Posted by Ritch on February 7, 2005, at 10:19:05
In reply to No more Lithium + questioning dx, posted by slinky on February 7, 2005, at 3:29:45
> Hello.
>
> I've stopped Lithium..I have 2 tabs left and just can't take them.
> I'm questioning my diagnosis of bipolar because...
> Lithium made me very agitated- but I was level mooded..but stuck in the inner agitative state and wanted to self harm most of the time.
> Limactal also agitation and allergy.
> Depakote was ok for a few days then made me aggresive
> Zyprexa..just remember a constant obbsession with food and always hungry.
> Can't remember any other med except gabapentin is my lifesafer.
> I'll probably try tegretol next?
> Is anyone else having theses paradoxical reactions to mood stabilisers..does these reactions suggest I'm not bipolar???
> Sorry for the questions..just very confused and depressed
>
Hi Slinky, I also have responded very well to gabapentin. Many people report lithium as really activating. So, it probably isn't a good fit for you. However.. you did mention that Depakote was ok for a few days and then made you aggressive... Hmm. Maybe you were on too high a dose? Depakote kicks in rapidly. I take 375mg a day and I have to reduce it to 250mg a day for a while every so often because I will get tired and sullen feeling (and the twitchies.. you know about those!). Tegretol would be worthy of trying. I had to bail out on my latest Trileptal trial. Three strikes it's out-had nausea on 75mg at bedtime so bad I nearly puked after four days on it. I guess that one's permanently off my list. Maybe I don't have bipolar either? Maybe brain damage-NOS :)
poster:Ritch
thread:454220
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050207/msgs/454274.html