Posted by Ritch on May 29, 2003, at 10:07:15
In reply to Mitch, several Q's » Ritch, posted by Jack Smith on May 28, 2003, at 22:55:00
> > Depakote 250mg
> > Klonopin .5-.75mg
> > Effexor approx. 4-6mg
> > Fishoil 1-2G EPA
> > stimulants have been so successful in the past,
>
> Why no stimulants now?Anxiety. It seems I have two or three conditions simultaneously and although stims work magically (and at low doses)for bipolar depression (sleep quality improves as well-no early morning awakenings!), and even seem to flatten out some of my cycling-they have this tendency to bring back my panic disorder symptoms (not right away-but after a few weeks/months on them). Dexedrine was the easiest to tolerate, with the least amount of anxiety. If I ever get really depressed again-that one might be brought back short-term (maybe three or four weeks).
>
> I am curious about your effexor dose and its relation to your BP II. I know you are bipolar II and I have a terrible understanding of this diagnosis but I am curious about one thing--does the fact that I can take 225 mg of Effexor and 400 mg Wellbutrin without any sort of EXTRA anxiety or agitation tend to show that I am not BP II. I have a lot of free floating agitation and anxiety and I have wondered if this makes me BP II but then I have always been able to handle high doses of AD meds without exacerbating these symptoms, but they hardly help them except to the extent AD's lift my mood and keep me from getting down about it. I guess it doesn't matter because what works for some doesn't work for others regardless of dx. I think I am leaning towards trying Lamictal as well. I want to cut down the WB. And I am thinking Lamictal may help with anergia and agitation but who knows? It is an interesting med.
I think it is just an issue of med sensitivity for me combined with the flat dose-response curve of serotonergic meds. Any of the SRI's can have a very beneficial effect (on anxiety/panic) at very tiny doses I've found. Prozac or Celexa 2mg/day has definite effects. Effexor is my fav. because of convenience (the XR is a "sprinkle" cap and that makes taking it easy and VERY cheap) and if I get really under I can boost the dose and I always get a positive response at a "higher" dose (12.5-25mg i.e.)-it's flexible and effective, in short. Yeah... 400mg of Wellbutrin would probably flip me to BP-I with enough time. I tolerated 150mg a day (that's the most I've ever tried) for about three weeks and the anxiety was godawful (far worse than stims-got off it before I started to panic). This is just my opinion, but if you don't have clearcut manic symptoms SOMETIME or other you may as well be treating mixed anxiety/depression and not complicate things. I don't know whether you've taken that test at psycheducation.org or not, but if you haven't taken it, you might give it a rip.
>
> One more q: Why do you go by Ritch when you call yourself Mitch?Computer crash-lost my password-had to start over-new screen name. I had a chance to fix it-but thought something else might go wrong! Hey man, when something is working I don't mess with it if at all possible!
>
> Thanks,
>
> JACK
>
poster:Ritch
thread:99976
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030525/msgs/229922.html