Posted by SLS on July 12, 2004, at 6:49:24
In reply to Re: tachycardia vs. bradycardia, posted by KaraS on July 11, 2004, at 23:43:31
> Scott, unfortunately I don't know much about treating bipolar disorder.That's quite alright. Apparently, neither do doctors, or I wouldn't be writing this.
> Was that your first episode or have you been battling that for a while now?
I became severely depressed at age 17. I was first diagnosed and treated at age 22. With few exceptions, I have been severely depressed for every hour of every day ever since. I am 44 now (ouch - that hurt). It is an anergic and anhedonic depression with profound cognitive impairments that limit my abilities to read, learn, and remember. My writing style is deceptive.
> I've been straight unipolar depression so I don't have the fear of feeling too high.
I was originally diagnosed as unipolar. It wasn't until I was 26 that a manic phenomenon occurred, and that was the result of a reaction to medication. I have never had a spontaneous manic episode.
> You said that you haven't had the same response to Parnate since your episode. Did you also add in the desipramine again?
Yes. :-(
> I would think that if that combo worked, you could add something else to keep the mania in check. I am probably showing my naive perspective with that remark but I felt I had to ask.
Actually, that is exactly what the doctor should have done. He should have continued me on the antidepressants and treated the mania with lithium and Klonopin. Given my previous history of treatment resistance, he should have at least returned to the same combination of antidepressants once I relapsed. Unfortunately, Prozac had just come out, and it was a new toy for him to play with.
I have tried returning to Parnate + TCA several times, and have added other things to the combo - Parnate 120mg + desipramine 300mg + Dexedrine + T4 for example.
> Also, do you have a lot of confidence in your doctor?
I have been working with my present doctor for over a year. I have quite a bit of confidence in him. Of all the doctors I have seen, he has been the most willing to extend himself beyond traditional treatments.
> Have you ever considered trying any herbal, nutritional or nutraceutical remedies in addition to the meds?
Not as many as some of the people on the PB Alternative Board. I don't have much confidence in them, and I don't want to foster adverse interactions with the drugs I am taking.
> Anyway, wish I could give you a hug but since I can't, I'll just say hang in there. It may take longer than you'd like but there are still plenty of options.
Hmm. Not so many I don't think. You should see my list of the things I've tried. (Actually, that's how my drug chart got started). I guess there are enough things left untried that I haven't given up just yet. However, I don't know how I will react emotionally if Cymbalta doesn't work. That the FDA pissed on gepirone doesn't help. That would have been one more thing to keep me going. I don't know how much rope I have left.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:13117
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040712/msgs/365230.html