Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 1270

Shown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Rapid Cycling Hell

Posted by Taylor Hunter on November 16, 1998, at 13:58:52

I'd like to know if anyone out there has rapid cycling/mixed states like I do. I've been struggling with this for 2 yrs. now and the meds don't seem to help at all. My moods are up and down all over the place, like a roller coaster on a daily basis. I'd like to find out what you're doc is doing to treat your rapid/mixed. My doc said I am a difficult case and I may need a specialist in bipolar disorder.

 

Re: Rapid Cycling Hell

Posted by Toby on November 16, 1998, at 14:54:12

In reply to Rapid Cycling Hell, posted by Taylor Hunter on November 16, 1998, at 13:58:52

Don't know about Gavitrel. See Dr. Bob's page on Lamictal and also Neurontin, two of the newer agents used for bipolar. Another newer med for bipolar that doesn't cause weight gain (in fact causes weight loss) is Topamax and I hear great things about it -- even better than the first two. In addition, rapid cycling bipolar patients may respond robustly to a combination of Tegretol and Nimotop (a calcium channel blocker for hypertension). I also read a recent article that reported improved sleep in manic patients with 3 mg of melatonin at bedtime (these patients were unresponsive to other sleep agents), and sleep is very important to stabilize rapid mood cycles.
Good luck.

 

Re: Rapid Cycling Hell/Calcium channel blockers

Posted by Robin on November 17, 1998, at 14:04:18

In reply to Re: Rapid Cycling Hell, posted by Toby on November 16, 1998, at 14:54:12

I know someone who has bi-polar,rapid-cycling, with mixed states.
She would agree with your characterization that it is hell.
The thing that finally worked for her, stablized her,
was a calcium channel blocker. I don't know which one.
She received it initially as a participant in a NIMH study,
so I don't know if this is being prescribed, yet.

 

Re: Rapid Cycling Hell/Ziprasidone a miracle drug

Posted by Nancy on November 26, 1998, at 16:51:15

In reply to Rapid Cycling Hell, posted by Taylor Hunter on November 16, 1998, at 13:58:52

My pdoc is a specialist in mood disorders and schizophrenia. His name is Dr. Robert Lynn Horne (702)822-1188. Located, here, in Las Vegas are both his office and the hospital where he conducts clinical trials. I was in a drug trial for bipolar, mixed state, rapid cyclers. Within a week of beginning ziprasidone the symtoms that had completely destroyed my life were erradicated.
Maybe I should call the Pope about this one. It was nothing short of a miracle!

 

Re: Rapid Cycling Hell/Ziprasidone a miracle drug

Posted by Roger Minkle on May 25, 2001, at 20:15:50

In reply to Re: Rapid Cycling Hell/Ziprasidone a miracle drug, posted by Nancy on November 26, 1998, at 16:51:15

My doctor just started me out on ziprasidone after trying many different kinds of meds. I have terrible anxiety and depression. He said that doctors for UC Irvine use it for people are bipolar. I don't have a manic phases but the doctor says I am a rapid cycler. I want to talk with someone who has similar problems or good results. Roger

 

Re: Rapid Cycling Hell/Calcium channel blockers

Posted by SLS on May 25, 2001, at 23:04:05

In reply to Re: Rapid Cycling Hell/Calcium channel blockers, posted by Robin on November 17, 1998, at 14:04:18

> I know someone who has bi-polar,rapid-cycling, with mixed states.
> She would agree with your characterization that it is hell.
> The thing that finally worked for her, stablized her,
> was a calcium channel blocker. I don't know which one.
> She received it initially as a participant in a NIMH study,
> so I don't know if this is being prescribed, yet.


Hi.

The calcium-channel blocker may have been nimodipine. The NIMH has favored that drug in the past. I would be curious to know if that turns out to be the one.


-Scott

 

Re: Rapid Cycling Hell/Ziprasidone a miracle drug

Posted by madscientist on May 29, 2001, at 2:01:58

In reply to Re: Rapid Cycling Hell/Ziprasidone a miracle drug, posted by Roger Minkle on May 25, 2001, at 20:15:50

It worked for me in the drug trials. It isn't a last hope or the only med (or med combo) that will do the trick. But, I was very impressed that an ultra-rapid cycler (4 or more per day for weeks at a time), such as myself, could have this hellish form of bipolar misery short-circuited in the time span of a mere three days on Ziprasidone (Zeldox).

Keep in mind that the form of manic-depression I have is not necessarily going to respond the way yours will. But, after surviving 5-years of absolute anguish before getting sprung from Hell into pain free existence, should give me a PH.D. in Bipolar Psychopharmacology.

It is Hell through the struggle. What would have heped me, is if I'd been told, "Don't fight it. Don't try to break free. Don't try to live the life you're accustomed to UNTIL this illness has been stabilized. Take all the time needed to do this, so you'll never have to go through it again. Fix it now. Learn to accept it. Let go of the fierce anger over having lost out on all present opportunities. Get well, first. You can live life to the fullest if you're well. There is no life for a madman or madwoman, there's only, pain and eventual involuntary confinement. Stability will set you free."

I had to self-educate when I was able. I had to fight the doctor in few precious moments of lucid assertion and make him read the literature (sorry, the NEW literature...not the twenty year old crap learned in antiquaited books and from ancient feeble pseudo-psychiatrist led grand rounds at state mental hospitals). I had to push, demand and EDUCATE my doctor so that I COULD LIVE.

In June, I'll see a top Endocrinologist so that I MAY have PERMISSION to continue treatment with high doses of T4 and T3 thyroid hormones. Currently, these doses are 400mcg Unithroid (T4) and 100mcg Cytomel (T3), for the purpose of achieveing blood levels in the 25-percentile of the normal range (that is the upper quartile of the normal range...way up high in the high end of the range). It works. My doctor is in a panic and perplexed as to why it works, even though I put the empirical evidence and supporting literature in his hands as well as reading the high points to him!!!!!! Now, I must see the endocrinologist (who, by the way, is not obsessive-compulsive about so-called normal-for-every-person-on-earth thyroid test numbers). This is a highly recommended top doc with the ability to continue studying medicine even after being licensed as a doctor. I am looking forward to this meeting. I hope to be greatly impressed.

Research and read...it is a life line.

Nancy


> My doctor just started me out on ziprasidone after trying many different kinds of meds. I have terrible anxiety and depression. He said that doctors for UC Irvine use it for people are bipolar. I don't have a manic phases but the doctor says I am a rapid cycler. I want to talk with someone who has similar problems or good results. Roger


This is the end of the thread.


Show another thread

URL of post in thread:


Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ


[dr. bob] Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD, bob@dr-bob.org

Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.