Posted by KaraS on July 24, 2005, at 22:50:41
In reply to hi!, posted by med_empowered on July 24, 2005, at 15:43:43
> hi! I just wanted to make sure that I didn't come off as saying that a mood-stabilizer wouldn't help. If you have mood-disorder that responds well to a mood-stabilizer, and the side-effects are nill or minimal, then you probably will get some anxiolytic effects from the mood-stabilizer along with a much-needed help in overall functioning. My point is that mood-stabilizers really are for MOOD REGULATION. If you have bad anxiety they might help, but they should probably only be used for an underlying mood-disorder and not to smooth out anxiety...the resulting side-effects just wouldn't be worth it in terms of risk-benefits breakdown. BTW...if you opt for a mood-stabilizer, I'd seriously recommend low-dose Trileptal or Lamictal. Trileptal, at lower doses, is pretty easy on the patient and reasonably effective. Lamictal is nifty because it is the only mood-stabilizer that seems to have a marked, robust effect on bipolar *depression* and really functions more as a mood-brightener than simply an anti-manic agent, which is how most other mood-stabilizers work. (Atypical antipsychotics are an exception, but I seriously think they should be avoided whenever possible). In people with bipolar, there is a problem of sometimes getting some hypomanic symptoms from lamictal, which may or may not be a bad thing (hypomania really isn't nearly as problematic as depression or mania, so given the choice..I'd personaly opt for hypomania). My guess would be that combining a mood-stabilizing, long-acting benzo like Klonopin with the lamictal would boost your mood, while kind of smoothing off the rougher edges of hypomania. Good luck!
Thanks for the clarification. My only possible bipolar presentation is the anxiety. I've never experienced mania or hypomania. It's too bad that Trileptal isn't as good as Lamictal for mood brightening since I'm less afraid of Trileptal.
Oh well, thanks again.k
poster:KaraS
thread:532236
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050723/msgs/533045.html