Posted by SLS on September 22, 2011, at 7:40:03
In reply to maybe low-dose lithium?, posted by Christ_empowered on September 22, 2011, at 1:59:39
What criteria do you use to differentiate psychotic depression from schizoaffective disorder or mixed-state bipolar I?
What do you need lithium for?
What is absent from your current response that you would like to remedy? Would the passage of time allow for a more robust improvement on your current treatment regime?
At low dosages (300-600mg), it is unlikely to do any harm. However, I doubt that it would serve as an acute or prophylactic agent against mania.
- Scott> I'm feeling *so* much better on 200 lamictal and 15 abilify. Its only been a little while on 15 abilify, but I already feel more clear-headed and happy.
>
> Now, here's the thing: my main problem is psychotic depression. Recurrent, severe psychotic depression with everything that goes along with it (anxiety, paranoia, blah blah blah). I've had a few episodes that could qualify as mixed, and one long, drawn out psychotic episode that got me diagnosed Bipolar I w/ Psychotic Features. I also have dissociative episodes when I hit the higher points (or mixed areas) on the mood chart.
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> Abilify has been great to me, really it has, but I'm wondering if maybe its time to go another route. I don't want TD and I don't want to be tranquilized forever.
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> Do you think a LOW dose of Lithium+Lamictal would help the psychotic depression? I could still have the Abilify on hand for any mixed/manic episodes. I have to say, though, that my "crack up" (mixed/manic/psychotic episode) followed a long period of psychotic depression; I almost feel as if a switch was made inevitable by having such a low mood for so long. Does that make any sense at all? I feel that with proper management of the psychotic depression and control over psychosocial problems, I might be able to avoid a future psychotic break.
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> What do you guys think? Of course, the absolute easiest thing to do would be to try lamictal monotherapy, but I don't know if my doc is up for that; she already said 400 was too high a dose, so it looks like I'm probably going to need at least 1 additional medication to make it through OK.
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> Thanks in advance.
>
Some see things as they are and ask why.
I dream of things that never were and ask why not.- George Bernard Shaw
poster:SLS
thread:997474
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20110914/msgs/997484.html