Posted by SLS on June 12, 2000, at 13:51:31
In reply to Re: Sorry - I meant Dear Judy, posted by judy1 on June 12, 2000, at 13:17:12
Hi Judy.
Two comments:1. A relatively new anticonvulsant is being looked at for treating bipolar disorder. It is called Gabitril (tiagabine). I have absolutely no impression of it one way or another, except to say that a doctor I recently had a consultation with recommended that I consider it.
2. The Department of Biological Psychiatry at the NIMH stresses that the benefits from mood-stabilizer therapy may not appear for six months to a year when treating ultra-rapid cycling bipolar disorder. They have also found it necessary to combine two or three of them to reap any rewards. If you can establish a regime of two or three mood stabilizers that you do not find otherwise offensive, you might consider their observations regarding the time course of improvement.
What combinations of mood stabilizers have you tried, and for how long?Any nasty side effects?
I don't know to what degree Zyprexa acts to reduce rapid-cycling. Do you know?
- Scott
> Hi Scott,
> Unfortunately I have been through all the mood stabilizers (including lamictal, neurontin and topiramate) and combos. I am just extremely treatment-resistant, and feel ECT isn't acceptable for me. Essentially, we (pdoc and I) put out fires- step up neuroleptics when needed, hospitals when all else fails. Lamictal was great for depression, although I got hypomanic (which although I love being that way, no one else seems to). Thank you for your compassion, if you know of anything experimental that I haven't tried, please let me know. Take care.
poster:SLS
thread:36911
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000610/msgs/37059.html