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Re: yes... another question: Lamictal » Spriggy

Posted by Minnie-Haha on March 8, 2005, at 21:02:07

In reply to Re: yes... another question: Lamictal, posted by Spriggy on March 7, 2005, at 20:47:18

> Mini ha ha- may I ask what AD you have found to work for you?

Since I was DXd Bipolar Type 2, the only ADs that have worked for me were ones I took with a mood stabilizer at the same time. Originally Effexor with Depakote, but I gained a lot of weight on that. Now Cymbalta with Trileptal. I am gaining a little weight (though it seems to be the Cymbalta, not the Trileptal.) I just started augmenting the Cymbalta (which I had to decrease 'cause it raised my blood pressure a little) with a very low dose of Bupropion (generic Wellbutrin), which I can't say much about yet 'cause I only added it a little over one week ago. But the Cymbalta/Trileptal combo was working very well for my anxiety and depression (and accompanying insomnia and nausea).


> Anyway, we sound similar so maybe what helps you, would work.

Have you given up on staying on the benzo (was it Klonopin?) to see if addressing your anxiety alone helps your depression? Some say it works, but it didn't for me (though I took very low doses -- I tried Ativan and Klonopin). You just have to ride out the side effects -- like being groggy -- for a few weeks, like when you're starting up an AD. If you've given up on that, maybe try Lamictal (start up VERY slowly and be ready to wait 3 weeks or more for significant results). If that doesn't work, I would suggest starting up on an MS like Trileptal, and after you've been on it a couple weeks, then start up on an AD. (I guess you could start up on an AD and add an MS if you get anxious, manic, etc, but if you really believe you're Bipolar -- and considering what you've been through with other ADs -- why put yourself through that?) If you have a tendency to get manic, agitated, anxious, whatever on ADs alone, a mood stabilizer is probably the answer.


> Don't you wish there was some test we could take to KNOW what works???

YES!!! I still hope before I die they actually have tests to tell you what you've got (what your brain-chemistry imbalance is) and how best to treat it. In the meantime, it's trial and error, which I'm only recently beginning to accept.


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poster:Minnie-Haha thread:467920
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