Posted by SLS on August 20, 2005, at 8:59:43
In reply to Am I on a risky drug treatment?..or is it okay?, posted by Nickengland on August 20, 2005, at 6:35:54
Hi Nick.
>
> What do you think?
>I can't see any contraindicated substance interactions here, but there are people whom are much more knowledgable than me regarding "supplements". You might want to post this same question on the "Alternative" board.
I think you are doing the best that any of us can do in a situation where frustration predominates treatment. Try new things, as long as they are safe. Let the trial prove its efficacy. Let the anecdote be the data.
What is your major complaint currently?
What have been major symptoms in the past?
> Thought I would post to see what others think about the drugs I'm taking and if you think what I'm on is sensible for longterm mood stabilisation of Bipolar disorder. I'm not having doubts of such, but wanted to see the ideas of others as to if you think I'm going down the right road.
> I'm taking Topamax & Neurontin. (Neurontin mainly for anxiety & the Topamax for a mood stabiliser.)Sometimes Neurontin can act to destabilize mood and produce depression. I haven't seen it too often, but I know that it does occur. I believe the magnesium can confer some anxiogenic effects should it become necessary to discontinue the Neurontin.
Neurontin is a drug whose popularity has swung from high to low like a pendulum. I believe its popularity has ebbed, though, and that practitioners are just beginning to rediscover its utility. It has both antidepressant and anxiogenic properties. I would not make it my first choice as an antimanic agent, though.
> I also take Taurine, Omega 3 fish oils, vitamin b complex and magnesium. Have a few other 'supplements i'm going to try too, folic acid and gaba.
I like this list from what little I have read of other's contributions.
> I'm finding my overall mood on this current regime is pretty good. I used to be pretty sensitive...perhaps even ultra sensitive, but now i'm slightly more aggressive, but I think this is a good thing as I needed this extra push...toughen me up a bit so to speak.
Can you isolate this positive effect to any one substance?
> Some days I find I have little energy and can feel slightly depressed (but this must show the mood stabiliser is keeping me down right?)Possibly, but this is not a necessary property of a mood stabilizer. It occurs more often immediately upon the treatment of an acute manic episode. Valproate and lithium are more apt to produce a chronic dysthymia or affective flattening than the other MS drugs, although idiosyncratic reactions always appear.
How readily do you get manic if left untreated?
Then some days I find myself just feeling, well not so depressed and not exactly up in the air either. (i'm thinking that shows again the mood stabilser is working and not letting me go into hypomania?)
What does Wellbutrin or Parnate do for you?
> Although there is mood changes, there definately not extream or are causing me or my parents to get worried that perhaps my illness is getting the better of me eg dangerously high mood,
I am becoming more impressed with Topamax as a MS. I hope it keeps working. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. I think... It's good that you are receptive to feedback from family members regarding mania. It is often difficult to recognize it in oneself, especially if it is not of a dysphoric or mixed state. It just feels too damned good. Unfortunately, the high often sets up for a cataclysmic descent into depression. There are, however, people who are chronically mildly to moderately hypomanic whom function just fine and are best not interfered with.
> irresponsible behaviour (reckless spending etc.) and to the other extream of deep depression. (suicidle thoughts)
Yeah. No good. Intervention is indicated.
> I like the flexiblity in some ways, as I get to still be 'me' without having to be flat-lined because of the medication, whilst in the back-ground the medication appears to be doing its job.
> I've been on the all the more traditional mood stabilisers before and for one reason or another this is where I have eneded up today. I do respect the medical evidence which does not speak so highly of the drugs i'm taking for the treatment of bipolar disorder...but, since i'm taking this drugs and am pretty medication sensitive and yet feel i'm having good results, I think to myself, it does seem to be working, and there is no better evidence than this fact and the evidence in my present health at the moment.
YAY! Keep that positive anecdotal data coming...
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:544191
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050816/msgs/544220.html