Posted by waterfall on October 1, 2006, at 12:55:42
In reply to Re: Sometimes the drugs do help » waterfall, posted by 4WD on September 30, 2006, at 16:00:05
> What made the difference for you two weeks ago?Increasing lithium.
>How long have you been on the Geodon?
I've been on it about 6 months at 80 mg - 100 makes me edgy - and it completely kills my sex drive so I wasn't "happy" with it except I was sure done with climbing the walls. Hadn't routinely slept through the night in over two years.
>(I'm bipolar with mixed states, never cycling, always scared, sometimes suicidally depressed). The Geodon changed all that. It took away the fear, added motivation and wiped out suicidal thoughts.
Great! I'm happy to hear the Geodon is working so well for you.
> Does lithium really seem to help you? I was on it briefly and I just got more depressed.
In the past, Depakote has worked better but my psych has had really good success with the Geodon/Lithium combo and wanted me to see it through so I did, and now I'm happy I did.
>I've also read here on this board that any amount of an SSRI is not good for a bipolar and I'm thinking of stopping the Celexa since I feel so much better on the Geodon.
I've had pretty bad luck with anti-depressants. The 5 of Lexapro helps but with 10 I feel like someone is playing a violin on my nerves, just awful. When you're feeling suicidal you have to do what you have to do med-wise until you pick up, though.
> Mostly I wonder what happened that you got so much better a couple of weeks ago. In any event, I'm glad you did.I think it was reaching a therapeutic dose of Lithium in combo with the Geodon and Lexapro and Klonopin in combo with making some changes in my life. I had a hellish first six months of this year in my personal life, and I've made concerted efforts to lead a calm, quiet life and stay out of trouble (if I can stay away from mania that will be half my battle). I ended some relationships that were bad for me, started softly exploring some personal interests that can't get me in trouble (like planning to re-paint a bedroom and decorating the front of the house for the fall), and mostly just gritted my teeth while the drama of the first six months of '06 passed. Time heals all as they say.
Good luck to you Marsha! I hope your stability will last as well
poster:waterfall
thread:690300
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060927/msgs/690835.html