Posted by Jackd on April 5, 2002, at 16:21:52
Hey guys, just wanted to fill you in again, and hopefully get some more input. Here's a recap of what I've had and what's been happening: I have ADD, anxiety and depression. I have tried Wellbutrin and Remeron, the first of which threw me into a severe hypomania, followed by a long dark depression. About 8 months later, I tried Remeron, 60 mg a day. It worked great! For two months I felt "right" and everything was going great, until I noticed a cycling that gradually got worse and worse until I was really depressed (even more so than I usually am). This lasted a few months. Now, I have finally realized that I am most likely bipolar, for a number of reasons and empirical evidence. So I have now restarted Remeron, 30mg a day, along with Lithium which I have just now reached 1200mg a day after about 3-4 weeks (i think). I have been feeling OK... functional, but have still been cycling (several times a day, and very subtly). I have been more stable since going up to 900, and hopefully 1200 should be even better.
So here are my questions this time... should I even be on an antidepressant if I'm bipolar II? What if the lithium just slows the inevitable slide towards depression that antidepressants all seem to cause? Are there better options for rapid cycling (or is that just cause by having the Remeron in the mix)?
I think John was right about my anxiety having something to do with "mixed states", because the Lithium seems to generally be helping it. Basically, I'm all out of answers, and just remaining on Lithium seems like a bleak answer to my problems. I want to feel happy, vibrant, CONTENT. Is that possible for a bipolar person?
P.S. I also take 18mg of Concerta and 1mg of Klonopin a day.
poster:Jackd
thread:102030
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020402/msgs/102030.html