Posted by galkeepinon on September 3, 2003, at 3:21:19
In reply to Re: Lexapro side effects » galkeepinon, posted by shoebox on September 2, 2003, at 22:12:59
Do you have a diagnosis by a doctor of a depression as well as bipolar? How long were you at 10mg of Lexapro? Sometimes even though you may not feel good at first, that sometimes passes and it may have been that by increasing it to 20mg~may have caused the diarrhea I bet.
Do you think the Geodon may have caused the weight gain? I know it can in some people.
I would talk to your doc about Effexor, Elavil, Tofranil, and Pamelor. These medications have been quite effective in improving the symptoms of depression. I did well on Effexor~but that doesn't mean you will. I, too, have tried pretty much the same meds you have here.
As far as 'antidepressant' properties of other meds, Effexor is one, Luvox is another, mostly used for OCD. It does help depression in some though. Mysoline (an anti-seizure med) is also a pretty good medication that helps with depression in some bipolar patients.
Also, Nardil and Parnate, MAOI's, are a group of antidepressants that were developed in the 1950's. Initially they were used as treatments for TB, but were discovered to have antidepressant properties. Tegretol, an AED also is used in bipolar patients, you didn't mention you had been on that. Then there's the antipsychotic medications that some people take that have usefulness in more severe states of depression and bipolar. They're effective in controlling severe agitation, disorganization, as well as psychotic symptoms which sometimes accompany the more severe instances of bipolar.
Hope this helped and hang in there:-)
Keep me posted and good luck!
> I didn't have the diarrhea at 10 mg but I also didn't feel that great, which is why he bumped it up to 20. I haven't added anything new. I'm currently on Lamictal 300mg and Provigil 300 mg, have been on those for quite some time, no diarrhea before now. I'm probably on the least amount of meds I've ever been on--I was taking Geodon (after a manic episode at Xmas) and Wellbutrin along with Lamictal and Provigil for a while. I was on WB for many years and it was a great drug for me. Then in March I started to deteriorate rapidly. I have never had a med poop out on me so suddenly like that, and I was sad to give up the WB, esp since I immediately put on 10 pounds and have been struggling with my weight ever since (never had a weight problem before). My dr switched me to Celexa--no improvement, more suicidal than ever in my life, no explanation why, no particular stresses, etc. Next came Lexapro, and now I have this awful diarrhea. I think Lexapro and I are going to have to part ways, but what then?? I have been on Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Serzone, Wellbutrin, Trazodone, Depakote, Lamictal, Sonata, Concerta, Adderall, Ritalin, Restoril, Ativan, Geodon, Seroquel, Celexa, Lexapro...I cannot take Lithium because of a kidney condition. My manic episodes are very well controlled generally, but this depression is THE WORST, and I've had it bad. I almost feel like I belong in a hospital, and yet I am managing to get through each day without thinking about suicide as often as I was a few weeks ago. I mostly just feel sort of numb--low anxiety, I guess. Numb is better than suicidal, but it's not what I'm after.
>
> Effexor? Luvox? Remuron? Are any BP meds besides Lamictal considered "antidepressant"? (and Lamictal is no prize)
poster:galkeepinon
thread:256477
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030902/msgs/256573.html