Posted by SLS on August 30, 2015, at 23:08:14
In reply to Re: Manic. Help! » SLS, posted by phidippus on August 30, 2015, at 14:57:05
> So you were able to stabilize on an added anti-manic than stop it?
>
> Topomax makes me terrifically anxious...
>
> EricHi Eric.
Yes. I was able to discontinue Zyprexa after a few days while retaining Nardil. With Parnate and desipramine, I used Depakote instead. I believe I took 2000 mg as a loading dose and remained at 1000 - 1500 mg/day thereafter. Within a few weeks, I was able to taper and discontinue the Depakote and continue taking the antidepressants.
Of course, this is just me. I know this goes without saying, but I decided to say it anyway.
:-)
Man, I really would like to see you get well and remain well. I don't think it is a bad strategy to keep the offending drug(s) and balance it out with antimanics or mood-stabilizers. When I became manic in 1987 after 6 months of complete remission, it was standard practice to discontinue the antidepressants. The thing is, Zyprexa and Depakote didn't exist. Because I had become so refractory to treatment, several of my doctors hoped they could get me manic and then treat the mania. When you are down to your last few alternatives, I don't think it makes sense not to do this. You could opt to add the anti-manic now and then reduce your dosage of Brintellix down to 20 mg/day before discontinuing the antimanic. However, my guess is that if 20 mg/day didn't work before, it won't work now.
With me, Depakote works so quickly, that I can go right to it and squash the mania within two days. Zyprexa would probably work on a wider population of people, so if there are no reasons why you must avoid this drug, it might make sense to try it first. I swear it can work overnight,and it doesn't have the tendency to leave one mildly to moderately depressed as Depakote sometimes does. I find Zyprexa to be clean and without sedation. Obviously this is not true of everyone.
I'm still waiting for my crystal ball and magic wand to arrive from Amazon.
Good luck.
- ScottSome 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:1081887
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20150806/msgs/1081939.html