Posted by Mr. Scott on February 4, 2002, at 23:32:45
In reply to Re: Update on my broken brain and its treatment » Mr. Scott, posted by JohnX2 on February 4, 2002, at 23:03:52
> Hi Scott,
>
> That looks like a good strategy.
>
> I'm not sure if you would want to start
> into too many meds at once. But I like
> the selection of meds.
>
> Personally I don't care much for mixing
> Effexor with Wellbutrin and agree with
> your strategy of dumping Effexor. I might
> reconsider holding out on starting Wellbutrin
> until you are at a healthy dose of Lamictal
> and/or Lithium. You might find out that you
> do just fine on Lithium and/or Lamictal alone.
>
> I would pick Klonopin over Xanax. I've never
> heard of Tranxene? I might try Neurontin instead
> of these as it is non habit forming. Again, you
> may not require these meds if the Lamictal/Lithium/Wellbutrin
> address the irritability issues. You just need
> to wait and see I suppose. Another option is
> Topamax. Topamax increases Gaba conductance
> in a manner similar to Klonopin. When I added
> it to Lamictal I only had benzo like side effects.
> This was a unique experience as most people seem
> to get cognitive side effects, but not me. So perhaps
> I'm thinking that Lamictal interactions are keeping
> the Topamax from causing cognitive downsides. I would
> seriously consider a Topamax trial add on to Lamictal.
>
> Anyways, I suspect you'll hit paydirt with
> your new approach.
>
>
> Regards,
> John
>
>
>
>
> > Hello fellow babblers-
> > I told my doc that antidepressants generally make we worse, by leaving me still depressed only activated and hence more angry, impulsive, irritable and more negative than ever. Like I become a ranting and raving depresssive instead of a quiet depressive. I also generally only get a few weeks or months at best out of any of them before I'm left with the above condition, and a bunch of side effects. Also the SSRI/Effexors of the world quickly pinch off my frontal lobes and make me dumb, numb and fatigued as hell. I also generally have a hard time tolerating pills.
> >
> > He said it sounds like I have bipolar III, whatever the hell that really means I don't know. In any event I think it's safe now to assume that I have some level of bipolarity that makes me unresponsive to SSRI's alone.
> >
> > 1)chemical sensitivities
> > 2)sub affective bipolar disorder
> > 3)poor response, non response, or worsening response to ADS
> >
> > So I'm taking a new approach to this whole mess.
> >
> > Lithium CR 450mg
> > Lamictal 12.5mg (raise 12.5mg every 1-2 weeks)
> > Xanax or Klonopin or Tranxene(whichever whenever)
> > Wellbutrin SR (start low)
> > Effexor XR 37.5mg (stop trying to tolerate 75mg and eventually ditch unless helpful)
> >
> > Anyone have any comments or suggestions?
> > ScottThanks John! I see your point about not starting too many at once and also trying to avoid the Klonopin if possible. Over the past decade I've had to taper off the benzos on three seperate occassions and generally went back on about a year later in each case, because the antidepressants I didn't hold the AD response or because they boosted my agitation. It's not fun, they are definately habit forming. Nonetheless, for those times you need them nothing works as well and as fast!
So then I think Lithium + Lamictal is the way to start and if needed I'll go Neurontin before klonopin.
I worry about depression coming on fast and strong as I ditch the Effexor so I'll stand by with Wellbutrin, but ultimately I think the more AD's I can avoid the better.
I think I'll be tinkering with this for awhile. My main goal is to wait it out until I can get the Lamictal dose up to good level and see if it works.
Thanks for the advice & encouragement.
Scott
poster:Mr. Scott
thread:92893
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020131/msgs/92908.html