Posted by Bela on June 1, 2004, at 12:02:58
In reply to Re: Lamictal Poop-out? » Bela, posted by BarbaraCat on May 28, 2004, at 15:28:36
Dear Barbara,
Thanks for all the useful information. It sounds complicated but obviously worth the effort. Right now, I am wrestling with going back on Lexapro (10 mg) to augment the Lamictal. But again, I hate the side effects. I find myself thinking along the SSRI lines after going a week or more on very little sleep and getting no lift from 150 mg of Lamictal.
Bela
> > > Thanks, Barbara. The poop-out and sexual dysfunction are the worst part of these drugs. Did you develop any decent coping mechanisms during the depression periods? I don't have the mania, just the depression.
> >
> **Yowza, that's a topic! I'll try to be succinct, but yes, I'm finally getting a handle on my mood disorder. Most of it revolves around maintaining hope and building my tolerance muscles every chance I can get and giving myself biophysical support. (Slowly) getting off lithium and lamictal and letting 'er rip was very difficult and I had some intense mixed states depressions and psychosis emerging all Winter. It had been breaking through for some time and no meds were 'getting rid of it'. I was trying to keep on top of nutrition, sleep, exercise, good food because I go downhill fast when I don't, but it was hard to do anything but hang on during this time. I had to process alot of deep emotional pain that was ready to come up and out. I did ALOT of crying, sobbing, grieving and wrote it all down in my journal - Journal as Therapist - the best therapist I've ever had. I was pretty much a basket case which is difficult if one is working, but I'm not right now so could fall apart righteously and spectacularly. This was old buried stuff that I was terrified of experiencing, but it was like a dam burst and no meds were stopping it. So that had to happen. It was time. I think it has to happen eventually with anyone who is carrying old deep pain and trauma, but probably not necessary to get that wild or intense.
>
> But even though the wild mixed states phase subsided I was still getting depressed and have set out to figure out why. What I've learned has to do with 'methylation' and how many of us are genetically deficient in this important step to support neurotransmitter production. Substances that help are SAM-e, 800 mg folic acid, sublingual methylcobalamin (neuro form of B12), B2. This regimen has been helping my mood. I also take 1T Carlson's Finest fish oil daily, as well as Jarrow's Pharmaceutical Inositol powder. l-Taurine helps anxiety. I take the Magnesium Taurate form of Mg also.
>
> Recently I started St. John's Wort once again since I had a decent response years ago from it and felt I still needed that extra neurotransmitter support. It felt a little too activating and I was concerned about hypomania so stopped but I'm noticing the difference. I feel it was helping - without the sexual side effects. I'm searching for the best brand for me. Was taking Nature's Way Perika, which is one of the lab test pharmaceutical brands, but I'm going to try a full spectrum oil infused brand (Flora) to see if all the herbal components will work more smoothly than just the single active compound.
>
> I'm FORCING myself to get outside for a walk everyday - it's crucial to my mood. When I let this slide, my mood, energy level, sleep, slides down with it. Getting at least 7 hours sleep is essential so I take Ambien and herbal sleep remedies, otherwise I'm awake all night and get wired/tired jaggies. Alot of water and high doses (6-10G) Vitamin C has been very effective as well. Getting rid of toxic sludge is very important and lots of water and keeping things 'regular' is really important so I use a great product called 'Fiberzon' from Amazon Herb Co. (a psyllium/herbal blend that you have to mail order) but a good psyllium or flax seed product would probably work as well. My thyroid was low too from the lithium and I was feeling it, so I increased my thyroid med (Westhroid natural source) and it's helped my metabolism in general.
>
> Even so, with all these things I still get times of intense sadness, tiredness, physical pain and other depression symptoms. The world situation sucks and brings me down, but this is a pretty normal response, I think, as long as I can halt the downward spiral into despondency. I just try to keep trusting that all things pass, and force myself to get in an exhausting walk and do a little praying while I'm out there. It always helps even if I don't start feeling better immediately.
>
> This will probably get bounced to Alternative, but that's been my focus and I think it's finally paying off. Good luck and please keep me posted on how you're doing. - Barbara
poster:Bela
thread:206329
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040527/msgs/352717.html