Posted by Ritch on July 29, 2002, at 8:45:45
In reply to Re: Epilim Chrono???--Mitch, posted by colin wallace on July 29, 2002, at 3:32:46
> Thanks Mitch,
>
> It's been three days now for me on a mere 200mg of valproate, and it has undoubtedly exerted a calming effect.Side effects thus far are (1)
> some incoordination/weakness (2) a feeling something like having an egg-whisk inserted into my brain at high velocity after drinking a little beer with lunch- (3)bizarre, remeron-like dreams that I'm not at all sure I like (woke up this morning after having a philosophical discussion with a segmented, translucent great
> white shark, encased in a monolithic ice-block on my back lawn, and quite insistent on being set free- I was dubious!! (analyse that someone ??)
> My symptoms (aside from insane dreams) seem to closely mirror yours actually, from what I've read of your posts.Prozac at 20 mg turned me into an enraged whirling dervish, and my psychs. response (upping the dose to 40mg) led to serious preparations for a suicide attempt.
> (******* halfwitted b****** of a psych.- won't forgive that one in a hurry).Later placed me on effexor at 150mg!!- imagine that catastrophe.Bit my tooth in half in a blind anger and almost hung myself.And so it goes on, and on....
> Funny, without the derangement induced by AD's, I've rarely, if ever, lost my temper in my entire life, even under severe stress.
> Anyway, I take on board what you say about the lamictal, although I really couldn't do any worse than I have with professional 'help' so far.
> I now call the shots as far as meds are concerned, won't be dictated to by a psych., and will draw my own conclusions as I gauge my own reactions to meds (I stubbornly demanded either lithium, depakote, lamictal, or a low-dose combo. at my last visit to a new psych., discussed the relative merits of each- and dismissed out of hand any suggestion of an AD addition- at any dosage ).God only knows if I can undo the damage wrought by years of highly destabilizing meds. that have greatly worsened my condition.
> I will of course, sensibly stick to the depakote and give it a fair trial,but there is no way on earth that my psych. (who wants to see me next year!)will even consider lithium, let alone a combo.Lamactil is out of the question.
> And sadly, I tend to get severely depressed as winter nears, and I need some AD prophylaxis.
> So I'm on my own (again), and prepared to take some risks if necessary.
>
> Thanks for listening.
>
> Col.Hey, no problem. I don't live in the UK, but I have heard a lot of squawks about the psychiatrists there. Just be careful if you try the lamotrigine, and make sure to follow the titration schedule conservatively. Post here about any problems you might be having with it-there are a lot of folks that are taking Lamictal that read here. If the ice melts around the shark-watch out! Tell us what happens :)
Mitch
poster:Ritch
thread:113811
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020725/msgs/114138.html