Posted by Ron Hill on June 20, 2005, at 12:06:11
In reply to What are good ideas for bipolar depression????, posted by bipolarspectrum on June 20, 2005, at 0:32:17
> Hi,
> I see my pdoc on tuesday and I'm looking for any ideas for bipolar depression besides lamictal and lithium?????
> bps
------------BPS,
I'm BP II and I totally agree with what Scott said above. In addition to Parnate, perhaps you could also consider the MAOI's Nardil or Deprenyl (Selegiline).
The depressive phase of my BP II disorder is the atypical variety (low motivation, low energy, hypersomia, mood reactivity, anhedonia, etc). I'm currently in week four of a low-dose Selegiline trial. It's too early in the trial to make predictions regarding its long-term effectiveness, but so far it's working extremely well. It is giving me back my life (so far).
One advantage of Selegiline is that at dosages below about 15 - 20 mg/day the MAOI diet restrictions are not required (i.e.; no cheese effect). I'd encourage you to read up on MAOIs (if you haven't already) before your appointment. Some p-docs are reluctant to prescribe MAOIs because of the potentially fatal cheese effect. Therefore, the more you know going into to the appointment the better chance you have of convincing your p-doc that a trial would be safe and might be worth a try.
MAOIs are not without their side effects, so do some reading.
-- Ron
BP II and OCPD
600 mg/day Lithobid
900 mg/day Trileptal
50 mg/day Lamictal
5 mg/day Deprenyl (as tx for atypical depression)
poster:Ron Hill
thread:515839
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050617/msgs/515971.html