Posted by JohnX2 on June 1, 2002, at 21:09:55
In reply to Need lots of advice, posted by danibell25 on June 1, 2002, at 20:39:19
> I was diagnosed bipolar II and borderline personality disorder. I've been on Lithium, Depakote, Geodon, Zyprexa and now Tegretol. I've been researching it today and wonder if I messed up by suggesting it to the doctor. I haven't read very many good posts about it and the other things I've read make it sound good for the mania or highs of BP I not II. Bipolar II has more depression and borderlines have depression problems too. I stay suicidal almost all the time unless I'm hypomanic or in a "normal" phase. I also have serious problems with self-injury. From what I've read all the meds I've been on are good for BP I. Has anyone heard of anything good for BPII? If you have please respond. I got so desperate to see a doctor that I'm seeing a regular family doctor who of course knows next to nothing about BP or BPD or how to treat it. I can't see a psychiatrist until August so any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Hi There,
Sorry to here about the med swizzle game..
This is what I know from my experience.
I am DX'd with BP2 with mostly depression.
Take my knowledge for what it is worth.Lithium is the biggie for Bipolar I.
But all the other meds are good for bipolar II, including Tegetrol.
They may however require adjunctive medication (polypharmacy), which
is more the rule than the exception in any bipolar patient.
This may include multiple mood stabilizers, add on APs, an
antidepressant.The APs (atypical antipsychotics) like Geodon,Zyprexa, etc
can be helpful for both the anxiety, depression, and hypomania,
as well as other conditions.Of the mood stabilizers generally Li is gold standard for
the highs of bipolar I (but a lot of data shows it
can be a good booster to antidepressants).The other mood stabilizers are statistically better
for cycling patterns, but that doesn't imply that they
won't help with depressions for any given individual.
Were just dealing with a trend. FWIW, I did try a medication
called Trileptal (a new improved Tegetrol), and found it
gave a nice AD boost.The one you left out is Lamictal. This mood stabilizer is
thought to be extremely effective for bipolar II and probably
has the best antidepressant properties. I use it as my core
medication.As far as treatments for borderline and self-injury, I'm sorry
I don't have much information.I hope you get more feedback.
Please Take Care,
John
poster:JohnX2
thread:108359
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020525/msgs/108366.html