Posted by SLS on October 25, 2005, at 18:33:14
In reply to SOS for SLS, posted by Phil on October 25, 2005, at 16:42:38
Hi Phil.
It is unfortunate that this doctor has taken the posture that there is something that you are not doing for yourself that is otherwise within your control to do. There isn't.
As a fellow bipolar depressive, I have developed a respect for the utility of anticonvulsants to be used as mood stabilizers. I recently experienced brief antidepressant responses to Trileptal and Keppra. If you haven't tried these drugs, I would give them a shot. They can simply be added to what you are already taking. There is no reason to discontinue anything.
I guess it might make sense to consider adding in another antidepressant. Wellbutrin would probably be the first to try. Remeron might also be of some utility.
Personally, I would scrap the Symbiax and divide up the two components to be worked with independantly. You can then maintain Zyprexa at 10mg while you attempt to use drugs other than Prozac along with it. Zoloft? Effexor? Cymbalta?
Parnate + lithium + Lamictal + Zyprexa
Parnate + nortriptyline + Lamictal + ZyprexaI am currently taking:
Parnate 80mg
nortriptyline 100mg
Lamictal 150mg
Abilify 10mg
Keppra 1000mgAll of these drugs only add up to about a 15% improvement in my condition, but it is significantly better than nothing. Perhaps they would do more for you. I find Abilify to be "cleaner" than Zyprexa and helps with mental energy and motivation. Still, I got a hell of a nice antidepressant kick when I first added Zyprexa to Nardil and later to Parnate. Only lasted about a week, though. Crap.
What do you think?
There are a lot of sharp people here with other ideas. Let's see what else is out there. Stick around the Medication board for a little while and really press the issue.
- Scott
> Going to the well with you one more time Scott. Hope you see this post.
> I'm still taking Lamictal 400mg, Symbyax 6/50mg, and 1.5mg Klonopin.
> I can tell that my depression is getting worse but have a pdoc that says, 'Gee Phil, you've been on all these meds(40+ over the years) before. Go exercise or something because the meds aren't going to do it all.' I don't disagree with what he says but I don't think he realizes the level of depression I'm dealing with. I don't see myself bootstrapping my way out of this.
> Since being DX'ed with BPII, I've pretty much been on this combo. I've seen this doc for about 8 months and the previous doc had this regimen in place for a while.
> I'm having a bit of a problem with this. Any ideas? Is there a way to tweak this combo that comes to mind? Should I just go run around the block?
>
> Thanks,
> Phil
poster:SLS
thread:571793
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20051024/msgs/571835.html