Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 544191

Shown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Am I on a risky drug treatment?..or is it okay?

Posted by Nickengland on August 20, 2005, at 6:35:54

Thought I would post to see what others think about the drugs I'm taking and if you think what I'm on is sensible for longterm mood stabilisation of Bipolar disorder. I'm not having doubts of such, but wanted to see the ideas of others as to if you think I'm going down the right road.

I'm taking Topamax & Neurontin. (Neurontin mainly for anxiety & the Topamax for a mood stabiliser.)

I also take Taurine, Omega 3 fish oils, vitamin b complex and magnesium. Have a few other 'supplements i'm going to try too, folic acid and gaba.

I'm finding my overall mood on this current regime is pretty good. I used to be pretty sensitive...perhaps even ultra sensitive, but now i'm slightly more aggressive, but I think this is a good thing as I needed this extra push...toughen me up a bit so to speak.

Some days I find I have little energy and can feel slightly depressed (but this must show the mood stabiliser is keeping me down right?) Then some days I find myself just feeling, well not so depressed and not exactly up in the air either. (i'm thinking that shows again the mood stabilser is working and not letting me go into hypomania?)

Although there is mood changes, there definately not extream or are causing me or my parents to get worried that perhaps my illness is getting the better of me eg dangerously high mood, irresponsible behaviour (reckless spending etc.) and to the other extream of deep depression. (suicidle thoughts)

I like the flexiblity in some ways, as I get to still be 'me' without having to be flat-lined because of the medication, whilst in the back-ground the medication appears to be doing its job.

I've been on the all the more traditional mood stabilisers before and for one reason or another this is where I have eneded up today. I do respect the medical evidence which does not speak so highly of the drugs i'm taking for the treatment of bipolar disorder...but, since i'm taking this drugs and am pretty medication sensitive and yet feel i'm having good results, I think to myself, it does seem to be working, and there is no better evidence than this fact and the evidence in my present health at the moment.

What do you think?

 

Forgot to add....

Posted by Nickengland on August 20, 2005, at 6:38:32

In reply to Am I on a risky drug treatment?..or is it okay?, posted by Nickengland on August 20, 2005, at 6:35:54

I sometimes take L-Tyrosine for alittle help in the motivaion department. (I think this is safe for Bipolar people to take without a swich to mania?)

Kind regards

Nick

 

Re: Am I on a risky drug treatment?..or is it okay?

Posted by SLS on August 20, 2005, at 8:59:43

In reply to Am I on a risky drug treatment?..or is it okay?, posted by Nickengland on August 20, 2005, at 6:35:54

Hi Nick.

>
> What do you think?
>

I can't see any contraindicated substance interactions here, but there are people whom are much more knowledgable than me regarding "supplements". You might want to post this same question on the "Alternative" board.

I think you are doing the best that any of us can do in a situation where frustration predominates treatment. Try new things, as long as they are safe. Let the trial prove its efficacy. Let the anecdote be the data.

What is your major complaint currently?

What have been major symptoms in the past?

> Thought I would post to see what others think about the drugs I'm taking and if you think what I'm on is sensible for longterm mood stabilisation of Bipolar disorder. I'm not having doubts of such, but wanted to see the ideas of others as to if you think I'm going down the right road.

> I'm taking Topamax & Neurontin. (Neurontin mainly for anxiety & the Topamax for a mood stabiliser.)

Sometimes Neurontin can act to destabilize mood and produce depression. I haven't seen it too often, but I know that it does occur. I believe the magnesium can confer some anxiogenic effects should it become necessary to discontinue the Neurontin.

Neurontin is a drug whose popularity has swung from high to low like a pendulum. I believe its popularity has ebbed, though, and that practitioners are just beginning to rediscover its utility. It has both antidepressant and anxiogenic properties. I would not make it my first choice as an antimanic agent, though.

> I also take Taurine, Omega 3 fish oils, vitamin b complex and magnesium. Have a few other 'supplements i'm going to try too, folic acid and gaba.

I like this list from what little I have read of other's contributions.

> I'm finding my overall mood on this current regime is pretty good. I used to be pretty sensitive...perhaps even ultra sensitive, but now i'm slightly more aggressive, but I think this is a good thing as I needed this extra push...toughen me up a bit so to speak.

Can you isolate this positive effect to any one substance?


> Some days I find I have little energy and can feel slightly depressed (but this must show the mood stabiliser is keeping me down right?)

Possibly, but this is not a necessary property of a mood stabilizer. It occurs more often immediately upon the treatment of an acute manic episode. Valproate and lithium are more apt to produce a chronic dysthymia or affective flattening than the other MS drugs, although idiosyncratic reactions always appear.

How readily do you get manic if left untreated?

Then some days I find myself just feeling, well not so depressed and not exactly up in the air either. (i'm thinking that shows again the mood stabilser is working and not letting me go into hypomania?)

What does Wellbutrin or Parnate do for you?

> Although there is mood changes, there definately not extream or are causing me or my parents to get worried that perhaps my illness is getting the better of me eg dangerously high mood,

I am becoming more impressed with Topamax as a MS. I hope it keeps working. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. I think... It's good that you are receptive to feedback from family members regarding mania. It is often difficult to recognize it in oneself, especially if it is not of a dysphoric or mixed state. It just feels too damned good. Unfortunately, the high often sets up for a cataclysmic descent into depression. There are, however, people who are chronically mildly to moderately hypomanic whom function just fine and are best not interfered with.

> irresponsible behaviour (reckless spending etc.) and to the other extream of deep depression. (suicidle thoughts)

Yeah. No good. Intervention is indicated.

> I like the flexiblity in some ways, as I get to still be 'me' without having to be flat-lined because of the medication, whilst in the back-ground the medication appears to be doing its job.

> I've been on the all the more traditional mood stabilisers before and for one reason or another this is where I have eneded up today. I do respect the medical evidence which does not speak so highly of the drugs i'm taking for the treatment of bipolar disorder...but, since i'm taking this drugs and am pretty medication sensitive and yet feel i'm having good results, I think to myself, it does seem to be working, and there is no better evidence than this fact and the evidence in my present health at the moment.

YAY! Keep that positive anecdotal data coming...


- Scott

 

Re: Am I on a risky drug treatment?..or is it okay? » Nickengland

Posted by Slinky on August 20, 2005, at 9:26:33

In reply to Am I on a risky drug treatment?..or is it okay?, posted by Nickengland on August 20, 2005, at 6:35:54

Nick..

Do you think the neurontin needs to be more
balanced,say same dosage four/three times a day?
I'm saying this cause when I started taking it just twice a day when it wore off I felt agitated and uncomfortable in my own skin.
You could still play around with it like I sometimes do-depending on how you feel that day...say 300mg three times a day instead of 600mg.
It may make things more smoother.
Hardest part is asking the doc.

Slinky

 

Re: Am I on a risky drug treatment?..or is it okay? » SLS

Posted by ed_uk on August 20, 2005, at 12:09:32

In reply to Re: Am I on a risky drug treatment?..or is it okay?, posted by SLS on August 20, 2005, at 8:59:43

>I believe the magnesium can confer some anxiogenic........

Anxiolytic? A lot of people seem to find magnesium calming.

Kind regards

~Ed

 

Re: Am I on a risky drug treatment?..or is it okay?

Posted by SLS on August 20, 2005, at 12:21:40

In reply to Re: Am I on a risky drug treatment?..or is it okay? » SLS, posted by ed_uk on August 20, 2005, at 12:09:32

> >I believe the magnesium can confer some anxiogenic........
>
> Anxiolytic? A lot of people seem to find magnesium calming.
>
> Kind regards
>
> ~Ed


Oops.

I meant anxiolytic.

Thanks.


- Scott

 

Re: Am I on a risky drug treatment?..or is it okay? » SLS

Posted by Nickengland on August 21, 2005, at 10:07:20

In reply to Re: Am I on a risky drug treatment?..or is it okay?, posted by SLS on August 20, 2005, at 8:59:43

Hello Scott,

>I can't see any contraindicated substance interactions here, but there are people whom are much more knowledgable than me regarding "supplements". You might want to post this same question on the "Alternative" board.

Thanks for the suggestion about the 'supplements' :-)

>Let the trial prove its efficacy. Let the anecdote be the data.

Very good use of words ~ I couldn't have said it better! Seriously, so far the efficacy of the trial is yeilding postitive results i'm glad to say, its been roughly 2 months so far I think.

>What is your major complaint currently?

Theres not one really so to speak, but then thinking about it...yes, there is one complaint. I have "body jerks" before I go to sleep. Which I think are perfectly natural to a normal person...but I have them more increased and intense since I have been on these particular drugs. Myoclonic Jerking - I think is the correct medical term. I think i've also pin-pointed this due to Gabapentin, as I've read that the drug can make these "jerks" worse in epileptics. However I've taken gabapentin by itself (did not have them) I've taken topamax by itself (did not have them) but when both are combined ~ thats when they came about. I think one drug that is particular effective for treating these "jerks" is clonazepam, I believe its actually approved to treat them as well (I think) Problem is, I very much doubt I'd be able to get this drug prescribed seeing as its a benzo...I'm still living in the UK at the moment and you know even with the most extream anxiety disorders the doctors here just refuse to give them out. I'll see how the "jerks" go, I havent mentioned them to the doctor, but in all honesty I don't think there that serious...if they do get worse though, i'll have to pusue something to counter them...

>What have been major symptoms in the past?

My illness basically has a clockwork cycle that I could probably set my watch too lol. Every year and 3-4 months - so basically approximately every 15 months I crash into deep severe depression. (this will generally last about 6-8bmonths..as time goes by it gets better nearing the end of the 6-8 months, at first it is living hell) That is the monster of the illness.

What follows is..well something very, very nice. 3-4 months of hypomania (this could make for interesting reading what happens in these months :)

Eventually the hypomania burns out, with to which I return to a period of a couple of months feeling 'normal'. In this time I then realise what I have achieved and/or destructed in my life because of the hypomania....then something biologically justs shuts down in my body, I become slow, its hard to describe, but just as a switch happened to turn on the hypomania ~ one then comes on (or switches off) to turn on the depression. Its like what goes up must come down, the body has to pay the price for that pleasure it recieved....and i swing into the 'monster' of the illness. The cycles continues..

Only this time I have the back up for drugs and knowledge of the nature of the illness. Only time will tell if the drugs can prevent the cycle. Im destined to crash in January/February.

>Sometimes Neurontin can act to destabilize mood and produce depression. I haven't seen it too often, but I know that it does occur.

I've read that Neurontin can do that too. It is certainly a controversial drug in many of the ailments it treats. This is something i'll have to watch out for. Although so far I think i've been okay in this area.

>Neurontin is a drug whose popularity has swung from high to low like a pendulum. I believe its popularity has ebbed, though, and that practitioners are just beginning to rediscover its utility. It has both antidepressant and anxiogenic properties. I would not make it my first choice as an antimanic agent, though.

The anti-depressant properties is the thing which does concern me. As I am very cautious of taking anything with "anti-depressaant" action. For me it is truely not a good thing and really does do me harm, in all of my personal experience with anti-depressants. Right from st johns wort, to even the anti-depressant properties of Lamictal, really made me worse. It is entirely for the anti-anxiety purpose that I like this drug. It really does help me in that area, in the smallest way i guess that possibly adds to mood stabilisation. As far as an anti-manic agent ~ it does nothing to me for keeping my mood down at all...not one single bit..then again i dont think it really pushes it up either. Just does nothing in either respect for me really...just gives a nice warm, calming feeling.

>I like this list from what little I have read of other's contributions.

The supplements do help. The drugs provide I'd say 85-90% of the symtom relief I get today - and the supplements probably make up for 10-15% of the relief. Its definately worth that little extra.

>Can you isolate this positive effect to any one substance?

Thats down to Topamax. If I had to drop everything else out of all what I take and rely on one thing, it would be the Topamax. The postive effects are definately worth while. I think the drug which makes you feel better ~ does in its own unique way. Topamax does give me that little extra aggression, which in turn makes me less ultra sensitive, which in turn makes me handle things better, which in turn makes feel better. I'm finding it funny as well, sometimes when I type, I do find myself pressing the wrong 'keys' or forgetting how to spell a word ~ but theres no frustration - and I can laugh about it. Before when I've had bothersome side effects with drugs they've really pissed me off massively..I'll just quit the drug. With this though i can laugh about the side effect and ironically this is the side effect I was most worried about.

>Possibly, but this is not a necessary property of a mood stabilizer. It occurs more often immediately upon the treatment of an acute manic episode. Valproate and lithium are more apt to produce a chronic dysthymia or affective flattening than the other MS drugs, although idiosyncratic reactions always appear.

Thats what i disliked about those 2 drugs, they left me in a state of drug-induced depression.

>How readily do you get manic if left untreated?

I'll be hypomanic for approximately 4 months in a time period within every 15 months. Depression is the dominating part of the illness for me.

>What does Wellbutrin or Parnate do for you?

I've never tried either. Wellbutrin is only licenced as Zyban here. Parnate is an MAOI LOL...and so it would possibly be like trying to get blood out of stone getting that drug over here. These 2 are the least likey to cause mania of all the anti depressants though right? Interesting, I wonder how they would effect me. I have the theory (for myself mainly) that anti depressants are damaging to my bipolar illness. My theory is, (from data i've read) is that anti-depressants can lower the seizure threshold and in doing so will work against what the anticonvulsant drug is trying to help, which is to treat bipolar disorder. Seroquel as well, i've heard has the potential to lower the seizure threshold...this is one reason why i'm very wary of using any anti-psychotics, as I feel it may work against, what drugs (anti-convulsants) are actually helping me the most. Of course there are those who cannot live without the use of an antidepressant and/or antipsychotic to treat their bipolar, so my theory definately can't hold true for everyone in general terms. I'm going on this theory for my individual treatment though, as it helps to map out a route for future treatments.. If I had the opportunity to try either Wellbutrin or Parnate and the need was there, I think I would try them but very cautiously.

>I am becoming more impressed with Topamax as a MS. I hope it keeps working. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

I was very skeptical at first of Topamax...now i'm becoming more impressed myself. I did something different yesterday and that was take my dosage at night. This has definately had a postive affect, I slept better and it appears to have reduced side effects today. I also feel calmer. Its such a powerful drug, I think its one you have to respect, otherwise it can treat you quite harsh ~ use it right though, and the results are brilliant i'm finding.

>It is often difficult to recognize it in oneself, especially if it is not of a dysphoric or mixed state. It just feels too damned good.

Couldn't agree more.."the feel good factor"..the memories of that are so tempting to get back, but the depression that follows is the thing that halts my temptation.

>There are, however, people who are chronically mildly to moderately hypomanic whom function just fine and are best not interfered with.

A minority of people who live with the "ups" but do not have the destructive depressions...imagine being able to ride the highs without having the lows?..I can only imagine lol

>YAY! Keep that positive anecdotal data coming...

Will do :-)

Kind regards

Nick

 

Re: Am I on a risky drug treatment?..or is it okay? » Slinky

Posted by Nickengland on August 21, 2005, at 10:22:27

In reply to Re: Am I on a risky drug treatment?..or is it okay? » Nickengland, posted by Slinky on August 20, 2005, at 9:26:33

Hi Slinky,

I think you're right...the Neurontin does need to be more balanced. This makes alot of sense as some days (its only a mild change) but I notice I have more energy and then some days I find I don't have so much energy. Its a very mild difference though, nothing extream like rapid cycling or anything like that, but enough to get me thinking "what the hell is it?!" lol

I have been playing around with the doasge, some days taking 600mg, some days taking 900mg. I think you've hit the nail on the head. I'm now going to stick at 900mg for a more extended period of time, like the next few weeks, and hopefully that should keep things more balanced with my energy...Thanks for pointing that out :)

The only things is..I know that the more Neurontin I take, I think I then get more "body jerks" before I go to sleep. They're pretty intense. Do you ever get these from Neurontin? I think there something i'll maybe have to just accept unless they get worse then i'll have to look into getting clonazepam prescribed...now that will be a challenge! lol

Kind regards

Nick

 

Re: Am I on a risky drug treatment?..or is it okay? » Nickengland

Posted by ed_uk on August 21, 2005, at 13:23:11

In reply to Re: Am I on a risky drug treatment?..or is it okay? » SLS, posted by Nickengland on August 21, 2005, at 10:07:20

Hi Nick,

Are you taking 25mg Topamax at the moment? Will you increase to 37.5mg soon?

>Seroquel as well, i've heard has the potential to lower the seizure threshold...this is one reason why i'm very wary of using any anti-psychotics, as I feel it may work against, what drugs (anti-convulsants) are actually helping me the most......

Atypical APs seem to combine quite well with anticonvulsants. Drug-induced mania is uncommon with Seroquel. In fact, it seems to work well in the treatment of acute mania.

Kind regards

~Ed

 

Re: Am I on a risky drug treatment?..or is it okay? » ed_uk

Posted by Nickengland on August 21, 2005, at 16:35:27

In reply to Re: Am I on a risky drug treatment?..or is it okay? » Nickengland, posted by ed_uk on August 21, 2005, at 13:23:11

Hi Ed,

>Atypical APs seem to combine quite well with anticonvulsants. Drug-induced mania is uncommon with Seroquel. In fact, it seems to work well in the treatment of acute mania.

I totally agree, in general Seroquel does appear to work well for acute mania...its approved for this use as well isn't it in bipolar? I feel because the atypical antipsychotics are orginally for the treatment of Schizoprenia, I don't think the symtoms I have are really that similar to Schizophrenia...thats kind of my reasoning for not wanting to use them myself personally. They act on dopamine too ~ whereas from what I understand the anticonvulatants work on gaba...I would be going into a whole new territory so to speak, and i'm not sure if the sedation would really work to make me feel better...

LOL - But then I take anticonvulsants and I don't have epilepsy?!...I've read that Temporal Lobe Epilepsy is very similar to bipolar disorder though and some of the symtoms mimic each other or even overlap. So my theory ~ for my own individual treatment, is that if the medications i'm taking and have responded to best are actually the same ones that are for if I was to have temperal lobe epilepsy, then maybe i'm best with these?..as the antipsychoatics do lower the seizure threshold, I could be taking a risk making my condition worse? Its all theory and of course this is just for me, but I think I have more in common with the temperal lobe symtoms than I do with the symtoms of schizoprenia...

>Are you taking 25mg Topamax at the moment? Will you increase to 37.5mg soon?

I was at 37.5mg a couple of weeks ago, but at the time of the increase i had a really bad flu (I don't think I timed the increase very well lol) I dropped back down to 25mg as I was having some sleeping problems, I seem to be doing fine on this dosage, but in about a week i'm going to try again to increase to 37.5mg, if all goes well then i'll push it up to 50mg and see how it goes from there.. I was reading wikipedia yesterday (great site for info!) it said under the Pharmacodynamics for Topamax..

"Its possible effect as a mood stabilizer seems to occur before anticonvulsant qualities at lower dosages."

I don't know how accurate that information is...but it seems to be holding true for me i think so far..

Hows the celexa treating you?...are you still at 60mg?

Kind regards

Nick

 

PS Ed....

Posted by Nickengland on August 21, 2005, at 16:40:07

In reply to Re: Am I on a risky drug treatment?..or is it okay? » ed_uk, posted by Nickengland on August 21, 2005, at 16:35:27

Hi Ed!

I just scrolled down and read your thread about thinking of prozac..so I guess that anwsers my question about you taking celexa :-)

(I should really check the 'new' messages before replying lol)

Kind regards

Nick

 

Re: PS Ed.... » Nickengland

Posted by Phillipa on August 21, 2005, at 23:25:07

In reply to PS Ed...., posted by Nickengland on August 21, 2005, at 16:40:07

Ed always seems to ask before taking so who's to know what he'll come up with. I'm glad your meds are working. Please stay well. And keep on posting as so many new people . you're a great guy Nick and i wish you the best. Fondly, Phillipa

 

Re: PS Ed.... » Phillipa

Posted by Nickengland on August 22, 2005, at 6:07:53

In reply to Re: PS Ed.... » Nickengland, posted by Phillipa on August 21, 2005, at 23:25:07

Thanks Phillipa, very kind of you :)

Kind regards

Nick

 

Re: Am I on a risky drug treatment?..or is it okay? » Nickengland

Posted by ed_uk on August 22, 2005, at 16:33:10

In reply to Re: Am I on a risky drug treatment?..or is it okay? » ed_uk, posted by Nickengland on August 21, 2005, at 16:35:27

Hi Nick,

> I feel because the atypical antipsychotics are orginally for the treatment of Schizoprenia, I don't think the symtoms I have are really that similar to Schizophrenia...

They don't need to be. Zyprexa, for example, is one of the most effective anti-manic drugs, the symptoms don't have to resemble schizophrenia. Schizophrenia was just the first condition that it was tested for.

>They act on dopamine too ~ whereas from what I understand the anticonvulatants work on gaba.....

.......gabapentin binds to specific calcium channels in the brain. It doesn't 'mimic' GABA as was originally though. Topamax does all sorts of stuff..... acts at sodium channels, calcium channels, GABA receptors etc.

>I would be going into a whole new territory so to speak..........

Gabapentin and Topamax were both new territory :-) None of the drugs you've tried before act in the same way.

>........and i'm not sure if the sedation would really work to make me feel better...

Some APs are more sedative that others. Seroquel is often quite sedating, Abilify is much less sedating. YMMV ;-) A lot of people find the anticonvulsants sedating!

>But then I take anticonvulsants and I don't have epilepsy?!...

:-)

>Temporal Lobe Epilepsy is very similar to bipolar disorder.....

Complex partial seizures can be difficult to diagnose, psychiatric symptoms may present.

Your symptoms sounds like 'classic' bipolar disorder to me, they don't resemble epilepsy....... as far as I can tell.

>..........I could be taking a risk making my condition worse?

It's possible .....but unlikely. Atypical APs have rarely been reported to induce mania......... but then so has Topamax.

>Hows the celexa treating you?...are you still at 60mg?

I'm finding it quite effective thank you :-) I'm still on 60mg.

Kind regards

~Ed

PS. I'm not recommending that you take an AP. You seem to be feeling much better lately. I just want you to keep your options open. An AP might come in handy in the future.

 

Re: Am I on a risky drug treatment?..or is it okay? » ed_uk

Posted by Nickengland on August 24, 2005, at 15:35:35

In reply to Re: Am I on a risky drug treatment?..or is it okay? » Nickengland, posted by ed_uk on August 22, 2005, at 16:33:10

Hi Ed,

>They don't need to be. Zyprexa, for example, is one of the most effective anti-manic drugs, the symptoms don't have to resemble schizophrenia. Schizophrenia was just the first condition that it was tested for.

Very true..I guess feel I've never had the kind of highs that are way up on the level of full-blown mania, and so in that respect, if I was to have that in the future (hope to god I never do) then I have to agree that would be something that would definately have an advantage in treating those symtoms...I just have these thought they maybe abit too heavy duty for me.

>.......gabapentin binds to specific calcium channels in the brain. It doesn't 'mimic' GABA as was originally though.

Whats the link with calcium channels invloved?... any ideas how this would this relieve anxiety? I know alittle information about dopamine, serotonin and gaba etc..but i know very little about calcium channels!..all I know about calcium is its good for teeth lol I do remember from psychoeducation though I think, mentioning Verapamil - which is a calcium channel blocker?...I wonder is there a link there at all with the calcium channels with gabapentin and verapamil?

>Topamax does all sorts of stuff..... acts at sodium channels, calcium channels, GABA receptors etc.

Mind if I ask you some questions about the Pharmacodynamics of Topamax? :-)

>Gabapentin and Topamax were both new territory :-) None of the drugs you've tried before act in the same way.

Very true indeed :-)

>Some APs are more sedative that others. Seroquel is often quite sedating, Abilify is much less sedating. YMMV ;-) A lot of people find the anticonvulsants sedating!

You're dead right again, it impossible to predict if a drug would or would not work ~ without simply trying it to find out..

>Complex partial seizures can be difficult to diagnose, psychiatric symptoms may present.

The simple paritial seizures too?...I've read some accounts of the experiences of how people feel when they have these, it is hard to explain and I could be totally wrong, but I felt that I possibly have had similar encounters myself, very brief, when I havent been medicated. Glad to say now though i'm not having any. When I was younger I hit my head pretty hard into the back of a car whilst on a bike. No tests were done, just an x-ray to see if I had broke my jaw. I think thats the only injury I could of had which may of brought about these. But its all speculation and I dont really think that would of caused me to become bipolar - as my mother has bipolar and that head injury wouldnt account for my symtoms being very similar to her when they started at the same age compared to her etc (she never hit her head lol) shows something genetic.


>Your symptoms sounds like 'classic' bipolar disorder to me, they don't resemble epilepsy....... as far as I can tell.

I'd agree, although the doctors over here don't really use the terms Bipolar 1 and Bipolar 2 (at least mine just told me at first *manic depressive disorder* (old school lol) ~ I think i'd fall under the diagnosis of bipolar 2, I've never had psychotic symtoms, but when I become depressed, i think I get close to them, but glady i've never experienced full-blown symtoms before.

>It's possible .....but unlikely. Atypical APs have rarely been reported to induce mania......... but then so has Topamax.

I guess this would be the same as an antidepressant inducing depression! I couldn't imagine lithium or valproate inducing mania though lol

>I'm finding it quite effective thank you :-) I'm still on 60mg.

Good to hear :-) Hope the sweating has decreased, especially now with the weather being dark with rain all the time! You must feeling less stress now with taking time out from uni too..

>I'm not recommending that you take an AP. You seem to be feeling much better lately. I just want you to keep your options open. An AP might come in handy in the future.

Completely understand what you're saying, and I highly appreciate your advice. One thing is for sure and that is this illness isn't going to disapear overnight ~ so if things were to get pretty bad at some point in the future, its very handy indeed to know what available to treat it ~ you can only do so much with anticonvulsants I guess. To be honest the AP's are just not something i'd like to maintained on for a longterm basis. That said, *if* things came to that, then I would use them, hopefully just on the short-term so to speak. I'm glad to say I think i've got things under control right now, just alittle bit of very fine tuning here and there with the supplements and timing of medication and i'll be, as good as it gets for now lol

Kind regards

Nick


 

Re: Am I on a risky drug treatment?..or is it okay? » Nickengland

Posted by ed_uk on August 24, 2005, at 16:26:43

In reply to Re: Am I on a risky drug treatment?..or is it okay? » ed_uk, posted by Nickengland on August 24, 2005, at 15:35:35

OH NO! I just wrote a reply and then accidently deleted it. Will try again tomorrow.

Kind regards

~Ed

 

No worries Ed :-) (nm) » ed_uk

Posted by Nickengland on August 26, 2005, at 6:36:00

In reply to Re: Am I on a risky drug treatment?..or is it okay? » Nickengland, posted by ed_uk on August 24, 2005, at 16:26:43


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

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