Posted by Jackie on May 12, 1999, at 15:18:02
In reply to Re: Effexor and Topamax / cyclothymia?, posted by Sean on May 12, 1999, at 11:08:40
> > > Has anyone used this combination for the treatment of cyclothymia?
> >
> > i'm taking that combination but i don't know what cyclothymia is... please explain?
> >
> > thanks
>
> Hey!
>
> The current thinking is that Cyclothymia is
> probably a form of bipolar disorder. It was once
> thought not to be treatable w/meds but in recent
> years many researchers have found that drugs like
> lithium, valproate, and carbamazepine combined
> with an AD often works wonders. The doses are
> typically lower than with full blown BPD, so
> side effects are less of an issue.
>
> The main differentiation between dysthymia and
> cyclothymia is the presence of hypomania rather
> than true mania, and this oscillates with the
> depression, often with surprising predictability
> and higher frequency than classic bipolar. In
> may be more like rapid cycling in this respect.
>
> One thing I find interesting about cyclothymia is
> looking at it in light of the "kindling
> hypothesis". It was this hypothesis that led
> physicians to start using anti-siezure drugs for
> BPD in the first place. It therefore stands out
> in the annals of psychopharmacology as one of the
> few treatments that came directly from an abstract
> model of disease. Researchers had noticed that
> over time, attacks of bipolar disorder increased
> in frequency until the patient was left in a more
> or less permanent "mixed" state. Something similar
> happens with epileptics if left untreated.
>
> Sooo, Topomax is a reasonable choce for cyclothymia
> and by treating this condition early, you may
> actually be slowing down (or stopping) the disease
> process and heading things off at the pass!
>
> Dr. Hagop Akiskal has done loads of work on cyclo.
>
> Good luck and I hope this helps!
>
> Sean.
poster:Jackie
thread:5984
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990501/msgs/6013.html