Posted by Elizabeth on January 30, 2002, at 13:21:41
In reply to Re: TCA's and BPD-Link? » Elizabeth, posted by Chloe on January 25, 2002, at 17:15:47
Hi Chloe. No, I don't know of a web site where you could read about BPD (or rapid cycling) and tricyclics. It's something I've read in several places, though.
> After two weeks on amitriptyline, I am having increased cycling and horrific aggitated mixed states.
20 mg is a small amount in normal metabolizers, so the worsening might have nothing to do with the amitriptyline. You might want to see a neurologist about the pain, though.
> I have not lost my temper in such abrupt and abusive ways in so long. I am sure it's the amitrip. and asked my pdoc to switch to doxepin. She refused. Saying that all TCA;s are alike. Changing won't make a difference.
That's not really true, although I'm not sure that doxepin would be better than amitriptyline. (Doxepin is generally more sedating, but otherwise there isn't really much predictable difference.)
> Anyway, I was hoping you had a link that I could give to her that says Ami is "particularly" bad for the rapid cycling bipolar (ex-BPD, since I have not been self destructive in over a decade..), like me.
Self-destructiveness is just one symptom of BPD, and rapid-cycling bipolar disorder like you describe is pretty much indistinguishable from BPD. But anyway, no, I don't know of any web sites. Have you tried doing searches? Searching Medline would definitely turn up some results (although bear in mind that this hasn't been studied extensively so you're not going to get any rigorous clinical trials).
> If I just didn't have this dumb scalp pain induced from the lithium, I could just go up on that and I think the cycling would decrease. But without a TCA, the burning is so painful, I can't tolerate the Li...
Do you think the lithium is helping? It sounds like that may be more of a problem than a help!
-elizabeth
poster:Elizabeth
thread:90799
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020124/msgs/92203.html