Posted by polarbear206 on January 18, 2010, at 19:02:09
In reply to Re: pity party at my house: three day remission ov » polarbear206, posted by floatingbridge on January 18, 2010, at 17:58:12
> > Your depression appears to cycle, right? Can you tell me meds you have tried and combos? Are you female?
>
> Hi PB, thanks for your interest.
>
> My moods shift daily. Sometimes a pattern emerges only to change. Mornings are worse, and usually, as the day goes on, lightens.
>
> I am a woman. My current meds are pristiq 50mg, dexadrine 45-60mg, xanax xr 1-1.5mg, xanax prn (about .5mg).
>
> Mood stabilizers have been depakote (I forget the dose; it's been about 10 years), and abilify.
>
> I keep a mood chart / med chart daily. My current pdoc/t changed my dx from BP nos to major depression recurrent and ptsd.
>
> When I first sought help twelve years ago, I was dx'd as soft BP and cyclothymic. Depakote didn't help, but it flattened me. So did abilify, without helping.
>
> I have a consult next week at the depression clinic (not the BP clinic)....
>
> The shift I was referring to is unprecedented. I've never felt 'free' of depression for, oh, 35 years. No mania, either. Just a nice feeling of 'life is possible' and enjoyment.
>
> Thanks Polar Bear, for asking,
>
I can see some similarities with your situation. My symptoms started after my son was born 21 years ago. Ended up in the psyche ward for 3 day with PPD. I have soft bipolar. No real hypomania. Good energy, creative, can get alot accomplished. Of course, I need less sleep at times. Doesn't interfere too much with my day to day routine. I'll crash and take naps on occasion. I try to nip it in the butt before it gets worse, so I'll pop a klonopin so I can get more sleep. Winter is worse because there is a seasonal pattern to my illness. PMS worse too. I have been pretty stable for a long time now. I diagnosed myself. Went to the p-doc and told him that I needed a mood stablizer because AD's alone were exacerbating my depression. My mornings were the worse!!! It would lift as the day went by. I would get out of bed and feel like I got hit by a truck even though I thought I was getting enough sleep. I had the atypical depression symptoms (hypersomnia, hyperpahgia,body aches, anxiety, etc..My body felt like it got hit by a truck. Big effort to even brush my teeth, etc... I wonder if your stimulant is exacerbating your depression? You probably need an AD that targets norep/serotonin like what you are on, but perhaps a higher dose or switch to other SNRI? Mood stablizers that I have tried were depakote, and Lithium with no success. Tried Ritalin too for the overwhelming fatigue I would get and no go. Lamictal has worked wonders for me and I take 200mg with 300 of effexor. My BP is depression dominated. I'm typing this real fast because I got to go make supper. Have you ever tried Lamictal? Psycheducation.org is an excellent site to do some research.
poster:polarbear206
thread:934207
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20100113/msgs/934256.html