Posted by fluffy on August 27, 2003, at 12:26:35
In reply to Redirect: careers, posted by Dr. Bob on August 26, 2003, at 23:12:23
Hi Barb-cat, Katia, McPac, Patricia (and all!)
I just thought I'd share my progress with my little problem of needing med augmentation. I went to my pdoc yesterday. I felt like I was in the "hot-seat" of "who wants to be a basket-case?" BTW, as an aside--does anyone know where the term "basket case came from? did they carry the head-cases of yore with baskets to the asylum? Just curious...
Since the Lamictal alone doesn't seem to do the trick @200mg, I was given two choices: Lithium or Wellbutrin. I sat there for like 30 minutes with him debating the pro's and con's. (thank god he can spend that time with me...he doesn't work by the hour, as he hired by a university, and is a researcher). After much deliberation, I decided on the Li. I think I'd rather experience some lethargy and maybe a case of the shakes than another mixed state. It doesn't seem like my problem is only a depressed episode anyway. I feel like I'm completely cyclothymic at this point. I guess I have co-morbid cyclothymia with BPII.
Like you, McPac, I've felt this whole ordeal has all been very, very confusing. I've had to wrestle with the AD crap, too since I only had major depressions when I was younger. I've had the same questions as you--was my agitation side effects or an underlying problem?? Since being treated with AD's, the underlying problem of BPII has emerged, I guess. And since I can't seem to tolerate SSRI's anymore, I'm taking the safe, mood stabilizer route, now.
So I'm holding my breath and jumping into the Li pool. I'll keep you posted.
Katy
poster:fluffy
thread:9730
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030823/msgs/254710.html