Posted by dragonblack on August 6, 2010, at 12:27:11
In reply to Re: BPII: stop antidepressant to test mood stabilizer?, posted by MaybeSo on August 5, 2010, at 20:57:10
Maybe so, MaybeSo. I've never heard that about Lamictal. It's weird, I have these deep psychological ties to these drugs, so it's hard for me to consider changing. Wellbutrin may have saved my life more than once - I can't let go! Re: your advice, I tried Lexapro in the past (the active enantiomer of which is identical to Celexa) and it was helpful for me at low dose (5 mg) but once I hit 10 mg I just emotionally flatlined. I sat and stared at the wall for an entire evening; I couldn't even summon the will to watch tv. Which is why I want to try a more stimulating SSRI (prozac), but that's the one they are least likely to let me try due to risk of manic switch (which is overestimated!!!). At the very least, I want to wean down on Wellbutrin. I'm interested in Remeron, too, I've heard cool stuff, though risk of weight gain seems to loom "large" there too. I've pretty much decided that even though I haven't managed to give Lamictal a fair trial, there's not much I can do about that now. I can't just go off of my AD, that's a long-term goal, especially since I want to try another mood stabilizer, as Lamictal is the only one that is basically also an AD, so my current plan is to ask for a new MS and low dose of a second AD, and then cut back on Wellbutrin slowly. I don't suspect they will give me a script for a second AD, (recently moved here, the PA I saw seems to think I am chasing hypomania by asking for one), but I will order it on my own if I have to. There can't be any harm in trying 10 mg a day of prozac and seeing if addressing the serotonin component isn't a glaring oversight of my current regimen. Every time I've gone off an AD in the past I have crashed, though I've never had a mood stabilizer in place. I'm too scared to try it, though. I'm always worried that maybe next time Wellbutrin won't work, which happens to some people.
> Over and over I have been told by my doctors that Lamictal over 200 gives no benefit. But I take an extra 1/2 every so often when I am feeling overstressed, sort of how people use a Xanax. Probably not supposed to do it, and could very well be placebo effect.
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> The Wellbutrin can make some people really irritable, you may want to try a different antidepressant.
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> Celexa maybe? It is generic and had a very calming effect on me--I had to add Wellbutrin to get up and go because I was so content sitting around--but not anxiety inducing at all.
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> Or another AD entirely.
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> Or no AD at all, although I have never made it for more than a few weeks without falling directly into the pit.
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poster:dragonblack
thread:957141
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20100731/msgs/957503.html