Posted by Shawn. T. on November 5, 2002, at 23:26:52
In reply to gershon: quick fix or ?, posted by willow02 on November 5, 2002, at 21:27:41
Have you considered adding Wellbutrin? It is an antidepressant that will not induce rapid cycling. No matter how long your depressions last, they are extremely important to avoid. Depression negatively affects the brain moreso than mania; risking depressive episodes is not in your best interest. You should definitely not take Paxil again. With regards to mood stabilizers, you might think about switching to valproic acid (Depakote) considering the fact that you have rapid cycling bipolar disorder. Most experts argue that Depakote is more effective than lithium for rapid cycling bipolar patients. Staying on Remeron probably wouldn't be a bad idea. One of the common findings in people with rapid cycling bipolar disorder is that they often have very abnormal circadian rhythms. You should make fighting insomnia and maintaining a regular sleep schedule a priority. The tiredness should go away in a week or two. If you can't take it in the meantime, you could talk to your doctor about halving your dosage until your body has become better adjusted to the drug. Adding Wellbutrin to the Remeron would probably give you more energy and motivation if you still feel just as tired after another week. For a compilation of the last five years of research into rapid cycling bipolar disorder, see
http://www.neurotransmitter.net/rapidcycling.htmlShawn
poster:Shawn. T.
thread:126601
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021101/msgs/126616.html