Posted by Lucia Francisca on November 11, 2005, at 14:09:23
In reply to Re: Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar?, posted by laurenjb on November 11, 2005, at 13:07:36
Wow, thanks for the update on revisions to the DSM. I haven't even heard of those revisions yet! In my experience, I was on antidepressants--Celexa and Lexapro--for 5 years. I was elated the severe depressions got better, but I was still irritable and insomniac and anxious at times. Now I wonder if the AD meds caused the rapid cycling the studies and y'all have mentioned. Maybe. Now, on Seroquel, the mood stabilizer, I feel a lot better, less irritable. Maybe my pdocs diagnosis was right and I do need a mood stabilizer rather than AD. Thanks for the interesting information, all.
> I recently consulted with a pyschopharmacologist who suggested I might fit within what they're calling "bipolar spectrum disorder" AKA soft bipolar, which some experts are labelling many people who were previously thought to have treatment resistant major depression (like me). His recommendation, which I am taking, is to use mood stabilizers instead of (rather than in addition to, which I have tried in the past)ADs and so far, so good. I'm on Lamictal (125mg, going up a little every week to 200mg) and Klonopin -- no ADs for the first time in about 8 years. As others on the board have said, I think the Dx matters a lot less than whether or not a treatment works. Just my two cents -- hope it helps. Take care, Lauren
poster:Lucia Francisca
thread:577594
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20051106/msgs/577749.html