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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 20 of 20. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Christ_empowered on October 12, 2010, at 23:04:14
So, it dawned on me: mental illness (or...something) made me very stupid, for a very long time. I wasted $$$ b/c I couldn't focus on school work. It wasn't ADD--I was just plain dumb. I used to say the most mind-numbingly stupid things. I used to be a moron.
But no longer.
Weirdly enough, I didn't start out stupid, either; that happened years into being crazy. And getting over it has been a gradual process, too.
What gives?
Posted by Phillipa on October 13, 2010, at 0:09:15
In reply to Was I stupid? Am I still?, posted by Christ_empowered on October 12, 2010, at 23:04:14
Is it the med you are now on? Phillipa ps you have never been "stupid" quite the opposite.
Posted by Christ_empowered on October 13, 2010, at 0:46:28
In reply to Was I stupid? Am I still?, posted by Christ_empowered on October 12, 2010, at 23:04:14
The Abilify certainly helps in a lot of respects. I can focus better, I don't have psychosis to contend with, and I'm not agitated (all of which can make it hard to use whatever intelligence one may have).
But...there's something else going on, I think. I seem to recall reading somewhere about chronic, treatment-resistant patients on clozapine experiencing "awakenings." Maybe that's what it is? Some sort of medication-induced effect, plus psychological and spiritual changes? I don't know.
Posted by huxley on October 13, 2010, at 0:57:59
In reply to Re: Was I stupid? Am I still?, posted by Christ_empowered on October 13, 2010, at 0:46:28
I was never stupid until I took Lactimal.
Posted by Christ_empowered on October 13, 2010, at 1:11:24
In reply to Re: Was I stupid? Am I still?, posted by huxley on October 13, 2010, at 0:57:59
I'm sorry you've had trouble w/ lamictal. Anti-convulsants often cause cognitive problems. Are you still taking it? Have you found something better?
Posted by huxley on October 13, 2010, at 2:54:34
In reply to for huxley..., posted by Christ_empowered on October 13, 2010, at 1:11:24
Yep still take it. I was up at 400mg at one stage Now down to 50mg and the cognative side effects seem much better but still present.
Posted by SLS on October 13, 2010, at 6:21:58
In reply to Was I stupid? Am I still?, posted by Christ_empowered on October 12, 2010, at 23:04:14
I thought you were thoroughly apprised of the fact that depressive disorders produce cognitive and memory impairments. They do, but the degree to which these things occur is very variable interindividually. With major depressive disorder, these impairments seem to be state specific. They dissipate as the depression remits. For bipolar disorder, there seems to be a degree of trait specific impairments that persist despite remission.
- Scott
> So, it dawned on me: mental illness (or...something) made me very stupid, for a very long time. I wasted $$$ b/c I couldn't focus on school work. It wasn't ADD--I was just plain dumb. I used to say the most mind-numbingly stupid things. I used to be a moron.
>
> But no longer.
>
> Weirdly enough, I didn't start out stupid, either; that happened years into being crazy. And getting over it has been a gradual process, too.
>
> What gives?
>
>
Posted by Jeroen on October 13, 2010, at 16:43:25
In reply to Re: Was I stupid? Am I still?, posted by huxley on October 13, 2010, at 0:57:59
lamictal is a dangerous drug can induce psychotic syndromes (permanent)
Posted by SLS on October 13, 2010, at 17:32:23
In reply to t huxley, posted by Jeroen on October 13, 2010, at 16:43:25
> lamictal is a dangerous drug can induce psychotic syndromes (permanent)
Have you ever tried Provigil (modafinil)? It sounds counterintuitive to add a wake-promoting drug to someone suffering from psychosis, but its pharmacological actions are opposite to that of Lamictal.
Have your doctors ever expressed doubts that you are in a true psychotic state? What is their official diagnosis of you?
- Scott
Posted by Jeroen on October 14, 2010, at 2:47:35
In reply to Re: t huxley » Jeroen, posted by SLS on October 13, 2010, at 17:32:23
i am going to try Glycine tomorrow, it has NMDA receptor modulation propertier that might give relief from depression and psychosis
can reverse psychosis in some cases but not having my hopes too high
Posted by SLS on October 14, 2010, at 5:12:21
In reply to to SLS, posted by Jeroen on October 14, 2010, at 2:47:35
> i am going to try Glycine tomorrow, it has NMDA receptor modulation propertier that might give relief from depression and psychosis
You sure know your stuff. I wish you nothing but luck this time. You deserve it.
- Scott
Posted by floatingbridge on October 15, 2010, at 12:47:22
In reply to Was I stupid? Am I still?, posted by Christ_empowered on October 12, 2010, at 23:04:14
Not only does mental illness affect cognitive abilities, so just plain old neurosis. I wasted much of my life. Sometimes I have difficulty dealing with the grief and anger. Usually I turn them against myself. My shrink reminds me that it really wasn't my fault--not the same as abdicating responsibility.
Looking at the past and where I am today can be painful, but I'm learning.
Short answer: no, you're not.
Sorry you're feeling bad.
Posted by Maxime on October 15, 2010, at 18:42:54
In reply to Was I stupid? Am I still?, posted by Christ_empowered on October 12, 2010, at 23:04:14
I understand how you feel. I first tried antidepressants in 1995, benzos the same year. I had almost finished writing my Master's thesis when I started them. I.E. I started in May and finished my thesis in September. My convocation was in November and by then I lost my mind and I was admitted in the hospital. That's how it all began with antidepressant. I had been ill for a long time but never went to see anyone about it because I thought I was going crazy.
I could never do what I did at that time!I doing reseach and teaching at the same time and doing both very well. Today, I am unable to write an article. My mind won't that way anymore. I wonder what I would be like if I never started taking meds? Right now I feel STUPID and some days like I am losing my mind when I experience depersonalisation.
But just because we feel a certain way, it doesn't mean that we are that way. Other people still see me as being smart. Although I must admit that it makes me feel like am I pulling the wool over their eyes.
I hope you feel better once you get the Lamictal out of your system. Take care. *hugs*
Posted by SLS on October 16, 2010, at 5:28:29
In reply to Re: Was I stupid? Am I still? » Christ_empowered, posted by Maxime on October 15, 2010, at 18:42:54
> But just because we feel a certain way, it doesn't mean that we are that way.
This is a fundamental dynamic of depression and how it affects perceptions and cognition. You are definitely not going crazy. Your thoughts and words appear to me to be coherent and grounded in reality.
What mood-stabilizers have you tried and what were the results?
- Scott
Posted by Maxime on October 17, 2010, at 20:18:24
In reply to Re: Was I stupid? Am I still? » Maxime, posted by SLS on October 16, 2010, at 5:28:29
Hi Scott, I haven't had much luck with mood stabilisers. I have a weird reactions to many. The one that my body tolerates it Trileptal. No side effects with this one.
Posted by SLS on October 18, 2010, at 4:43:08
In reply to Re: Was I stupid? Am I still? » SLS, posted by Maxime on October 17, 2010, at 20:18:24
> Hi Scott, I haven't had much luck with mood stabilisers. I have a weird reactions to many. The one that my body tolerates it Trileptal. No side effects with this one.
It only takes one...
I think more than anything, Trileptal acts as an antimanic agent. However, my experience with Trileptal was that it picked up my mood and energy a bit and was weight-neutral. My response to Trileptal was unsatisfactory, so I stopped taking it. However, I would not resist trying it again.
I think a case can be made for you to remain on a mood stabilizer while you test other antidepressant drugs.
How does Provigil affect you? I hated it. Overall, it worsened my depression, especially the cognitive impairments. However, my guess is that it might go well with Parnate. My doctor will occasionally use Wellbutrin with Lamictal. Is this something you have already explored?
- Scott
Posted by Maxime on October 18, 2010, at 20:47:07
In reply to Re: Was I stupid? Am I still? » Maxime, posted by SLS on October 18, 2010, at 4:43:08
> > Hi Scott, I haven't had much luck with mood stabilisers. I have a weird reactions to many. The one that my body tolerates it Trileptal. No side effects with this one.
>
> It only takes one...
>
> I think more than anything, Trileptal acts as an antimanic agent. However, my experience with Trileptal was that it picked up my mood and energy a bit and was weight-neutral. My response to Trileptal was unsatisfactory, so I stopped taking it. However, I would not resist trying it again.
>
> I think a case can be made for you to remain on a mood stabilizer while you test other antidepressant drugs.
>
> How does Provigil affect you? I hated it. Overall, it worsened my depression, especially the cognitive impairments. However, my guess is that it might go well with Parnate. My doctor will occasionally use Wellbutrin with Lamictal. Is this something you have already explored?
>
>
> - ScottFor me, the Trileptal helps with the ups and downs I have without making me feel depressed.
I don't like Provigil. It gives me a headache in the back of my head which is not a good sign. I have been on it twice and it did the same thing.
Lamictal makes me depressed for some reason. Again, I have tried it twice with the same results. That being said I haven't tried in the last couple of years. It might be worth trying it again. I will keep that combo in mind.
I am meeting with my pdoc on Friday to discuss my options. The pyschiatric hospital where he used to work is doing TMS and TDCS and I would like to have TDCS done if I am a good candidate. I am hoping that he would be able to pull some strings to get me on the list to try it.
What do you think about TDCS? Have you ever had it before?
Posted by SLS on October 19, 2010, at 1:24:30
In reply to Re: Was I stupid? Am I still? » SLS, posted by Maxime on October 18, 2010, at 20:47:07
> What do you think about TDCS? Have you ever had it before?
Never heard of it. What's it all about?
- Scott
Posted by floatingbridge on October 19, 2010, at 12:07:28
In reply to Re: Was I stupid? Am I still? » Maxime, posted by SLS on October 19, 2010, at 1:24:30
> > What do you think about TDCS? Have you ever had it before?
>
> Never heard of it. What's it all about?
>
>
> - ScottMaxime, what is it? Deep cranial stim?
Posted by Maxime on October 19, 2010, at 22:13:05
In reply to Re: Was I stupid? Am I still? » Maxime, posted by SLS on October 19, 2010, at 1:24:30
It's Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation. I need to do some research on it myself to say anything more about it.
And I am interested in TMS as well which is offered at this hospital.
This is the end of the thread.
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