Posted by soulsickness1 on February 2, 2016, at 23:46:22
In reply to Re: med help!, posted by SLS on February 1, 2016, at 22:54:38
> I was hospitalized more than once due to severe manic reactions to MAOIs. Aside from these few episodes, I am chronically depressed. My diagnosis is Bipolar I depression. A diagnosis of bipolar disorder is warranted when treatment with an antidepressant induces a manic state that lasts beyond drug discontinuation. If the manic state is severe or psychotic, Bipolar I is diagnosed.
>
> You may need an antipsychotic and/or mood stabilizer to prevent future manic and psychotic episodes. I have come to like Saphris (asenapine), an antipsychotic that can produce antidepressant effects. My response to it was brief, but significant. Saphris has given a friend of mine her life back. I currently use Abilify.
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> If you do need a standard antidepressant, and you are most concerned with SSRI apathy and amotivation, perhaps Effexor would be worth a try. From what I can see, those side effects are usually absent. Effexor is also approved for anxiety disorders, so I would hope that you would be able to treat depression and anxiety with one drug. Some people have good results when adding Wellbutrin to Effexor when mental energy and fatigue are problems. However, anxiety and anger sometimes arise from Wellbutrin treatment.
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> It is not surprising that your memory should be made better by a BZD. Anxiety can crush memory and drive depression.
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> Have you tried Lamictal (lamotrigine) yet? An interesting strategy for people who have bipolar depression is to combine Lamictal, Abilify, and Wellbutrin.
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> I currently take:
>
> Parnate 80 mg/day
> desipramine 300 mg/day
> Lamictal 300 mg/day
> lithium 300 mg/day
> Abilify 10 mg/day
>
> I am not in remission, but these drugs help enough to continue taking them.
>
>
> - Scott
>Thank you very much for your time and advice, Scott. I've long admired your posts for their poise and clarity. And since you stopped posting your med regimen with your signature years ago you helped me with the personal curiosity of "what is scott taking these days?" But i am sorry u r not in remission. I've tried all meds that you suggested and was also considering lamictal heavily, but really my main concern is getting a benzo prescribed first because then i know whatever i decide to try as the AD i will be able to tolerate. I'm sorry i'm low on energy atm and anxious about seeing this parole/ reentry APRN tomorrow and whether the guy is even going to listen. Ah life in a mad mad world :-)
poster:soulsickness1
thread:1085859
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20160131/msgs/1085894.html