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Re: Another horrible 'episode'-so sick and tired of it » Peter

Posted by Ritch on March 9, 2003, at 10:20:22

In reply to Another horrible 'episode'-so sick and tired of it, posted by Peter on March 9, 2003, at 0:42:56

.....The SSRI's helped me the most, but seemed to cause alcohol cravings and emotional blunting after a few months of being on them. This reaction to SSRI's seems to be the sole criteria by which my doctor has diagnosed me as falling somewhere within the 'bipolar spectrum.' He believes that a type of SSRI-induced hypomania causes my alcohol cravings & impulsivity....

Peter, I get "SSRI-induced hypomania" as well, but it is an *immediate* phenomena, not a delayed one. Also, I can take very small doses and not get hypomanic, and the anxiety is clearly helped. Have you considered micro-doses? BTW, I couldn't tolerate 5mg of Prozac most of the year (excessive activation/insomnia). My *maintenance* dose of Prozac was in the 2.5mg range (every day).

.....My doc considered TCA's but said since he still believes I have some form of 'mild' bipolar disorder, TCA's aren't good because they'd push me into 'hypomanias' moreso than SSRI's.........


The important point here is that you haven't TRIED a TCA yet. Stims are *supposed* to be *bad* for bipolar disorder (like TCA's). What is his rationale behind giving you stims, then? Evidently he didn't have any qualms with you trying stimulants. TCA's can work rather well for agoraphobic symptoms and GAD.

......I told my doc and he said while the adderall mught be exacervating my mood swings, he wants to first see if reducing the lamictal might help. If it doesn't, I'd then go on to reduce the adderall-all while the prozac is beginning to 'work' (hopefully). He told me to drop the lamictal dose from 100mg to 50mg in a day, saying I won't experience withdrawal because it has such a long half-life. Well, I did that starting today, but all I can say is this is the worst I've felt in a long time.......


Do you think the Lamictal has helped you in any way?



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poster:Ritch thread:207296
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030306/msgs/207377.html