Posted by BarbaraCat on September 25, 2003, at 19:08:06
In reply to Re: Barb-cat...or anyone who can help me decide, posted by fluffy on September 25, 2003, at 16:18:54
So sorry you're feeling crummy, Katy. These ups and downs are so crappy. I sure wish there was a definitive test that could tell us what will work instead of the human dart board method.
I also am feeling kinda down, little energy, lack of focus and direction. I know if I put a little effort into exercising it would help and take off on it's own steam, but I just don't wanna. I feel too clunky and poopy to navigate the neighborhood. But I know it'll pass eventually - they always do and I come out and think, well, that really wasn't so terrible, it was just the dirty lens I was looking through. But even so, I'd rather be feeling better NOW. I guess that's the allure of alcohol and drugs.
It sounds like you're not taking lithium any more? I personally think that Lam on it's own isn't enough to handle bipolar depression and you're going to need something else, whatever that may be. But who knows how it is at higher doses? I'm just at 125mg and I've talked with others on this board who say that it really took off at 250mg.
I have no experience with trileptal, but I just communicated with someone on this board, perhaps this thread even, who mentioned she was on 500mg lamictal and trileptal, and loved it, and needed that much Lam. I'm going to research trileptal and if it looks tolerable I'll talk to my pdoc about it. I'm concerned about lithium's effects on my thyroid and it sounds like you had other bad effects from it. Although it's been a good drug for me, I feel like I need a change of scenery in the med department.
I can't say one way or the other about Lam and Wellbutrin. I was taking Wellbutrin and Zoloft for a while and felt terribly speedy and unstable on it. I just felt wired and still depressed. This was before my bipolar dx so it wasn't a good combo for me without a mood stabilizer. But who knows how Wellbutrin would be with Lam? It's not an SSRI so it might be worth a try, especially if you're feeling like you're dragging.
Another thought: you're sure you're bipolar? When is the last time you had a manic/hypomanic swing? Could your manic episodes have been something else? I remember you were on Zoloft for awhile and had pretty good luck with it? If you're actually unipolar depressed, then perhaps an AD along with Lam or another mood-stabilizer would be the way to go.
Have you ever taken one of the antipsychotics like seroquel, zyprexa, risperdal? Sometimes these act like a mood stabilizer and help where other's don't, but have other side effects, mainly weight gain. I was on Zyprexa for awhile when I was going through the worst of my pre-bipolar dx depressions. This was along with Zoloft. It didn't do a thing for me, but others have good things to say about it.
I was greatly helped this past winter after my Mom died by adding Nortriptyline for 3 months. I didn't like the dry mouth and I developed tremors (these diminished somewhat eventually) which is why I quit but it pretty much saved my life. Sometimes TCA's will work when all else fails in a severe depression. I've read many posts here from people who recommend Nortrip very highly and I agree.
And finally - have you ever tried an opiate like hydrocodone(Vicodin) and felt better immediately? I've gotten on some threads here where there's an effort going on to convince the psychiatric folks that opiates are a potent and quick acting antidepressant and probably better than anything on the market currently. I've been helped alot by taking a Vicodin when I just couldn't stand it anymore but felt I was resorting to junkie-dom. It turns out there's very good reason why it relieves mental anguish - pain is pain, after all. There are new ways of dealing with the tolerance and addiction problems as well. The only major drawback I can see is the dang constipation thing. Ah, so many choices. Let me know what comes out of this - keep in touch, girlfriend. - Barbara
poster:BarbaraCat
thread:238206
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030923/msgs/263310.html