Posted by Ted on December 7, 2002, at 22:53:30
In reply to Re: Question about friendship - need opinions » Ted, posted by Krysti on December 7, 2002, at 22:37:23
Hi Krysti,
> Okay, good advice again : )
thanks. :-)
> So, to a fellow bipolar -
Lots of us around these parts....
> When were you diagnosed?
Officially, may 1999. I "knew" I was bipolar since about 1976, when I was in highschool. I had symptoms as early as age around 9.
>Are you more on the manic side or depressive side?
Depressed, seemingly permanently. My only adventure with real mania was when I was hospitalized in 1999.
>What meds are you taking?
Depakote 1500 mg / day
Wellbutrin SR 300 mg / day
Zoloft 100 mg / day
ambien and lorazepam as needed (infrequent).>Are they working for you? (If you don't mind answering)
Well, I got this far, so I guess I don't mind answering. :-) The depakote dose was too low at 1000 mg for 3 years until last summer when I suggested to my pdoc that it should be raised; he agreed. So the depakote really helps with "unsettled" or "moody" or "agitated" feelings (that was my wife's biggest complaint prior to medication). The wellbutrin/zoloft mix definitely helps fight depression, but just doesn't do the trick. I need the zoloft because I also have OCD and it really helps with that. I tried lexapro instead of zoloft and it was a total disaster: Neither antidepressent nor anti-OCD properties at all. It was when I went off zoloft to try the lexapro that I noticed the depakote dose was too low; I was taking too much zoloft prior (200 mg) and it was masking everything else. So now I take less zoloft and more depakote and things are a bit better.
How about you?
Ted
poster:Ted
thread:33057
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20021206/msgs/33071.html