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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by markwell on April 26, 2010, at 17:41:14
I have been diagnosed with bipolar. I'm currently taking .5mg of risperdol which helps with intruding thoughts but if I take over 1mg I can't move in the a.m.or the rest of the day for that matter. I desperately need help with depression. Any suggestions out there? Paxil tipped me into mania what about zoloft would that be a better choice. Racing thoughts is the huge issue with me. I was on risperdol and lithium but the lithium did nothing for me. I'm very stuck.
Posted by desolationrower on April 27, 2010, at 0:27:22
In reply to still struggling with proper antidepressant, posted by markwell on April 26, 2010, at 17:41:14
try writing out what you have taken. there are dozens of drugs, hard to say what works if its not clear what you need help with.
like:
-risperdal
pro: stopped intruding thoughts
neg: can't get myself to move on higher doses-d/r
Posted by Zyprexa on April 27, 2010, at 12:51:03
In reply to still struggling with proper antidepressant, posted by markwell on April 26, 2010, at 17:41:14
Sounds like you need an antipsychotic and an antidepressant. I took risperdal before and it made me stiff as a board, couldn't move. So I stoped it, now I take zyprexa, which is the best med I took yet!
Do you need more than .5mg risperdal? If so you might want to try a different one. I have racing thoughts and find that I need a sedating AP for it. I take perphenazine also.
Posted by markwell on April 27, 2010, at 14:20:05
In reply to Re: still struggling with proper antidepressant, posted by Zyprexa on April 27, 2010, at 12:51:03
What is perphenazine? How much zyprexa do you take?
I'm also so afraid of zyprexa side effects, weight and diabetes.
Posted by linkadge on April 27, 2010, at 19:15:02
In reply to Re: still struggling with proper antidepressant, posted by markwell on April 27, 2010, at 14:20:05
Seroquel might be a better option. It probably has more antidepressant effects. If an AD is needed, wellbutrin may have a lower propensity of causing mania.
If you are truly bipolar, a mood stabilizer in monotherapy is theoretically better than an AP.
Linkadge
Posted by Zyprexa on April 28, 2010, at 15:45:53
In reply to Re: still struggling with proper antidepressant, posted by markwell on April 27, 2010, at 14:20:05
Zyprexa didn't give me diabettes, I'm now learning it was the Geodon that did that. I took zyprexa 10mg for 10 years and never got diabetes. When I started the geodon I instantly got diabettes. When I swithed back to zyprexa the diabettes is going away. I did gain weight on zyprexa. I now take 15mg zyprexa. I've stoped gaining weight and kept it that way for the last 2 years.
Posted by Roslynn on April 28, 2010, at 17:04:05
In reply to Re: still struggling with proper antidepressant, posted by linkadge on April 27, 2010, at 19:15:02
Linkadge, you wrote>>
> If you are truly bipolar, a mood stabilizer in monotherapy is theoretically better than an AP.
Is that for someone who is bipolar I?
I am bipolar II, but my doctor seems to think the APs are better in that they would address depression better than a mood stabilizer.
What do you think?
Posted by linkadge on April 28, 2010, at 17:52:06
In reply to Re: still struggling with proper antidepressant » linkadge, posted by Roslynn on April 28, 2010, at 17:04:05
>Is that for someone who is bipolar I?
>I am bipolar II, but my doctor seems to think >the APs are better in that they would address >depression better than a mood stabilizer
Nothing is true for people with bipolar II :) Some studies suggest that people do better with antidepressant monotherapy in bipolar II than with mood stabilizers or AP's.
Seroquel (and perhaps zyprexa) have the most evidence for antidepressant effects, but, most of this research is done for the augmenation of antidepressant agents.
Antipsychotics are in fashon with some doctors for BP II, but they don't really have the track record / evidence for helping depression in monotherapy. I guess if it works for you than this is all that matters. AP's have evidence for treating acute mania, but conventional thought is that they are discontinued when mania abates.
I'd prefer lithium monotherapy to an AP any day, but thats just because it feels much smoother and has less side effects.
Linkadge
Posted by Laney on April 28, 2010, at 17:58:24
In reply to Re: still struggling with proper antidepressant, posted by linkadge on April 28, 2010, at 17:52:06
Linkage,
You said seroquel and zyprexa are good for antidpressant effect. Is this in the case of Bipolar II which you were responding to or do you mean that for all AD's? That those two are the best? I hope I'm quoting you correctly.
Thanks,
Laney
Posted by markwell on April 28, 2010, at 19:17:35
In reply to Re: still struggling with proper antidepressant, posted by Laney on April 28, 2010, at 17:58:24
How about zoloft for causing mania? Has anyone who has ever had racing thoughts tried zoloft? Does it help or hurt? Its an ssri like paxil so it probably doesn't help. I'm seeing the doctor tomorrow and she is out of ideas for me. Racing thoughts, no sleep, anxiety and depression. Please help.
Posted by Zyprexa on April 29, 2010, at 15:03:54
In reply to Re: still struggling with proper antidepressant, posted by markwell on April 28, 2010, at 19:17:35
I take zoloft and have racing thoughts. The zoloft does not seem to help or hurt any. I take zyprexa and perphenazine for the racing thoughts.
This is the end of the thread.
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