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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by crittercuddler on December 25, 2008, at 23:17:01
It seems to me that if you have OCD and Bipolar disorder (anywhere on the spectrum) that you are in quite a pickle. I say this because you need a proven treatment for OCD of which the gold standard is the SSRI or perhaps another anti-depressant. BUT, you can't take an SSRI without being activated and sent into mania or hypo-mania. On the other hand, just being on a mood stabilizer, even one that claims to have an anti-depressant effect (like Lithium, or Seroquel, or Depakote) is not going to treat the OCD.So, what do you do?
I ask because I am beginning to be concerned that my ridiculously strong activation response to even the tiniest dose of an SSRI might be due to me being bipolar. I have been hesitant to accept this as being the reason for my intolerance to SSRIs because I have taken an anti-depressant in the past for several years and not had any problems (except poop out). Nevertheless, I am having big problems now and I think that I must consider this.
If you have OCD and bipolar and are reading this I would love for you to share with me what med combos have worked for you to address both illnesses.
Posted by Phillipa on December 25, 2008, at 23:43:06
In reply to OCD and BIPOLAR? What med combo do you use?, posted by crittercuddler on December 25, 2008, at 23:17:01
Have you tried luvox and a benzo? Love Phillipa
Posted by Jakeo29 on December 26, 2008, at 14:23:40
In reply to Re: OCD and BIPOLAR? What med combo do you use? » crittercuddler, posted by Phillipa on December 25, 2008, at 23:43:06
I do not have bi-polar per say, however I do have Aspergers which have some components of the whole cocktail of disorders like OCD, AD/HD and Depression/Autistic Outbursts (which would be the closest thing to "mania" in my case, but only last a couple minutes once a year or so now on treatment with the following combo. I am wondering if a Lamictal-Depakote-Abilify-Zoloft Combo may be very effective treating Bi-polar and OCD. Obviously everyone's disorder and reactions to medicine are different-so that's for a pdoc to decide. However, these medications seem to go very well together for me and reduce many of the symptoms that may be associated with Bi-polar, OCD, Social Phobias and an absence of irrational negative thinking. -Jake.
Posted by crittercuddler on December 26, 2008, at 15:51:56
In reply to Re: OCD and BIPOLAR? What med combo do you use?, posted by Jakeo29 on December 26, 2008, at 14:23:40
Wow Jake, that is a med combo.
I have tried all of those drugs separately.
I took Depakote (divaloprex DR) for 3 days. I stopped it because of bad abdominal pain. I wasn't eating. Also, I seemed to be more emotionally labile on it, although I don't know if that is just because I was miserable from the abdomnial pain and stomach upset.
Lamictal I have tried to get on several times, never getting over 25mg. Most recently, when I tried it I noticed that I was having trouble expressing myself and finding words.
Zoloft-tried a few times, never for more than a week. Awful activation on it, just like every other SSRI I have tried, even at 12.5mg and 5mg. (you can see my post on "Is this anti-depressant mania" to read more about my issues with SSRIs)
Abilify-activated me like an anti-depressant does, but as a bonus it made me feel dumb and blank like all the other atypicals do as well. (only at 2.5mg or 5mg) again, for less than a week.
Perhaps a combination of meds would be good for me. Problem is my doctor doesn't want to prescribe more than one at a time and individually they all seem to give me issues.
Posted by jakeo29 on December 28, 2008, at 14:39:26
In reply to Re: OCD and BIPOLAR? What med combo do you use?, posted by crittercuddler on December 26, 2008, at 15:51:56
Yes it's been a couple years of slowly adding this combo together-and it appears to really knock out emotional attention seeking outbursts during times which I fail when surrounded by the perception of everyone else "succeeding" (college). Also the stimulants help to keep me awake.
This is the end of the thread.
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