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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 153 to 177 of 479. Go back in thread:
Posted by LyndaK on July 19, 2002, at 0:41:38
In reply to Re: BarbaraCat » McPac, posted by BarbaraCat on July 18, 2002, at 23:24:04
I'm on 45mgs. I've gained 20 pounds in 3 months. I'm making sure that I don't overeat and I've increased my physical activity. My weight hasn't budged even though I'm starting to get my waistline back. I wish I understood the physiology of the stuff. I've wondered if it's a combination of having an appetite (I had no appetite when I was on Zoloft) and lowered metabolism. Remeron works like a muscle relaxant on me. Overall muscle tone is decreased. I would think this would lower metabolism if muscle activity in general (even at rest) is reduced.
Posted by BarbaraCat on July 19, 2002, at 1:06:51
In reply to Remeron and weight gain, posted by LyndaK on July 19, 2002, at 0:41:38
Has it been good as an antidepressant? I believe it's been a pretty good one for me along with lithium. But if I continue gaining weight at the rate of about 5 lbs a month, it's going to get unhealthy real quick. I literally have to work out strenuously and eat like a bird if I'm to stay at a stable weight and it sucks. Hopefully, when I'm off it in a few months I'll be able to reverse this pork trend. I'm putting together a dance class for September and - yikes! I'm going to be too dang embarrassed to show up.
> I'm on 45mgs. I've gained 20 pounds in 3 months. I'm making sure that I don't overeat and I've increased my physical activity. My weight hasn't budged even though I'm starting to get my waistline back. I wish I understood the physiology of the stuff. I've wondered if it's a combination of having an appetite (I had no appetite when I was on Zoloft) and lowered metabolism. Remeron works like a muscle relaxant on me. Overall muscle tone is decreased. I would think this would lower metabolism if muscle activity in general (even at rest) is reduced.
Posted by BarbaraCat on July 19, 2002, at 1:07:00
In reply to Remeron and weight gain, posted by LyndaK on July 19, 2002, at 0:41:38
Has it been good as an antidepressant? I believe it's been a pretty good one for me along with lithium. But if I continue gaining weight at the rate of about 5 lbs a month, it's going to get unhealthy real quick. I literally have to work out strenuously and eat like a bird if I'm to stay at a stable weight and it sucks. Hopefully, when I'm off it in a few months I'll be able to reverse this pork trend. I'm putting together a dance class for September and - yikes! I'm going to be too dang embarrassed to show up.
> I'm on 45mgs. I've gained 20 pounds in 3 months. I'm making sure that I don't overeat and I've increased my physical activity. My weight hasn't budged even though I'm starting to get my waistline back. I wish I understood the physiology of the stuff. I've wondered if it's a combination of having an appetite (I had no appetite when I was on Zoloft) and lowered metabolism. Remeron works like a muscle relaxant on me. Overall muscle tone is decreased. I would think this would lower metabolism if muscle activity in general (even at rest) is reduced.
Posted by Jill on July 19, 2002, at 8:02:21
In reply to Re: BarbaraCat » McPac, posted by BarbaraCat on July 18, 2002, at 23:24:04
I've taken Remeron now for 5 years with no "poop-out." My pdoc told me that Remeron actually is less likely to poop-out than SSRIs. It's not an SSRI, but rather a novel antidepressant in a different class (sorry, name escapes me...tetracyclic?).
Anyway, I don't have bipolar depression, so that may be why my body's reacted differently to it (I have mild-moderate OCD and major depression.)
I feel great on this drug, but my partner and I are discussing marriage/children, so I may have to switch to a more well-know drug during the pregnancy (need to stay on something or get so depressed I can't function). I'm thinking of Celexa??? Any thoughts on that, anyone?
Good luck with the Remeron. I just wanted to put my plug in for it.
Jill :)
Posted by Essence on July 19, 2002, at 8:42:21
In reply to Re: BarbaraCat, posted by Jill on July 19, 2002, at 8:02:21
Hi Jill;
Sorry to butt in here, but I was so happy to see your post to BarbaraCat. I am a Remeron user, 7 mos now at 30 mg and I have been worried about the quick "Poop out" affect everyone seems to feel Remeron has. Your post has definately made me feel so much better about being on this medication. It is one of the best AD's I have taken, but always in the back of my mind was the worry whether or not it would "poop out". Once again, thanks for sharing your experience, it sure made my day. Your right, Remeron is is a tetracyclic antidepressant, an SNRI.
Ess
Posted by deli on July 19, 2002, at 9:31:18
In reply to Re: Does anyone not gain weight on Remeron?, posted by Nala on July 17, 2002, at 5:24:05
Gained 20lbs in two months. My doc added Topamax to help stabilize moods and to counteract weight gain. We'll see what happens.Deli ;)
Posted by LyndaK on July 19, 2002, at 15:11:41
In reply to Re: Remeron and weight gain » LyndaK, posted by BarbaraCat on July 19, 2002, at 1:06:51
I feel like it's been a good antidepressant. It doesn't make me happy, but it keeps me from getting suicidal and I do have motivation to "get back into life". The weight-gain is a real bummer though.
Posted by LyndaK on July 19, 2002, at 15:25:13
In reply to Re: BarbaraCat, posted by Jill on July 19, 2002, at 8:02:21
"I'm thinking of Celexa??? Any thoughts on that, anyone?"
2 thoughts:
I tried Celexa. It was pretty good. It just didn't control my anxiety enough.
Keep in mind that your body chemistry will change during pregnancy. Sometimes the elevated hormone levels of pregnancy can actually boost your mood and you can get through the pregnancy without medication -- or, at the very least, on a very low dose. The first trimester is the hardest to get through. I was able to do no meds. with my first pregnancy and a low dose of Zoloft with my second pregnancy. But watch out post-partum -- that's when my mood took a major nose-dive. It's best to keep in close contact with your p-docs so they can help you monitor what's happening during the different stages. It's good that you're thinking about this ahead of time.
Best Wishes,
Lynda
Posted by BarbaraCat on July 19, 2002, at 21:12:51
In reply to Re: BarbaraCat, posted by Jill on July 19, 2002, at 8:02:21
Glad Remeron is working so well for you, Jill. I've liked it the best by far. Good luck with the pregnancy. You might want to read the most recent book by Lauren Slater, I can't remember the name of it. She's a psychologist who's written very movingly about her own depressions and love/hate thing with Prozac. She became pregnant on it and decided to stop - for only a while since she simply couldn't handle it without. It's a wonderful read, as are all of her books. If Remeron is working well for you, I'm sure it's a difficult decision to switch. - BarbaraCat
> I've taken Remeron now for 5 years with no "poop-out." My pdoc told me that Remeron actually is less likely to poop-out than SSRIs. It's not an SSRI, but rather a novel antidepressant in a different class (sorry, name escapes me...tetracyclic?).
>
> Anyway, I don't have bipolar depression, so that may be why my body's reacted differently to it (I have mild-moderate OCD and major depression.)
>
> I feel great on this drug, but my partner and I are discussing marriage/children, so I may have to switch to a more well-know drug during the pregnancy (need to stay on something or get so depressed I can't function). I'm thinking of Celexa??? Any thoughts on that, anyone?
>
> Good luck with the Remeron. I just wanted to put my plug in for it.
>
> Jill :)
Posted by BarbaraCat on July 19, 2002, at 21:48:15
In reply to Remeron poop out - Jill, posted by Essence on July 19, 2002, at 8:42:21
Hi Ess,
I want to confirm that Remeron is indeed a great AD and applaud your taking it and having good results. My poop out, and probably many others as well, is more due to the fact that I'm probably Bipolar-II and not major depression. All of the other SSRI's, SNRI's and the analogs pooped after a while. Some took longer than others, Remeron was the quickest. Any increase would send me into severe panic disorder, sleeplessness, wiredness which would eventually wear off until the next poop cycle. This is a fairly common symptom of Bipolar, but I didn't know that until just a few months ago. I've been needing something like lithium all along. Remeron does have a rep of being a pooper, but maybe those for whom it poops have something besides the type of depression it was designed for. So if Remeron is the right drug for you, then you're very fortunate. It's a good one. Just wish it didn't make me porky or I'd probably stay on it.
- Barbara> Hi Jill;
>
> Sorry to butt in here, but I was so happy to see your post to BarbaraCat. I am a Remeron user, 7 mos now at 30 mg and I have been worried about the quick "Poop out" affect everyone seems to feel Remeron has. Your post has definately made me feel so much better about being on this medication. It is one of the best AD's I have taken, but always in the back of my mind was the worry whether or not it would "poop out". Once again, thanks for sharing your experience, it sure made my day. Your right, Remeron is is a tetracyclic antidepressant, an SNRI.
>
> Ess
Posted by McPac on July 19, 2002, at 22:36:34
In reply to Remeron poop out - Jill, posted by Essence on July 19, 2002, at 8:42:21
With all this talk about poop, is this a scatology board or something, lol?
Posted by McPac on July 19, 2002, at 22:56:58
In reply to Re: Remeron poop out - Jill » Essence, posted by BarbaraCat on July 19, 2002, at 21:48:15
BarbaraCat/Anybody: I would GREATLY appreciate any and all feedback to this request:
Could anybody who has Bipolar Disorder please state clearly what the "manic" phase of Bipolar Disorder is like? One doctor of mine years ago diagnosed me with Bipolar. Others did not. The one that did said he did "because lithium is what worked for me". I just read online recently a presentation by a shrink that said that this is NOT a valid reason to automatically diagnose someone with a specific diagnosis. He said that just because a medicine works for someone that that doesn't automatically mean that that is their diagnosis. In other words, just because the lithium helped that doesn't prove that I am Bipolar. I also told my doctor that said that, right at that time, that other meds had also worked..for example, an antidepressant that I took a couple of years earlier had also worked very well. So how could he be so sure I was bipolar just because the lithium worked???????He didn't want to talk about it anymore. He never cared to answer patient's questions. Your typical arrogant-as-hell, pompous, know-it-all shrink. Anyway, for the last 20 friggin' years I have never had another doctor conclusively come to a conclusion. So I'm asking you all here: EXACTLY what the hell does this manic phase get like? I would think that it would have to get really bad if it was something that you could be hospitalized for. It should be TERRIBLE if it's such a terrible thing. I think I only have the "hypomanic" part, because when I get "overly" happy it doesn't seem terrible at all! I know I have the terrible depression "lows". But, WHAT is this manic phase all about? Any and all replies greatly appreciated because I just want to know if I have that "manic" phase or not. Thanks!
Posted by McPac on July 19, 2002, at 23:05:30
In reply to Re: Remeron poop out - Jill » Essence, posted by BarbaraCat on July 19, 2002, at 21:48:15
Barbara said: "Any increase (in antidepressants) would send me into severe panic disorder, sleeplessness, wiredness which would eventually wear off until the next poop cycle. This is a fairly common symptom of Bipolar, but I didn't know that until just a few months ago."
>>>>>>Increases in my anti-d's NEVER caused any bad reaction to me...does that mean anything (like maybe I don't have Bipolar)? Do you have ANY link that says that type of quote BarbaraCat or anyone?
Posted by McPac on July 19, 2002, at 23:13:26
In reply to Remeron and weight gain, posted by LyndaK on July 19, 2002, at 0:41:38
LyndaK wrote "My weight hasn't budged even though I'm starting to get my waistline back. I wish I understood the physiology of the stuff. I've wondered if it's a combination of having an appetite (I had no appetite when I was on Zoloft) and lowered metabolism."
>>>>>>>Lynda, I read once that one likely hypothesis was that many of the anti-d's lowered the body's metabolism. NOT just that a person's metabolism was lowered because they didn't eat as much, felt more tired, laid around more, etc., BUT that the meds actually lowered the body's metabolism in a specific way. It was stated as very likely but at that time not totally proven. You could always try to find a guy that likes the extra "cushion".
Posted by Jill on July 19, 2002, at 23:50:25
In reply to LyndaK, posted by McPac on July 19, 2002, at 23:13:26
Lynda,
My pdoc (very reputable, in a well-established practice in a large city) explained that the weight gain from Remeron is due to increased histamine caused by the drug (the benefits of histamine include antianxiety, ease of sleep, calm...but also increase appetite).
Some pdocs prescribe Zantac to lower the histamine (just in the stomach) to help counteract this side effect. I tried it for awhile, but I actually found it increased my heartburn (weird, eh...it was almost like a rebound effect for me).
Anyway, he also said that, in his practice, he's seen this drug cause weight gain mostly in young, skinny females...versus, say, middle-aged men. Obviously, age and gender must play a role in the response. Interesting.
That said, plain old watching what I eat and exercising works for me. I have gained weight, but I was pretty thin for my body type to begin with...now I look about "average" weight. Same for my sister.
We both feel great, so the extra pounds (I'm 5' 5 1/2...athleticish body...5 years ago started at 135 (size 8) and am now 150 (size 10)...although I'm working at eating better lately...more fruits and veggies and not letting myself eat after I take my meds at night), really are a small price to pay for the calm and happiness I feel (plus no sleep or sexual problems!). Also, I probably would have gained a little even without Remeron...hitting those 30's :)
By the way, thanks to everyone for info on Celexa/pregnancy. With my history of severe depression, my pdoc said I should probably stay on something during the pregnancy. He did say I should try to switch a few months before getting pregnant, so my body would be going through so much at once.
I'm bummed that I'll probably have to switch to an older drug with more data be safer, since Remeron doesn't seem to have pregnancy data. My pdoc also said I may not feel as good on a different drug which only increases serotonin). (Remeron increases noradrenelin, serotonin, and histamine...which really helps me...and many others with depression/anxiety).
Also, I'm disappointed that I'll have to deal (probably) with the sexual and sleep issues again. Especially a bummer because I will actually be trying to get pregnant...hope it's not too much of a drag :).
I took Prozac before (not trying to get pregnant, though) and did well (except for those side effects). I also tried Paxil (made me so sick...diarrhea, major weight loss), and Luvox (bad headaches).
So, I guess Zoloft and Celexa may be the next possibilities. Anyone have any other pregnancy/med stories or suggestions? I need an SSRI type thing for OCD/depression.
Very OCD of me to be worrying about this med thing now...not even married yet (but we're discussing plans)! Ha! Anyway, thanks in advance for all your insight.
Sorry this is so long!
Be well,
Jill
Posted by Jill on July 20, 2002, at 0:08:28
In reply to Re: Remeron and weight gain » BarbaraCat, posted by LyndaK on July 19, 2002, at 15:11:41
p.s. This is important about weight gain/Remeron! (You may already know???).
My doctor explained that there is less weight gain at higher dosages (30mg+). I take 45 mg/night. He moved me up very quickly to that dose when I started the medication (can't remember exactly...within a few weeks, I think...) to that level.
I believe he told me he did that to avoid excessive weight gain and sleepiness (I cry frequently [not enough AD effect for me] and am totally wiped out at only 30mg...my sister had the same experience on Remeron).
I do every few months [with doctor ok] take slightly less than 45 mg/night for a couple nights to help me sleep better (and then bump my dose back up to 45 mg). It seems to increase histamine enough to help counter the noradenelin that seems to build up over time. It's a great way (for me) to keep the sleep thing in check without sleeping pills.
Of course PLEASE check with your pdoc about meds/dosing for you.
Hope this is helpful.
Jill :)
Posted by LyndaK on July 20, 2002, at 0:31:20
In reply to LyndaK, posted by McPac on July 19, 2002, at 23:13:26
Ha Ha Ha. Thanks for the laugh. I already have a guy I've been married to for 17 years. He's got some "extra cushion" himself. I was a little underweight to begin with, so I don't look obese or anything. Just went from a size 6 to size 10. As long as it stabilizes at that I can live with that O.K. :-) Lynda
Posted by LyndaK on July 20, 2002, at 0:50:35
In reply to Re: LyndaK, posted by Jill on July 19, 2002, at 23:50:25
Thanks for your response. I did notice the increased hunger when I first started taking it, and I really had to watch what I ate then. Now that I've been on it a while and up to 45mg per day, I don't notice that ravenous hunger anymore. My hunger/satiation cycle seems more normal, but the weight remains. I really do believe that my metabolism is lower on this drug, so exercising (hopefully increasing my lean body mass) becomes really important. It is encouraging to hear that your weight elevated some but then stabilized. I'm 5'4" and started out at 116 (underweight) and have gone up to 138. I'm 40 years old, so that's probably pretty average, but there's a lot more subcutaneous fat than I'm used to having. But I've ramped up my exercise, even joining a dance class which adds to the fun in my life, and I'm feeling pretty good even though my weight is staying the same.
Thanks again for your response.
Lynda
Posted by BarbaraCat on July 20, 2002, at 0:50:43
In reply to Re: Remeron and weight gain, posted by Jill on July 20, 2002, at 0:08:28
Jill,
Not necessarily true. I'm at 75mg and noticed increased NE effects such as not feeling groggy anymore and increased energy, but unfortunately did NOT lose any weight on a higher dose even with higher activity. Of course, I am 51 and expect to put on some extra at my age, but not like I have in so short a time. - Barbara. > p.s. This is important about weight gain/Remeron! (You may already know???).
>
> My doctor explained that there is less weight gain at higher dosages (30mg+). I take 45 mg/night. He moved me up very quickly to that dose when I started the medication (can't remember exactly...within a few weeks, I think...) to that level.
>
> I believe he told me he did that to avoid excessive weight gain and sleepiness (I cry frequently [not enough AD effect for me] and am totally wiped out at only 30mg...my sister had the same experience on Remeron).
>
> I do every few months [with doctor ok] take slightly less than 45 mg/night for a couple nights to help me sleep better (and then bump my dose back up to 45 mg). It seems to increase histamine enough to help counter the noradenelin that seems to build up over time. It's a great way (for me) to keep the sleep thing in check without sleeping pills.
>
> Of course PLEASE check with your pdoc about meds/dosing for you.
>
> Hope this is helpful.
>
> Jill :)
Posted by BarbaraCat on July 20, 2002, at 1:39:35
In reply to BarbaraCat, posted by McPac on July 19, 2002, at 23:05:30
Notice I said 'fairly' common, not a hard and fast rule. Also, this is how my particular chemistry reacts so don't judge whether or not you're bipolar on someone else's response. There have been numerous articles recently published on how Bipolars can (notice I said 'can') get worse on ADs, although I can't quote from any particular source at the moment. I'll bet if you did a web search (or here in this board) on bipolar+antidepressants or bipolar+SSRI you'll come up with a bunch of hits in which you'll find this pheonomenon. My pdoc is very familiar with it, so you might ask your doctor. It's pretty prevalent knowledge. Even with my earlier statement, on my current Remeron I was able to double it within 2 weeks without any problems. But Remeron is not an SSRI, but an SNRI, acting on different receptor sites that seem implicated in Bipolar disorder. So, Remeron may be a very good AD for bipolars, whereas standard SSRI's are perhaps not so good. Also, I was and still am on lithium when I increased, and I'm sure that made a huge difference. When you start tweaking fine hairs at the receptor sites, one SSRI can be quite different from the next SSRI, even though they're primary action is via serotonin. Rocket science, if you ask me.
Are you the person who asked about what does mania feel like? I couldn't find the thread again and would love to answer whoever wrote it. If that was you, or you're interested in Bipolar I, read Kay Jamison Redfield's book "An Unquiet Mind". She's a psychiatrist who has written very eloquently about her severe Manic Depression and what it feels like to be in a full blown mania. If that was you and you also said your definition of hypomania was just being happy, I can assure you, hypomania is not just being happy. Just being happy is simply that. Hypomania may start out that way but quickly gets more and more urgent or ecstatic and reckless and wired and then spins off into disorganization and frantic behavior and then inevitably ends up in a crash. But then again, that's my version of it. Cyclothymia, on the other hand, is a less severe form of bipolar and is explained by less intense depressions cycling with periods of being 'up', so you may want to do some research there.
I thank God I'm 'only' BP-II and not the very disintegrating BP-1. Since getting rediagnosed it just explains so much for me as to why I was getting weird reactions all this time and why my depressions never felt the same as others. Heck, they're not even the same as other BP-II's because I've also got the very nasty 'mixed-states' form.
If the Bipolar doesn't sit well with you, definitely ask your pdoc for some in-depth diagnostic testing. It's available and very important if you don't think you're on the right med track. If your meds are working for you, then why worry about a label? We can only make a best guess anyway. - Barbara
> Barbara said: "Any increase (in antidepressants) would send me into severe panic disorder, sleeplessness, wiredness which would eventually wear off until the next poop cycle. This is a fairly common symptom of Bipolar, but I didn't know that until just a few months ago."
>
> >>>>>>Increases in my anti-d's NEVER caused any bad reaction to me...does that mean anything (like maybe I don't have Bipolar)? Do you have ANY link that says that type of quote BarbaraCat or anyone?
Posted by BarbaraCat on July 20, 2002, at 1:50:55
In reply to Jill, posted by LyndaK on July 20, 2002, at 0:50:35
FYI, in Europe Remeron is generally started at 30-45mg and levels off at 90mg and even higher. They don't report anywhere near the same problems with grogginess, weight gain, and consider it an energizing AD. I also noticed that I don't crave carbs nearly as much at the higher level. Oh no! now that I'm decreasing I sure hope I don't go through that late night feeding frenzy stage again! I actually went through two quart jars of deli pickles in one week back in those early days. It was like being pregnant.
Having the motivation and desire to dance and move again is wonderful, though, and I will not give that up.
Posted by McPac on July 20, 2002, at 9:18:13
In reply to Re: BarbaraCat » McPac, posted by BarbaraCat on July 20, 2002, at 1:39:35
Barbara wrote "Hypomania may start out that way but quickly gets more and more urgent or ecstatic and reckless and wired and then spins off into disorganization and frantic behavior and then inevitably ends up in a crash."
>>>>>>>>>more and more urgent? ecstatic and reckless..spins off into disorg. and frantic behavior...ends in a "crash"?
Could you be more specific? The "urgent" and "frantic" and "disorg." terms sure sound like feelings that I've gotten many times before. I just want to see exactly how you mean them.
ALSO, you wrote "If the Bipolar doesn't sit well with you, definitely ask your pdoc for some in-depth diagnostic testing. It's available and very important if you don't think you're on the right med track." I don't see a pdoc. I hope that the vast majority of them burn alive. What is this "in depth diagnostic testing" though? That interests me. Thanks! Mike
Posted by McPac on July 20, 2002, at 10:04:07
In reply to Re: BarbaraCat » McPac, posted by BarbaraCat on July 18, 2002, at 23:24:04
BarbCat, do you know much about Lamictal? I have just started to read some on it. I am wondering if Lamictal would do the same positive things for me that lithium does? I've read that Lamictal may have LESS side effects than lithium, so that interests me. Also BarbCat, do most/all of the mood stabilizers pretty much do the same thing? i.e., lithium, Tegretol, Lamictal, etc....what's the difference in what they would do for somebody?
Finally BarbCat, I'd love to hear your opinion on this: I can only take ONE lithium pill EVERY 2 or 3 DAYS and benefit greatly from it. It keeps me much less anxious/nervous, much more calm, etc. I have NEVER heard of anybody benefitting from such a miniscule dosage!!Even when I did take "more" of it, I would only take 1 a DAY, that's it, to feel fine. What do you think? The reasons that I like lithium is because it helps me to feel much more calm and not "frantic", it keeps my temper/anger/agitation away, it mellows me out and keeps that "high-strung" feeling away. In other words, I seem to need it MORE as a "nerve pill" and NOT as an anti-manic pill. Does that sound odd? Thanks!!!
Posted by BarbaraCat on July 20, 2002, at 10:29:14
In reply to BarbaraCat/Anyone, posted by McPac on July 20, 2002, at 10:04:07
Hi Mc,
No that doesn't sound strange at all. Lithium makes some people feel too mellow and dopey. It has a smoothing effect on my nerves. As for Lamictal, we share the same interests and questions. Dr. Ivan Goldberg, who has his own website and is a contributor to this board, highly recommends Lamictal as both a mood stabilizer and an antidepressant. In fact, just recently an article was published (I think it was in Science) that it's a much better drug for the depression end of bipolar disorder. That lithium acts as a good augmentor and potentiator to antidepressants and works better in preventing mania, but Lamictal acts as a good antidepressant in it's own right as well as a mood stabilizer. I'm going to ask my pdoc for it next time. As far as side effects, one in particular is noted in the precautions and worries my doc, and that is if you increase too quickly there's a possibility of a skin rash that can be uncomfortable. Some people also just don't like the way it feels, or it works for a while and then the good ol' poop out. Definitely do a search on this board for Lamictal. It's the best resource for anecdotal stories rather than the scientific research (which many are funded by the same pharmaceutical company that made them - hmmmm).As far as are they all the same/work the same. No, they all seem to work differently by different routes and I couldn't begin to do this topic justice. Here's the website for Dr. Goldberg.
http://www.psycom.net/depression.central.html
Do a search on Lamictal, or mood stabilizers or whatever you want to know (helps to use the exact phrase option). Here's another page with loads of links about depression.
http://stripe.colorado.edu/~judy/depression/
You'll find a lot of good information to start your research. - Barbara
> BarbCat, do you know much about Lamictal? I have just started to read some on it. I am wondering if Lamictal would do the same positive things for me that lithium does? I've read that Lamictal may have LESS side effects than lithium, so that interests me. Also BarbCat, do most/all of the mood stabilizers pretty much do the same thing? i.e., lithium, Tegretol, Lamictal, etc....what's the difference in what they would do for somebody?
> Finally BarbCat, I'd love to hear your opinion on this: I can only take ONE lithium pill EVERY 2 or 3 DAYS and benefit greatly from it. It keeps me much less anxious/nervous, much more calm, etc. I have NEVER heard of anybody benefitting from such a miniscule dosage!!Even when I did take "more" of it, I would only take 1 a DAY, that's it, to feel fine. What do you think? The reasons that I like lithium is because it helps me to feel much more calm and not "frantic", it keeps my temper/anger/agitation away, it mellows me out and keeps that "high-strung" feeling away. In other words, I seem to need it MORE as a "nerve pill" and NOT as an anti-manic pill. Does that sound odd? Thanks!!!
Posted by McPac on July 20, 2002, at 10:58:21
In reply to Mood stabilizers » McPac, posted by BarbaraCat on July 20, 2002, at 10:29:14
BarbaraCat wrote "Some people also just don't like the way it feels, or it works for a while and then the good ol' poop out."
>>>>>>>......just don't like the way it feels? Specifically, what do you mean..what way do these people say it makes them feel?
As for the good ol' "feces out" comment, are you saying that it may lose it's anti-dep. effect? I wouldn't think that it would lose it's "mood stabilizer" effect? Finally, you seem so similar to me in many ways (your specific problems and symptoms), that's why I'm asking you so many questions. Still, the one thing that puzzles me is that I seem to need the lithium or lamictal to be more of a "nerve pill" than an anti-manic agent; in which case, why would I have bipolar/ mania part if I need more of a "nerve pill" type of effect and nothing for "mania"? This stuff gets to f***ing complicated, lol!!!Plus, I've got a dr. appt. on Monday (with a regular "family doctor; I detest shrinks and mental health dr's). BarbCat, I also jotted down yesterday from a site that Lamictal had "relatively benign side-effects" and "significantly more antidep. potency than Lithium" as well. That's why I'm seriously thinking of making the switch, perhaps like you are. Again, please, what specifically are others on Lamictal saying about "not liking the way it feels"? (<is it nervousness/anxiety?) THANK YOU SOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!
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