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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by JohnX2 on June 25, 2002, at 19:35:42
I was wondering if anyone has tried a
calcium channel blocker like verapamil (sp?)
for bipolar disorder (or unipolar comments
would be nice too).My pdoc says he may try this if my lithium
doesn't pan out (I've run out of stabilizers
for bipolar, except maybe Keppra).John
Posted by judy1 on June 25, 2002, at 23:05:07
In reply to Anyone tried calcium channel blocker lik verapamil, posted by JohnX2 on June 25, 2002, at 19:35:42
Actually my sister who has a very mild form of bipolar has successfully taken verapamil for over 10 years. So I definitely thinks it's worth a try (although it didn't work for my bipolar 1 disorder) Good luck!- judy
Posted by medlib on June 26, 2002, at 2:28:07
In reply to Anyone tried calcium channel blocker lik verapamil, posted by JohnX2 on June 25, 2002, at 19:35:42
Hi John--
My dx = double depression--i.e., I cycle between "down" and "deep down". I took verapamil several years ago for hypertension; if it had helped with my depression, I'd still be on it. V. slows pulse rate; sometimes,it's used in the ER to convert runs of vtach. If you're really fit and have a naturally low PR/BP, you might have to ease into V. use slowly. I think that there's been some use of V. *with* lithium.
If you haven't found it already, there's a brief thread here on this subject on the 14Aug99 board. The 2 responders were Chris A. and Dove. I haven't "seen" Chris A. in a while, but Dove's still here (see her post further up this board). Also, there's some info on Psychopharmacology Tips; Ivan Goldberg (psydoc) was 1 of the posters and might provide his current oopinion.
Btw, 1 new med I'm eager to try is aripiprozole, a next gen. AP that S. Stahl has some hopes about. (I think Scott (SLS) is anticipating it, as well.) The NDA for it was filed last Nov., so best guess for approval is early 2003 (but our beloved FDA moves with "all deliberate speed", so who knows). Apparently, BMS is trying for bipolar designation; they're currently recruiting for trials in Austin, if you;re interested.
Good luck---medlib
Posted by JohnX2 on June 26, 2002, at 18:45:23
In reply to Re: Anyone tried calcium channel blocker lik verapamil » JohnX2, posted by judy1 on June 25, 2002, at 23:05:07
> Actually my sister who has a very mild form of bipolar has successfully taken verapamil for over 10 years. So I definitely thinks it's worth a try (although it didn't work for my bipolar 1 disorder) Good luck!- judy
Thanks.
I've reached the mild stage with my current meds,
I'm at 1200 mg Lithobid CR and 150 Mg Lamictal.
My lithium blood levels are only 0.6 and we don't
know if bumbing the dose will get me to the antimanic
range (1+) before I hit the Lithobid CR limit.I may hope that the Verapamil has a calming effect
and also helps with headaches too.Regards,
John
Posted by JohnX2 on June 26, 2002, at 18:48:38
In reply to Re: Verapamil » JohnX2, posted by medlib on June 26, 2002, at 2:28:07
> Hi John--
>
> My dx = double depression--i.e., I cycle between "down" and "deep down". I took verapamil several years ago for hypertension; if it had helped with my depression, I'd still be on it. V. slows pulse rate; sometimes,it's used in the ER to convert runs of vtach. If you're really fit and have a naturally low PR/BP, you might have to ease into V. use slowly. I think that there's been some use of V. *with* lithium.
>
> If you haven't found it already, there's a brief thread here on this subject on the 14Aug99 board. The 2 responders were Chris A. and Dove. I haven't "seen" Chris A. in a while, but Dove's still here (see her post further up this board). Also, there's some info on Psychopharmacology Tips; Ivan Goldberg (psydoc) was 1 of the posters and might provide his current oopinion.
>
> Btw, 1 new med I'm eager to try is aripiprozole, a next gen. AP that S. Stahl has some hopes about. (I think Scott (SLS) is anticipating it, as well.) The NDA for it was filed last Nov., so best guess for approval is early 2003 (but our beloved FDA moves with "all deliberate speed", so who knows). Apparently, BMS is trying for bipolar designation; they're currently recruiting for trials in Austin, if you;re interested.
>
> Good luck---medlibmedlib,
Thanks for the great info.
I may look into the aripiprozole trial.
I liked the other AP zyprexa, but at the high dose it caused some
TD (it has gone away with discontinuation).The aripiprazole doesn't cause TD from what I understand.
Take Care!
John
Posted by judy1 on June 27, 2002, at 11:18:24
In reply to Re: Anyone tried calcium channel blocker lik verapamil » JohnX2 » judy1, posted by JohnX2 on June 26, 2002, at 18:45:23
Hi John,
I'm very happy that you feel stable, I know it's been a long road. I'm shocked you can take such a high dose of lithium and only have a 0.6 blood level (although I admit I'm not familiar with the CR form- is that an extended release?) When you say mild- are you referring to mildly hypomanic? If so, is that a problem? And if that's the case do you think lowering the lamictal (which made me hypomanic/ well maybe manic) would take care of that? Just some thoughts- again I think there's wiggle room with your lamictal dose rather than the lithium. But is it your plan to try verapamil first? Sorry for all the questions, we all like success stories :-)- judy
Posted by JohnX2 on June 27, 2002, at 18:15:29
In reply to verapamil » JohnX2 , posted by judy1 on June 27, 2002, at 11:18:24
> Hi John,
> I'm very happy that you feel stable, I know it's been a long road. I'm shocked you can take such a high dose of lithium and only have a 0.6 blood level (although I admit I'm not familiar with the CR form- is that an extended release?) When you say mild- are you referring to mildly hypomanic? If so, is that a problem? And if that's the case do you think lowering the lamictal (which made me hypomanic/ well maybe manic) would take care of that? Just some thoughts- again I think there's wiggle room with your lamictal dose rather than the lithium. But is it your plan to try verapamil first? Sorry for all the questions, we all like success stories :-)- judyMostly I'm struggling with mild depression. Very occasionally
I get mild hypomania, but it is usually short lived.I've been on Lamictal 150 mg for 1.5 yrs and it really has
been the core medicine holding me together (especially the
AD boost). I'm a little scared to lower the dose. I wish
I wish I had a good answer to the hypomania. My pdoc won't
address the depression without wiping the hypomania. He thinks
a therapeutic Lithium dose should hopefully solve both problems.Not really sure what to do after Lithium..the verapamil was
just a quick thought. I like the idea of entering the
aripiprazole trial.Thanks for your thoughts.
John
Posted by Chloe on June 27, 2002, at 22:20:14
In reply to Re: verapamil » JohnX2 » judy1, posted by JohnX2 on June 27, 2002, at 18:15:29
Hi John,
I did not know there was a "lithium limit" in terms of dose. I always thought it was safe as long as your blood levels were with in the 0.5-1.5 range.Could you enlighten me?
FWIW, Verapamil was recommended to me at a pharm consult for my cycling. He said it would be a drug of "last resort" if Li, and depakote were intolerable. Though he did not have a lot of hope that it would work. Esp. since I have had good response to Li and depakote...My own pdoc thinks verapamil is not effective and won't prescribe it to me.
Chloe
This is the end of the thread.
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