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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Mike634 on July 23, 2004, at 18:48:53
Its just so diddicult and tricky to treat this bipolar depression. Its as if my brain has just shut down. Mood stabilizers are fine, with a bit of zyprexa, but antidepressents just dont work like the used to. Effexor brought me right out of a previous episode, but this time, effexor, mirapex, wellbutrin - it seems all they do is cause intense manic pain and anger. My doctor says this is just what happens with A-D. After a while, they don't do what they are intended to do for someone with bipolar depression. I really havent tried many A-d though. Pretty much just the ones I listed. Has anyone out there with bipolar (more specifically bipolar depression) been trying A-D with any success. Frustrated and a bit hopeless.
Posted by SLS on July 23, 2004, at 19:15:07
In reply to ONCE AND FOR ALL..... Antidepressants for Bipolar?, posted by Mike634 on July 23, 2004, at 18:48:53
Parnate is worth taking a look at. Have you tried Lamictal?
- Scott
Posted by cybercafe on July 24, 2004, at 10:37:08
In reply to Re: ONCE AND FOR ALL..... Antidepressants for Bipolar?, posted by SLS on July 23, 2004, at 19:15:07
> Parnate is worth taking a look at. Have you tried Lamictal?
>
>
> - Scotthey dude i was just going to recommend that.... i think parnate is one of the most effective, plus i think MAOIs are also supposed to be less likely to cause a switch to mania ... my winning combo is
1.7 mg abilify
30 mg parnateclonazepam, ritalin, as needed
for bipolar + ADD + anxiety
Posted by BarbaraCat on July 24, 2004, at 13:26:05
In reply to ONCE AND FOR ALL..... Antidepressants for Bipolar?, posted by Mike634 on July 23, 2004, at 18:48:53
**I can relate. I have BP-II or maybe it's BP-I who knows, it's challenging all the same. I've been on quite a few of the SSRI's and SNRI's. A very good AD was nortriptyline, got me out of a bad depression. But the side effects were difficult and I gave it up. I take lithium which is necessary, but on it's own it has not been enough to combat the depressions. Took lamictal which worked for a while, pooped, then raising the dose gave me the rash.
So, what's a girl to do? I'm now taking St. John's Wort with a great deal of success. It's very effective, doesn't whack you up the side of the head, is cheap and doesn't require a prescription. It does not work unless I also take the lithium (and vice versa). The two are synergistic and probably symbiotic.
I was at the end of my rope and figured I didn't have much to lose. It surprises me how well it works, but you have to give it time and play with the dose. I get a pharmaceutical grade product put out by HBC Protocols and take 5/day. It took about 4 weeks to reach efficacy. If all else fails, give it a try.
> Its just so diddicult and tricky to treat this bipolar depression. Its as if my brain has just shut down. Mood stabilizers are fine, with a bit of zyprexa, but antidepressents just dont work like the used to. Effexor brought me right out of a previous episode, but this time, effexor, mirapex, wellbutrin - it seems all they do is cause intense manic pain and anger. My doctor says this is just what happens with A-D. After a while, they don't do what they are intended to do for someone with bipolar depression. I really havent tried many A-d though. Pretty much just the ones I listed. Has anyone out there with bipolar (more specifically bipolar depression) been trying A-D with any success. Frustrated and a bit hopeless.
Posted by vikala on July 24, 2004, at 14:03:36
In reply to ONCE AND FOR ALL..... Antidepressants for Bipolar?, posted by Mike634 on July 23, 2004, at 18:48:53
I was told by pdocs Effexor *may* have the ability to alter absorption of other medications (so the doses you take may actually be higher) I know when I took Effexor and Wellbutrin, I became hypomanic for the first time in my life.
I've taken Wellbutrin alone and Effexor alone - and was fine. When taken together - it was like speed to me. "Speed type feelings" tend to bring on anxiety.
Just a thought, maybe this particular mix isn't a good one for some Bipolars with anxiety issues.
Maybe change one of those. I'm betting you'll see a difference. I did - immediately.
> Its just so diddicult and tricky to treat this bipolar depression. Its as if my brain has just shut down. Mood stabilizers are fine, with a bit of zyprexa, but antidepressents just dont work like the used to. Effexor brought me right out of a previous episode, but this time, effexor, mirapex, wellbutrin - it seems all they do is cause intense manic pain and anger. My doctor says this is just what happens with A-D. After a while, they don't do what they are intended to do for someone with bipolar depression. I really havent tried many A-d though. Pretty much just the ones I listed. Has anyone out there with bipolar (more specifically bipolar depression) been trying A-D with any success. Frustrated and a bit hopeless.
Posted by TJO on July 25, 2004, at 5:58:32
In reply to Re: ONCE AND FOR ALL..... Antidepressants for Bipolar?, posted by vikala on July 24, 2004, at 14:03:36
> I was told by pdocs Effexor *may* have the ability to alter absorption of other medications (so the doses you take may actually be higher) I know when I took Effexor and Wellbutrin, I became hypomanic for the first time in my life.
> I've taken Wellbutrin alone and Effexor alone - and was fine. When taken together - it was like speed to me. "Speed type feelings" tend to bring on anxiety.
> Just a thought, maybe this particular mix isn't a good one for some Bipolars with anxiety issues.
> Maybe change one of those. I'm betting you'll see a difference. I did - immediately.
>
>
>
>
> > Its just so diddicult and tricky to treat this bipolar depression. Its as if my brain has just shut down. Mood stabilizers are fine, with a bit of zyprexa, but antidepressents just dont work like the used to. Effexor brought me right out of a previous episode, but this time, effexor, mirapex, wellbutrin - it seems all they do is cause intense manic pain and anger. My doctor says this is just what happens with A-D. After a while, they don't do what they are intended to do for someone with bipolar depression. I really havent tried many A-d though. Pretty much just the ones I listed. Has anyone out there with bipolar (more specifically bipolar depression) been trying A-D with any success. Frustrated and a bit hopeless.
>
>
Hi,
Don't give up!! I have bipolar I or II, I'm not sure which. I went into a terrible depression after 9/11. The doctor gace me Paxil 20 mg and that made things even worse. After thoughts of hurting others, I checked into the local hospital and was an inpatient for 2 weeks. They put me on Wellbutrin 450 mg and it worked to bring me out of the depression. After I was released from the hospital my Pdoc tapered the Wellbutrin off to 150 mg over the course of the next two months. One of the reasons was that he felt there was a small risk of seizures at the higher dose.
I felt ok and the depression did not recur. The Wellbutrin has been helping me for almost 3 years now. Other than a feeling of being slightly "high" at 450 mg, I have had no side effects and the additional benefit of having my smoking cravings reduced in intensity.
Posted by griswald on July 28, 2004, at 18:44:30
In reply to Re: ONCE AND FOR ALL..... Antidepressants for Bipolar?, posted by TJO on July 25, 2004, at 5:58:32
This bipolar depression is tough. I havn't been able to find anything. I had three severe manic breaks my freshman year of college. With the help of lithium (and now Zyprexa), outside of trying to treat my depression, I've never had a problem with mania since. But wow...this bipolar depression is hard to treat. My problem is even the slightest antidepresant makes my already bad insomnia worse, and from there I start to go manic. Wellbutrin doesn't seem to induce cycling, but even at 1/100 of a 75mg pill in the morning makes it very difficult to sleep at night.
This is the end of the thread.
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