Posted by Christ_empowered on September 22, 2011, at 1:59:39
I'm feeling *so* much better on 200 lamictal and 15 abilify. Its only been a little while on 15 abilify, but I already feel more clear-headed and happy.
Now, here's the thing: my main problem is psychotic depression. Recurrent, severe psychotic depression with everything that goes along with it (anxiety, paranoia, blah blah blah). I've had a few episodes that could qualify as mixed, and one long, drawn out psychotic episode that got me diagnosed Bipolar I w/ Psychotic Features. I also have dissociative episodes when I hit the higher points (or mixed areas) on the mood chart.
Abilify has been great to me, really it has, but I'm wondering if maybe its time to go another route. I don't want TD and I don't want to be tranquilized forever.
Do you think a LOW dose of Lithium+Lamictal would help the psychotic depression? I could still have the Abilify on hand for any mixed/manic episodes. I have to say, though, that my "crack up" (mixed/manic/psychotic episode) followed a long period of psychotic depression; I almost feel as if a switch was made inevitable by having such a low mood for so long. Does that make any sense at all? I feel that with proper management of the psychotic depression and control over psychosocial problems, I might be able to avoid a future psychotic break.
What do you guys think? Of course, the absolute easiest thing to do would be to try lamictal monotherapy, but I don't know if my doc is up for that; she already said 400 was too high a dose, so it looks like I'm probably going to need at least 1 additional medication to make it through OK.
Thanks in advance.
poster:Christ_empowered
thread:997474
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20110914/msgs/997474.html