Posted by uncouth on November 4, 2009, at 8:45:09
In reply to Re: Going back to old-school - lithium., posted by SLS on November 4, 2009, at 7:02:23
I know people like you (and me) are pretty finely attuned to mood changes and can usually tell the difference between something REALLY working and just thinking its workign (placebo) but your pattern of slight improvement followed by decline seems like a placebo effect, so maybe lithium isn't working at all?
I can't recall your polypharmacy but as long as you can stand the weight issues, it might be worth trying zyprexa again. I can't undercommunicate what a differential response I felt with zyprexa compared to abilify (in the end the weight gain killed me and i'm trying abilify again, but I credit zyprexa with getting me out of the hole).
And have you tried agomelatine? Many of us are seeing great results with it. I'm on 50mg, and I feel so refreshed in the mornings.
Given that your on MAOI, have you tried augmenting with DL-phenylalanine, or PEA?
Agreed that your system seems to be "Stuck" in an equilibrium. THe problem might be that your current slew of meds is simply making that equilibrium more sticky.
I have to say that having been on MAOIs for a year, and parnate for six months, the results I'm getting on high dose (600mg) bupropion, combined with agomelatine, low dose lithium, deplin, and atypical antipsychotic are far superior. My dx is bp2 and parnate, like SS/NRIs, simply put me in a state of 'mind-spinning', ruminative depression. My current mix does not do that nearly as much. I have been free of suicidal ideation for two months, knock on wood.
If your'e still feeling bad despite being on a complex regimin, sometimes its better to start a-new. I for one have never found lamotrigine to be particularly helpful. I tried it as monotherapy and as augmenter. Made me pretty blahhh as both.
poster:uncouth
thread:904699
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20091029/msgs/924396.html