants don't trigger hypomania, but they make anxiety worse. I've tried several and tried to manage anxiety in different ways while trying them to no avail. So they are off the table. Wellbutrin didn't help the ADHD symptoms very well and also caused lots of anxiety, so it is out. So.... now we are trying fish oil, L-tyrosine (intermittently), and oxcarbazepine as an atypical antidepressant to see if I can get by. So far so good, but I won't know until I get through a full cycle on it (middle or end of next week).
poster:Ritch
thread:128143
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021122/msgs/129034.html