![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 42. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Angel Girl on July 18, 2002, at 12:13:50
I'm currently taking 267.5mg of Effexor XR. I've recently had my diagnosis changed from severe depression to Bi-Polar II, Complex PTSD and as yet undetermined personality disorder (most likely BPD). I've been told I desperately need to be put on a mood stabilizer. A couple of days ago I got some news that really upset and angered me. Just prior to that, I was in a really good mood (not manic), which is a rarity for me. I'm usually just really depressed. But this news really threw me for a loop. Now my moods are changing several times a day and none of them are good. I'm very hurt, I'm crying and I'm very angry. I'm taking it out on everybody.
Can somebody PLEASE explain to me in layman's terms, so that I can understand, how I will feel on a mood stabilizer? What is it going to do for me?
I'm sooooo sick of all this crap. Lately all I want to do is sit in a corner and cry.
Angel
Posted by cybercafe on July 18, 2002, at 12:42:42
In reply to Mood stabilizers, posted by Angel Girl on July 18, 2002, at 12:13:50
> I'm currently taking 267.5mg of Effexor XR. I've recently had my diagnosis changed from severe depression to Bi-Polar II, Complex PTSD and as yet undetermined personality disorder (most likely BPD). I've been told I desperately need to be put on a mood stabilizer. A couple of days ago I got some news that really upset and angered me. Just prior to that, I was in a really good mood (not manic), which is a rarity for me. I'm usually just really depressed. But this news really threw me for a loop. Now my moods are changing several times a day and none of them are good. I'm very hurt, I'm crying and I'm very angry. I'm taking it out on everybody.
>
> Can somebody PLEASE explain to me in layman's terms, so that I can understand, how I will feel on a mood stabilizer? What is it going to do for me?
>
> I'm sooooo sick of all this crap. Lately all I want to do is sit in a corner and cry.
>
> Angelit just lets you keep the same mood for a longer period of time... also in my experience it makes me feel the same high but without feeling really agitated or like i want to run around and get 100 things done within the next hour
it can be a good or a bad thing... i mean the first one i took i wasn't given an antidepressant so i felt a little bit depressed all the time ... (but never too depressed/tired/lethargic/negative thinking) .. and never got too high/energetic... but when i combined it with an antidepressant i felt much more normal ... i am type II btw, so i suppose we will all have different experiences...
.... i guess if you don't like it you can always stop taking it :)
.. as for anger.. i am told when i take it i am much easier to get along with :) .. and i tend to agree that the anger and irritability is much reduced on a mood stabilizer and antidepressant combo ...
Posted by Angel Girl on July 18, 2002, at 14:16:03
In reply to Re: Mood stabilizers, posted by cybercafe on July 18, 2002, at 12:42:42
cybercafe
First off I want to preface this by expressing anger at myself for posting a long reply to you and not confirming the damn thing and now I have to start all over. I HATE when I do that, and in the current mood I'm in, it certainly does NOT help. Sorry, just needed to vent my frustration, which is NOT directed at you.
Somehow, I know this reply is going to pale in comparison to the one I lost. :(
So what you are saying is that mood stabilizers prolong your moods???? I don't see the point in that. I was hoping that they would even my moods out so that I control them more. My current mood started with getting some more bad news from the health system that seems to want to let me fall through the cracks once again. In a 10 minute phone call I went from having an extremely rare good mood (not manic) to being angry. Now, I am continually subjecting everybody that comes anywhere near me to all that my anger entails and I KNOW that this is not helping my relationship problems but yet I continue. It's like I have no control. I'm not satisfied until I destroy everything in my life. I know I'm doing it, but yet I continue.
I was thinking of taking either Lamitical or Topomax. My doctors are urging me to take Lithium but I'm fighting that with all I've got. I don't want to go anywhere near that drug. They're urging me to keep an open mind. The more I read about it, the more I hate. What mood stabilizer are you on?
Isn't there something that can be taken to even out my moods so that I don't inflict all the innocent people who have the misfortune to talking with me to all this anger I am engrossed with right now???
Because of some upseting news, it's having a domino effect on everything and all I want to do is cry and bite everybody's heads off. I know I'm doing it but it's like somebody else has taken over control of my mind and body and I can't seem to stop. Then of course, once I create all the damage from this mood, I will be extremely upset to what I've done and angry at myself and so the viscious cycle will continue.
Isn't there a way out of this living nightmare???
Somebody please help me. I need some advice before I destroy everything that means everything to me.
Does ANYBODY understand what I'm talking about or am I completely insane and beyond help.
Angel Girl
Posted by cybercafe on July 18, 2002, at 14:54:01
In reply to Re: Mood stabilizers, posted by Angel Girl on July 18, 2002, at 14:16:03
I'm sorry you're having trouble Angel Girl... I've been there myself, and I know how frustrating things can be... and how desperate you can feel...as for mood stabilizers prolonging moods being a bad thing: i was wrong, you are right... they first evened out my mood, then prolonged that even mood ... they let me feel that "balanced" and "stable" way instead of having my mood bounce around... all in all it was a good thing ...
> So what you are saying is that mood stabilizers prolong your moods???? I don't see the point in that. I was hoping that they would even my moods out so that I control them more. My current mood started with getting some more bad news from the health system that seems to want to let me fall through the cracks once again. In a 10 minute phone call I went from having an extremely rare good mood (not manic) to being angry. Now, I am continually subjecting everybody that comes anywhere near me to all that my anger entails and I KNOW that this is not helping my relationship problems but yet I continue. It's like I have no control. I'm not satisfied until I destroy everything in my life. I know I'm doing it, but yet I continue... yeah i have dealt with teh system in London (UK) and Toronto (Canada) and wherever i go i get really frustrated with the system... i feel like all i need is 5 minutes of a docs time to write me a perscription and my life will be so much better... but to get that perscription i need to wait months ....
anyways now i am seeing a really good doctor several times a month and i am quite happy :)
the dumb part is that now that i am feeling good i really don't need to see a doc that often anyways :)
i feel concerned that if i express anger doctors will not want to see me == another 4 months of waiting.... or it is impossible for me to legitimately feel angry ---- if anything upsets me, it is because i am insane and not because the system could have possibly done anything wrong....
but that is in the past... now i am well aware that people acknowledge the system is in trouble, and i find some of the better doctors are surprisingly very reachable ...
all in all there is quite a bit of hope... when you realize that the system works very well for people who know how to use the system... how to take advantage of it.. where to look... then you start to really see some benefits...
.... personally i find gabapentin is wonderful for agitation and anxiety and i would suppose anger as well.... but if i were dangerous or unmanagable to the people around me i suppose i would go for a gold standard treatment like lithane first .... i also hear it has an antidepressant effect, which sounded worth investigating when i was depressed...
> I was thinking of taking either Lamitical or Topomax. My doctors are urging me to take Lithium but I'm fighting that with all I've got. I don't want to go anywhere near that drug. They're urging me to keep an open mind. The more I read about it, the more I hate. What mood stabilizer are you on?... right now i take gabapentin from time to time... i also tried depakote/epival/valproate but found it wasn't as good for anxiety ...
... i have met a lot of people on lithium who don't seem to mind it too much... i guess it depends on how severe your symptoms are...
.... personally i would rather try lamictal, but that is only because i very rarely go into hypomania and of course it seems to have an awesome side effect profile ... and because i tend to be so often depressed that i was desperate for something with an antidepressant effect.....who knows... lithane could be the magical cure you are looking for... perhaps it would be worth trying, and then if you had problems with the side effects you could try something else?? ...
> Isn't there something that can be taken to even out my moods so that I don't inflict all the innocent people who have the misfortune to talking with me to all this anger I am engrossed with right now???for sure... there are plenty of things that will do that...
> Because of some upseting news, it's having a domino effect on everything and all I want to do is cry and bite everybody's heads off. I know I'm doing it but it's like somebody else has taken over control of my mind and body and I can't seem to stop. Then of course, once I create all the damage from this mood, I will be extremely upset to what I've done and angry at myself and so the viscious cycle will continue.don't give up -- some of these medications have worked wonders for me and many others... they may just do the same for you ...
... in my experience, i have taken medications before that didn't work 100% but i always got some beneficial effect from them.... things were always better than when i was not on medication...
> Does ANYBODY understand what I'm talking about or am I completely insane and beyond help.
i think i understand how you feel.. and i think there is probably a drug out there that you would really benefit from ...
i hope you feel better soon :)
cybercafe
Posted by jaby on July 18, 2002, at 16:41:43
In reply to Mood stabilizers, posted by Angel Girl on July 18, 2002, at 12:13:50
I take lithium and find that is does just what it should, stabilizes my mood. I have trouble with depression and don't have really good days (I'm BPII), but it keeps me out of the low lows-crying, feeling hopeless, etc.
Posted by McPac on July 18, 2002, at 17:32:18
In reply to Re: Mood stabilizers, posted by Angel Girl on July 18, 2002, at 14:16:03
> cybercafe
>
> First off I want to preface this by expressing anger at myself for posting a long reply to you and not confirming the damn thing and now I have to start all over. I HATE when I do that, and in the current mood I'm in, it certainly does NOT help. Sorry, just needed to vent my frustration, which is NOT directed at you.
>
> Somehow, I know this reply is going to pale in comparison to the one I lost. :(
>
> So what you are saying is that mood stabilizers prolong your moods???? I don't see the point in that. I was hoping that they would even my moods out so that I control them more. My current mood started with getting some more bad news from the health system that seems to want to let me fall through the cracks once again. In a 10 minute phone call I went from having an extremely rare good mood (not manic) to being angry. Now, I am continually subjecting everybody that comes anywhere near me to all that my anger entails and I KNOW that this is not helping my relationship problems but yet I continue. It's like I have no control. I'm not satisfied until I destroy everything in my life. I know I'm doing it, but yet I continue.
>
> I was thinking of taking either Lamitical or Topomax. My doctors are urging me to take Lithium but I'm fighting that with all I've got. I don't want to go anywhere near that drug. They're urging me to keep an open mind. The more I read about it, the more I hate. What mood stabilizer are you on?
>
> Isn't there something that can be taken to even out my moods so that I don't inflict all the innocent people who have the misfortune to talking with me to all this anger I am engrossed with right now???
>
> Because of some upseting news, it's having a domino effect on everything and all I want to do is cry and bite everybody's heads off. I know I'm doing it but it's like somebody else has taken over control of my mind and body and I can't seem to stop. Then of course, once I create all the damage from this mood, I will be extremely upset to what I've done and angry at myself and so the viscious cycle will continue.
>
> Isn't there a way out of this living nightmare???
>
> Somebody please help me. I need some advice before I destroy everything that means everything to me.
>
> Does ANYBODY understand what I'm talking about or am I completely insane and beyond help.
>
> Angel Girl>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>AngelGirl, please e-mail me @ Imupacrk1029@msn.com Lithium DOES sound like it would be a great choice for you. I will explain more to you after you e-mail me!
Posted by McPac on July 18, 2002, at 17:37:41
In reply to Re: Mood stabilizersAngel Girl, posted by jaby on July 18, 2002, at 16:41:43
> I take lithium and find that is does just what it should, stabilizes my mood. I have trouble with depression and don't have really good days (I'm BPII), but it keeps me out of the low lows-crying, feeling hopeless, etc.
>>>>>>Take an effective anti-depressant along w/ your Lithium.
Posted by Angel Girl on July 18, 2002, at 19:17:00
In reply to Re: Mood stabilizers, posted by cybercafe on July 18, 2002, at 14:54:01
cybercafe
Thanks for all your info. I've never heard of the mood stabilizer you're taking.
Do you live in Toronto??? That's where I am. I can't find a pdoc. I was just hoping maybe there might be some advice you could give me to get around the 3 to 4 month waiting list to find somebody. I've yet to find anybody who will take me on because my case is too 'delicate' so I'm left without a pdoc and I'm not being monitored on the drugs I am on and can't get the ones I desperately need. I'm extremely discouraged and frustrated.
Angel
Posted by Angel Girl on July 18, 2002, at 19:24:03
In reply to Re: Mood stabilizersAngel Girl, posted by jaby on July 18, 2002, at 16:41:43
> I take lithium and find that is does just what it should, stabilizes my mood. I have trouble with depression and don't have really good days (I'm BPII), but it keeps me out of the low lows-crying, feeling hopeless, etc.
jaby
I am bipolar II as well. I very rarily experience hypomania as well. I'm usually not far from the black hole. I did manage to pull off a few good days earlier this week until I found out I'm being passed around once again through the mental health system. Do you have any side effects from the lithium? And do you have to go for continual testing? I have a cousin who has severe bladder and kidney problems as a result of taking lithium for years. I just don't want to go there. I think it also has drug interactions with non-psych drugs that I've been on for years and can not come off of.
I just want something that's going to work and I have enough problems with side effects from my Effexor XR that I don't want any more.
But more than anything I want to find a pdoc who will take me on as a patient and have a very good knowledge of all these drugs and be open to my fears and opinions.
Angel
Posted by Angel Girl on July 18, 2002, at 19:28:55
In reply to Re: Mood stabilizers, posted by McPac on July 18, 2002, at 17:32:18
>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>AngelGirl, please e-mail me @ Imupacrk1029@msn.com Lithium DOES sound like it would be a great choice for you. I will explain more to you after you e-mail me!
McPac >>>>> you have mail. Thanks.Angel Girl
Posted by Misunderstood on July 18, 2002, at 19:40:00
In reply to Re: Mood stabilizers, posted by cybercafe on July 18, 2002, at 14:54:01
Hey Cybercafe, You say you have had trouble with p-docs in London and Canada eh? I think it must be a universal thing b/c I'm down in Texas and it sounds like today's psychiatrists do too much med prescribing and too little counseling like they used to do(as a fan of the sitcom "Growing Pains", I know that psychiatrists used to counsel b/c Dr. Seaver was one). I have severe mood swings also, and I currently use Gabapentin/Neurontin to control anxiety, mood shifts, loss of control etc. How is the med working for you? How much are you taking? I just started and am at 300 mg. How much is supposed to be effective?
And to reply to the original post...we all live in seemingly "perfect blue buildings" but we all have to face our demons and take control of our own lives, whether it be by medication, meditation or institutionalization. You will get through this in one way or another, and as modern science would have it, there are some tried and true medications that can help you.
Posted by Ritch on July 18, 2002, at 22:31:52
In reply to Mood stabilizers, posted by Angel Girl on July 18, 2002, at 12:13:50
> I'm currently taking 267.5mg of Effexor XR. I've recently had my diagnosis changed from severe depression to Bi-Polar II, Complex PTSD and as yet undetermined personality disorder (most likely BPD). I've been told I desperately need to be put on a mood stabilizer. A couple of days ago I got some news that really upset and angered me. Just prior to that, I was in a really good mood (not manic), which is a rarity for me. I'm usually just really depressed. But this news really threw me for a loop. Now my moods are changing several times a day and none of them are good. I'm very hurt, I'm crying and I'm very angry. I'm taking it out on everybody.
>
> Can somebody PLEASE explain to me in layman's terms, so that I can understand, how I will feel on a mood stabilizer? What is it going to do for me?
>
> I'm sooooo sick of all this crap. Lately all I want to do is sit in a corner and cry.
>
> Angel
Angel,Depakote has worked the best for me for temper spells. Lithium worked OK too. Topamax supposedly has helped people with PTSD. Maybe a combo of Depakote+Topamax? If you are BPII antidepressants can cause rage-they do for me if I take more than a tiny dose. You are on a dose of Effexor that would probably put me on Pluto with thermonuclear weapons.
Mitch
Posted by cybercafe on July 19, 2002, at 2:49:59
In reply to Re: Mood stabilizers » cybercafe, posted by Misunderstood on July 18, 2002, at 19:40:00
> Hey Cybercafe, You say you have had trouble with p-docs in London and Canada eh? I think it must be a universal thing b/c I'm down in Texas and it sounds like today's psychiatrists do too much med prescribing and too little counseling like they used to do(as a fan of the
Hey Misunderstood... yeah i have been on drugs I didn't need, but I wouldn't say my doctor didn't have at least some valid reason for doing so.... I do not blame docs for not knowing what to do... even if it is simple... however when confronted I think a doc should either educate himself or let you know that your treatment is beyond his knowledge, and you might be able to make a recovery by seeing another doctor....
.. now when i called the local mental health institute they asked me if my doc was old because they thought he was SENILE he did such a poor job of returning phone calls (read: none)...
you see i have done a lot of checking and i know i could get my doctor reprimanded for his behaviour, but i really don't hate the fellow, and i would hate to give us mentally interesting patients a bad name or deny his patients treatment
the worst thing is.... there is a "mental health taskforce" here ... and instead of asking the public questions like "do suicidal patients go to the emergency ward, get turned away, and then committ suicide" they ask stupid questions like "what does the term recovery centered service mean to you?" ... now their best idea is de-stigmatizing mental illness...
while that is something i would certainly appreciate, compared to the more serious issues i ask:
WHO CARES about the stigma when we have people DIEING NEEDLESSLY ...the worst thing is when you are sick and all you need is someone to perscribe you a med but family docs say it's beyond them, and psychiatrists are too busy to see anyone
>severe mood swings also, and I currently use Gabapentin/Neurontin to control anxiety, mood shifts, loss of control etc. How is the med working for you? How much are you taking? I just started and am at 300 mg. How much is supposed to be effective?
gabapentin works for me... i starting becoming really hypomanic today so i took 800 mg gabapentin and started to feel better..
it's also awesome, in my case, for anxiety ....
right now i am depressed so i'm not taking much... like 800 mg a day ?? maybe 1200 mg if i am somewhat manic?
... but before i used to take 2700 mg a day (900 x 3) for anxiety ...
are you doing okay these days misunderstood?
i hope gabapentin works for you... there are many good drugs out now with relatively benign side effects ...
Posted by cybercafe on July 19, 2002, at 3:05:25
In reply to Re: Mood stabilizers - cybercafe, posted by Angel Girl on July 18, 2002, at 19:17:00
> Thanks for all your info. I've never heard of the mood stabilizer you're taking.
... it's good stuff ...
> Do you live in Toronto??? That's where I am. I can't find a pdoc. I was just hoping maybe there might be some advice you could give me to get around the 3 to 4 month waiting list to find somebody. I've yet to find anybody who will take
yeah that waiting list is ridiculous... if i had no other choice, i would just have myself voluntarily committed i think... i once told a doc "i am not suicidal now, but if i go without medication for 4 months i probably will be!" ...
... strangely.. i did a search for "mental health task force" + toronto and found a whole bunch of support groups i never heard of ... and things like the ontario college of physicians and surgeons, the pyschiatric college, U of T etc etc... it can't hurt to give them a call and find a decent doc right?? call around... if anyone says "i don't know" ASK THEM "okay.. can you think of anyone who can or anywhere else i can look?" ....
fortunately now the yellow pages list doctors by profession.. so you can also call them effortlessly...>me on because my case is too 'delicate' so I'm left without a pdoc and I'm not being monitored on the drugs I am on and can't get the ones I desperately need. I'm extremely discouraged and frustrated.
... i don't know what delicate means.. but i'd assume that if people think you are in trouble they would be more likely to help you no??
... but really... things are a lot better than they seem if you know where to look.... for example... i always thought that with all of the incompetent (as defined by the ontario college of physicians and surgeons) docs working out of hospitals being really busy the experts would be literally unreachable... but it's not so! .... i have gotten guidance from one of the lecturers at u of t and am now seeing one of the top docs in toronto several times a month .... and he doesn't think i'm a serious case!
i sincerely believe that if you put in a bit of time you could really help yourself out and feel better so much faster...
don't give up hope!.... i actually got started on this AFTER i found an awesome doc, because i happened upon the university website and they droned on and on about how wonderful and professional and perfect their services are... and got very good results ...
.. really i would love to call them up now and see how your case fits in with their wonderful theories and ideals...
... i'm also trying to get help for my dad, ... but i face the added problem that he doesn't see rapid cycling and explosive anger and rage as a disorder.... your family should appreciate the fact that you recognize you have a problem and are getting help! .. isn't that all they can ask of you?good luck and keep us posted :)
(maybe you could even visit the emergency ward at the clarke spadina + college.. they probably wouldn't hold you... but might they not see you, perhaps start you on some meds?? )
Posted by Greg on July 19, 2002, at 8:33:07
In reply to Mood stabilizers, posted by Angel Girl on July 18, 2002, at 12:13:50
Angel Girl,
My mood stabilizer (Topamax) helps me to not over-think things. I'm also BPII. When I'm in a real bad mood I look for the worst in everything, I read between the lines, assume everyone has a hidden agenda. I also can be very reactionary, the smallest, insignificant event can throw me for a loop. This leads me to a lot of anger and being very miserable. I think a good MS mellows these types of thoughts and helps keep you more in balance, at least it does for me.
I've tried 2 mood stabilizers, Neurontin and Topamax. The Neurontin was basically useless for me, it did nothing to help my moods and made me very fatigued. The Topamax has been great. It did have the side-effect of some cognitive dulling at each dose increase, but now that I'm at my target dose (200mgs), everything is fine.
I hope this is of some help. Good luck.
Greg
Posted by sjb on July 19, 2002, at 10:15:30
In reply to Re: Mood stabilizers » Angel Girl, posted by Greg on July 19, 2002, at 8:33:07
Greg,
I'm on 200mg of Tomomax now too, along with Luvox. Do you notice any other side effects? Do you work out at all and does it adversly affect you with this? I'm definately dumber but that's ok as it's helped in other areas. Just curious as I've just recently upped to 200 mg and this is the first time I've combined w/Luvox. Thanks.
Posted by Greg on July 19, 2002, at 14:18:35
In reply to Re: Mood stabilizers/Topomax ? for Greg, posted by sjb on July 19, 2002, at 10:15:30
> Greg,
>
> I'm on 200mg of Tomomax now too, along with Luvox. Do you notice any other side effects? Do you work out at all and does it adversly affect you with this? I'm definately dumber but that's ok as it's helped in other areas. Just curious as I've just recently upped to 200 mg and this is the first time I've combined w/Luvox. Thanks.sjb,
No, no other side effects. It does help me sleep better too which is good because I go thru bouts of insomnia. The dulling effects do go away in time for most people, you just have to be patient with it. It's not real fun if you have a job where you have to be on top of your game mentally :) I take it with Zypreza and Klonopin, it works really well for me.
Posted by Angel Girl on July 19, 2002, at 16:49:57
In reply to Re: Mood stabilizers - cybercafe, posted by cybercafe on July 19, 2002, at 3:05:25
cybercafe
So who is this awesome pdoc you are going to? What part of Toronto is he/she in? How do you find out who are the best doctors?
I've tried that ER. Don't even ask what happened when I went there. Total waste of time. Sometimes I think you have to die before people around here wake up and take notice.
Angel Girl
Posted by Angel Girl on July 19, 2002, at 16:56:25
In reply to Re: Mood stabilizers » Angel Girl, posted by Greg on July 19, 2002, at 8:33:07
> Angel Girl,
>
> My mood stabilizer (Topamax) helps me to not over-think things. I'm also BPII. When I'm in a real bad mood I look for the worst in everything, I read between the lines, assume everyone has a hidden agenda. I also can be very reactionary, the smallest, insignificant event can throw me for a loop. This leads me to a lot of anger and being very miserable. I think a good MS mellows these types of thoughts and helps keep you more in balance, at least it does for me.
>
> I've tried 2 mood stabilizers, Neurontin and Topamax. The Neurontin was basically useless for me, it did nothing to help my moods and made me very fatigued. The Topamax has been great. It did have the side-effect of some cognitive dulling at each dose increase, but now that I'm at my target dose (200mgs), everything is fine.
>
> I hope this is of some help. Good luck.
>
> GregWOW Greg
That's EXACTLY what I'm like. I read between the lines all the time and over analyze everything to death. I can put a totally different spin on a comment that was never there to begin with. I've never been able to stop doing that. I think everybody has a alterior motive and I always react accordingly. It drives me and everybody around me CRAZY. Not that I wish this hell on anybody else but it's good to find out that I'm not the only one who does that.
I think you have just sold me even more on Topomax.
Thanks
Angel Girl
Posted by Misunderstood on July 19, 2002, at 17:08:23
In reply to Re: Mood stabilizers, posted by cybercafe on July 19, 2002, at 2:49:59
> > Hey Cybercafe, You say you have had trouble with p-docs in London and Canada eh? I think it must be a universal thing b/c I'm down in Texas and it sounds like today's psychiatrists do too much med prescribing and too little counseling like they used to do(as a fan of the
>
> Hey Misunderstood... yeah i have been on drugs I didn't need, but I wouldn't say my doctor didn't have at least some valid reason for doing so.... I do not blame docs for not knowing what to do... even if it is simple... however when confronted I think a doc should either educate himself or let you know that your treatment is beyond his knowledge, and you might be able to make a recovery by seeing another doctor....
>
> .. now when i called the local mental health institute they asked me if my doc was old because they thought he was SENILE he did such a poor job of returning phone calls (read: none)...
>
> you see i have done a lot of checking and i know i could get my doctor reprimanded for his behaviour, but i really don't hate the fellow, and i would hate to give us mentally interesting patients a bad name or deny his patients treatment
>
> the worst thing is.... there is a "mental health taskforce" here ... and instead of asking the public questions like "do suicidal patients go to the emergency ward, get turned away, and then committ suicide" they ask stupid questions like "what does the term recovery centered service mean to you?" ... now their best idea is de-stigmatizing mental illness...
> while that is something i would certainly appreciate, compared to the more serious issues i ask:
> WHO CARES about the stigma when we have people DIEING NEEDLESSLY ...
>
> the worst thing is when you are sick and all you need is someone to perscribe you a med but family docs say it's beyond them, and psychiatrists are too busy to see anyone
>
> >severe mood swings also, and I currently use Gabapentin/Neurontin to control anxiety, mood shifts, loss of control etc. How is the med working for you? How much are you taking? I just started and am at 300 mg. How much is supposed to be effective?
>
> gabapentin works for me... i starting becoming really hypomanic today so i took 800 mg gabapentin and started to feel better..
>
> it's also awesome, in my case, for anxiety ....
>
> right now i am depressed so i'm not taking much... like 800 mg a day ?? maybe 1200 mg if i am somewhat manic?
>
> ... but before i used to take 2700 mg a day (900 x 3) for anxiety ...
>
> are you doing okay these days misunderstood?
>
> i hope gabapentin works for you... there are many good drugs out now with relatively benign side effects ...
So can Neurontin be taken only as needed, or in variable doses on bad days as opposed to good ones? I have a mild anxiety problem, but have had epilepsy/partial seizures for a long time. It would be nice to have a med like Neurontin ease my anxiety and control my seizures at the same time(kind of a kill two birds with one stone approach). What are your thoughts on using Neurontin as an effective antianxylotic and antiseizure medicine? I cannot say which dose is best for me yet, seeing that I just started taking Neurontin, but any feedback from you would be very helpful.Be good
Posted by cybercafe on July 20, 2002, at 7:52:47
In reply to Re: Mood stabilizers - cybercafe, posted by Angel Girl on July 19, 2002, at 16:49:57
> So who is this awesome pdoc you are going to?... i would rather not say as i am totally paranoid about doing anything that would jeopordize our relationship... though i suppose i could ask him if he is looking for new patients if you want...
>What part of Toronto is he/she in? How do you
i am in pickering but i see a doc out in mississauga or oakville or something (not exactly sure) ...
>find out who are the best doctors?
well you can go on the centre for addiction and mental health and see who all of the Depression and Bipolar specialists are ...
.... also sunnybrook is supposed to have some really good doctors... i think i would call and ask who specializes in what or i would do a search on the journal of clinical psychiatry webpage http://www.psychiatrist.com/ click on "search entire site"... you might have to register first -- don't worry, it's free
> I've tried that ER. Don't even ask what happened when I went there. Total waste of time. Sometimes I think you have to die before people around here wake up and take notice.
have you considered filing a complaint?
... i knew some people who went to sunnybrook multiple times with no results, and i went with one of them to CAMH and he was admitted within 15 minutes or so ...
which is really too bad because i was hoping they would act incompetently so i could sue them, file a complaint, and other fun things :)
Posted by cybercafe on July 20, 2002, at 7:55:03
In reply to Re: Mood stabilizers - cybercafe, posted by Angel Girl on July 19, 2002, at 16:49:57
sorry i guess i wasn't clear last post
i think it is a major fluke if you went to CAMH and told them you were suicidal and they didn't let you in and i am pretty confident you would have better luck the next time and would encourage you to give it a try
Posted by cybercafe on July 20, 2002, at 8:05:49
In reply to Re: Mood stabilizers » cybercafe, posted by Misunderstood on July 19, 2002, at 17:08:23
> So can Neurontin be taken only as needed, or in variable doses on bad days as opposed to good ones? I have a mild anxiety problem, but have
... dunno... i have taken it as needed, but it is certainly not something i feel comfortable recommending... in fact one of the reasons i originally decided to take neurontin rather than benzos is that i was tired of waiting for the anxiety to come before doing something about it....... i don't want it to come at all!
>had epilepsy/partial seizures for a long time. It would be nice to have a med like Neurontin ease my anxiety and control my seizures at the same time(kind of a kill two birds with one stone approach). What are your thoughts on using Neurontin as an effective antianxylotic and antiseizure medicine? I cannot say which dose is best for me yet, seeing that I just started taking Neurontin, but any feedback from you would be very helpful.
well i don't really know anything about epilepsy ... but i think if your anxiety is mild you would probably find yourself doing quite well on it... (i don't consider my anxiety mild but still think gabapentin worked great for me)...
... i also take gabapentin for agitation ....
so what dose are you up to so far and do you feel any effects or side effects?
Posted by Misunderstood on July 21, 2002, at 1:40:49
In reply to Re: Mood stabilizers, posted by cybercafe on July 20, 2002, at 8:05:49
> > So can Neurontin be taken only as needed, or in variable doses on bad days as opposed to good ones? I have a mild anxiety problem, but have
>
> ... dunno... i have taken it as needed, but it is certainly not something i feel comfortable recommending... in fact one of the reasons i originally decided to take neurontin rather than benzos is that i was tired of waiting for the anxiety to come before doing something about it....... i don't want it to come at all!
>
> >had epilepsy/partial seizures for a long time. It would be nice to have a med like Neurontin ease my anxiety and control my seizures at the same time(kind of a kill two birds with one stone approach). What are your thoughts on using Neurontin as an effective antianxylotic and antiseizure medicine? I cannot say which dose is best for me yet, seeing that I just started taking Neurontin, but any feedback from you would be very helpful.
>
> well i don't really know anything about epilepsy ... but i think if your anxiety is mild you would probably find yourself doing quite well on it... (i don't consider my anxiety mild but still think gabapentin worked great for me)...
>
> ... i also take gabapentin for agitation ....
>
> so what dose are you up to so far and do you feel any effects or side effects?
Have not felt any side effects yet, but did have a mild seizure the other night and tonight. My guess is the dosage is not right yet. Took Lamictal before and it worked great, except for the horrible rash I got. Do you know anything about Lamictal? If the rash is a temporary thing and goes away as the dosage is increased, I would prefer the longer half life and stronger effects of Lamictal, but on the other hand, Neurontin does control anxiety. I am taking 400 mgs of Neurontin currently, should I increase to prevent future seizures? What are your thoughts re: Lamictal vs Neurontin putting the rash thing aside?
Posted by cybercafe on July 21, 2002, at 2:26:51
In reply to Re: Mood stabilizers » cybercafe, posted by Misunderstood on July 21, 2002, at 1:40:49
> Have not felt any side effects yet, but did have a mild seizure the other night and tonight.
... are you okay? are you actually conscious when you have a seizer? ... i hope it wasn't too unpleasant
>My guess is the dosage is not right yet. Took Lamictal before and it worked great, except for the horrible rash I got. Do you know anything about Lamictal? If the rash is a temporary thing
if you have a rash you must DISCONTINUE LAMOTRIGINE immediately -- i would suggest getting in touch with your doc immediately, if that is not possible, i would suggest going to the emergency room for discontinuation instruction
.... but i am not certain, so you may have a better idea than me.... i am not even sure - are you are still taking it?it is suggested that the rash may be caused by ramping up the dose too fast..... how quickly did you increase it?
>and goes away as the dosage is increased, I would prefer the longer half life and stronger effects of Lamictal, but on the other hand, Neurontin does control anxiety. I am taking 400 mgs of Neurontin currently, should I increase to prevent future seizures? What are your thoughts re: Lamictal vs Neurontin putting the rash thing aside?
well i was taken off lamictal prematurely before (changed docs) ...
but because it is supposed to have an antidepressant effect and a mood stabilizing effect and only needs to be taken once a day and probably has less sedation (the sedation with gabapentin i didn't find to be bad at all, but still... we're all perfectionists) i would want to try lamictal first.... and see what it does for me.. and if the mood stabilizing or anti depressant effects get rid of the anxiety.... and then if they don't, add gabapentin to the combo .... of course if lamotrigine has no effect on depression i would stop taking it...in your case... i guess it all comes down to whether or not lamictal helps you with anxiety ...
should you increase gabapentin? probably... but if it were me i would want to check with my doc on how high i could increase on my own... especially if you have any kidney or other medical problems ... i'm sure you can read up on it online .. do you need a checkup after a seizure?? ...
... i mean i would definately not consider increasing a med on my own -- even as a last resort -- until i had spent at least 3 hours online reading up all i could
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