Posted by SLS on March 19, 2016, at 16:19:53
In reply to Tricyclics and bipolar depression, posted by B2chica on March 19, 2016, at 11:35:08
> But I've been in poor state so long now, I don't know I have the strength to do multiple med trials.
I am so sorry. I can only imagine how helpless and demoralized you feel right now. You seem to have a glimmer of hope, though. I hope so. A little hope can go a long way.
If you do want to try a tricylic, I think it would be a good idea to take an antipsychotic and/or mood stabilizer before beginning. It might make sense to add Abilify to Pristiq if you haven't done so already. If it doesn't help, you can get then add the tricyclic. I prefer desipramine or nortriptyline because the anticholinergic side effects are relatively mild.
I met one technician at the NIH who was familiar with my case. He said, "If you throw enough crap against the wall, some of it is bound to stick".
At one point, I was taking 7 different drugs. I began to respond to this combination. After awhile, I was able to remove 2 of them and adjust the dosages of those that remained. So far, my response is only partial, but it is significant.
You will save years worth of drug trials by being receptive to throwing more crap against the wall. If Pristiq was helpful, high-dosage Effexor or Cymbalta might actually work better. Many people do better by adding Wellbutrin to these. I actually did better when adding nortriptyline to Effexor.
1. Antidepressants (2 from different categories)
2. Lamictal
3. Antipsychotic (Geodon, Abilify, Saphris)
4. Lithium (low-dosage)
5. Anticonvulsant (Trileptal, Depakote, Topamax)I imagine you've tried most of these, but have you taken them in various combinations?
I don't know. I'm just trying to suggest ways to accelerate your treatment plan. Just because this worked for me doesn't mean that it will work for you.
Hope.
- 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:1087318
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20160306/msgs/1087329.html