Posted by Ritch on August 8, 2002, at 9:48:10
In reply to Re: Antidepressants (Effexor) for Bipolar II?? » Ritch, posted by HMK on August 8, 2002, at 8:05:36
> In response to your questions, my doctor just seems to think that Zyprexa is better for bipolars than Risperdal. I hate it- all it does is make me more depressed in my depressed days and manic in my manic days (I'm a rapid cycler)plus I'm am so fricking tired all the time that I've missed a lot of work.
>
> My plan: switch back to Risperdal (I've been on Zyprexa for 9 days and it's been nothing but downhill)then taper off the Effexor. Next, go off the Depakote. The Depakote seems to have very little effect on me, so why take it- just to gain more weight? I want to try Risperdal as monotherapy because it is the only medication that I've seen truly amazing results with. I HATE these pills!!
>
> I'm scared to go off Effexor because I've been on it for 3 years. Luckily I'm taking a low dose- 75 mg.- so am hoping that side effects of going off it will be minimal.
> HMK
You will need to do a little arm twisting to get him to back off the Zyprexa I am afraid. He will probably relent and let you go back on the Risperdal if you really press it. If you reason it well it might do the trick. It *isn't* good to be sleeping excessively. That tends to reinforce depression-that's bad, that's all there is to it! The Effexor can be reduced gradually. It can cause a lot of sleepiness in people and aggravate cycling. I can't stand more than 12.5mg per day! You will probably have the most difficult time talking him out of taking Depakote. He might agree to a switch from Depakote to maybe lithium or Neurontin?good luck,
Mitch
poster:Ritch
thread:115541
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020807/msgs/115660.html