Posted by Chris A. on September 10, 2001, at 14:09:20
In reply to Re: Any Success Stories? Plug for AC too, posted by susan C on September 8, 2001, at 16:17:13
Lamotrigine (Lamictal) is my number one med of choice. ADs were nearly the death of me. Perhaps a lot of people want to hang onto the notion that they have major depression, because it is not as stigmatizing as a diagnosis in the bipolar spectrum. That's what I did and it caused permanent harm in the form of treatment resistant rapid cycling and mixed states as a result of taking ADs. There's a mentality that says "I'm depressed," or "this patient is depressed," so an antidepressant is the answer. Susan McElroy, a noted bipolar researcher, points out that much of mania and hypomania presents as dysphoric or mixed. One never has to have been euphoric a day in their lives to benefit from mood stabilizers (the anticonvulants and lithium). It often takes a lot of tinkering to find the right AC or combinations thereof. All, with the exception of Lamictal, leave me too foggy to function safely. Lamictal hasn't cured me, but it's been a life saver.
Another plug for ACs,
Chris A.
Research for example shows anticonvulsants to be good drugs for psychiatric symptoms, but in the real world here at psychobabble, it is very hard to find anyone who loves their anticonvulsant.
poster:Chris A.
thread:78048
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010907/msgs/78487.html