Posted by katia on December 16, 2003, at 22:21:36
In reply to Re: Quit the Topamax?, posted by Karen_kay on December 16, 2003, at 14:14:47
Hi Karen!
> Well, my memory is pretty severly impaired, so I don't really remember the combination of Lithium and Lamictal working for me too well. I remember I was pretty lethargic at the time and terrified to leave my house.
**Do you think it was the Lithium making you lethargic? That's what I'm worried about. I think I"ll try the Lithium with my Lam. (200) first - and then add wellbutrin or something. I have been on the depressed side much of the past two months and two days ago I spun out into a terrible mixed state - today the energy is subsiding. see below another post I wrote last night
"Today felt like a day that everyone was mean to me! just got worse and worse... AFter that I went to my therapist and cried, ranted and RAVED for 50mins. She even wanted to have me call my pdoc to put me on Lithium or somethiing! I worked tonight and it's just been one thing after another. I can't explain what is happening to me....I'm losing it completely and spiraling out of reality. At one point tonight I thought - ok, well nothing left but suicide. And then I thought - "chuck the ATkins diet and have a glass of wine if it means something that will save you from yourself". And the combo with the resignation that I would end it and then the fact that I had something else (the glass of wine)(and I'm not even a big drinker) or not even that glass of wine. just the thought and plan (but no action ) of suicide helps me to actually live more? does that make sense to anyone? Once I decide I'd had enough and started planning a suicide, then suddenly things got lighter....it's odd. Mixed states are when suicides happen the most. it's awful. it's like you're in that backwash of water going back out to sea. you have no idea where to take stand - I feel like a wild animal has gotten loose and is banging up against the insides of my mind - I feel out of control with emotion and I'm scared."
**so that's a pretty good description of the other side of depression for me - maybe Li. and Lam. will work well together. IN any case, I decided yesterday that I can't deal like this and lamict. just not cutting it alone.>> I understand what you are going through. /You get dx and you are like "Greta! Now they can "fix" me. It just isn't quite that simple. It does take a while to figure out which drug/s work/s for you and at which dosage. And whether you can handle the side effects. It can bring you down. But hang in there. Once you find the right cocktail, it makes all the difference in the world. And I strongly believe you will find the right cocktail. It just takes some time.
**Thank you so much for those words of encouragement - really. I need to hear that I"ll find the right combo and things will fall into place.
>>Have you tried Lamictal with an AD?
**Nope. Since getting a BP dx, I have stayed off ADs.
>>Have you taken an AD in the past? With what results?
**Oh yeah. What a nightmare. I tried 5! over the course of almost a year - hypomanic on two and a zombie on the others. I can't believe it took everyone that long to figure it out. In june I got the dx.
> I'm not sure about hypothyroidism. I do know that there is medication you can take to help if you do develope it. This is a concern you should address with you doctor. I wish I knew more about it, so I could help you.
**I know. But the last thing I need is permanent damage to my thyroid, esp. the way that makes you gain weight and cold.
> Are you happy with Lamictal?
> Is you main problem now depression?
> Why not suggest adding Wellbutrin to the Lamictal?**I will do this if Lithium and Lam. don't do the trick.
>
> I'm going to do some research on hypothyroid and direct another post when I catch something.
> Thinking about you, Karen**Thanks!
take good care,
Katia
poster:katia
thread:287670
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031213/msgs/290776.html