![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Denis H. Faucher on August 27, 2000, at 10:25:31
Dr. Bob,
I have been on lithium in the past for bipolar treatment and had mixed results from it. My psych. switched me to Depakote 2+ years ago and added neurontin and buspar to it about 8 mos. ago.
It seems that my memory and recall of past knowledge has been gradually declining in the last 1-1/2 yrs. and this has just about wiped me out in my carrer field which is architectural designing. Although I do not feel depressed, I do however, feel like a total dummy. I have low self esteem and have a hard time socially.
Please help Dr.Bob, I know that I have too much intelligence to waste away.Thank you,
Denny
Posted by Mania on August 27, 2000, at 22:39:37
In reply to Concerns about bipolar meds, posted by Denis H. Faucher on August 27, 2000, at 10:25:31
Hi...
I'm bipolar just like you. When I started my treatment with Lithium I felt grey. I was not depressed but everything went boring.
I missed my "normally" mood, europhia... For me it was what I thougt the normal mood.
After a mounth I became depressed and my psych, gave me a low dose of SSRI.
It made me fly up to a psychotic mania after only thre days. I had to stay in the hospital for a mounth. I was horrible. I even manipulated the stuff.
Then I went down over a day. You know how it feels. Depressed and all the feelings of shame.
After that I've got antiepileptica to combinate with the Lithium.
I felt exactly like you. I was always tired. I forgot everything about my educating in webdeveloping. I was scared because I was one of the best student in my class...
All that through me away back to hell again.
I lost the hope to come back to a normal life again.
My doctor gave me Remeron and I felt better for a week, down again...
Even my doctor started to become worried for me.
We tried sceptical to put me on SSRI in the mornings again.
This time it worked but I was still very tired.
Then we exprimented with my four "lifesavers" and took slowly away as much as we could.
Surprise... I've got my memory back, my happiness for life, a god normal feeling without hypomania.
No more grey or restless feelings.
I tell you all this because there is a hope even for you.
I think you need something to get you up again and maybe reduse the "dummydrugs".I hope you feel better soon.
Mania
(Not so god at the English language...)
Posted by Denis H. Faucher on August 28, 2000, at 9:25:19
In reply to Re: Concerns about bipolar meds » Denis H. Faucher, posted by Mania on August 27, 2000, at 22:39:37
> Hi Mania,
thank you for your reply to my concerns over bi-polar meds, I'm very happy that you and your physician have found a solution to get you back on track.
I would like to know what is SSRI and the four life savers that you have mentioned.
Also I would like for you to know that I am not on lithium but rather on DEPAKOTE for my bi-polar treatment.
Den.
Posted by judy1 on August 28, 2000, at 14:16:19
In reply to Concerns about bipolar meds, posted by Denis H. Faucher on August 27, 2000, at 10:25:31
Dear Denny,
I wish I could be more positive, but unfortunately I also found depakote to have a similar effect. While I feel it is the best anti-manic drug out there, it gave me feelings of depression and "mental dullness" after a couple of months. Are you bipolar1 or 2? If 2, they have found that blood levels on the lower effective spectrum, around 50 rather than closer to 100, have been effective in preventing hypomania. As bipolar1, I had more success with atypical antipsychotics- particularly risperdal. The combo of lamictal and depakote has also been effective. Either way, excuse my language, it really sucks losing that edge. Good luck.
Posted by Denis H. Faucher on August 29, 2000, at 9:49:49
In reply to Re: Concerns about bipolar meds, posted by judy1 on August 28, 2000, at 14:16:19
Dear Judy,
Thank you very much for your corrospondence in regards to the DEPAKOTE efects. I am not sure if I'm level 1 or level 2, I only know that I am more apt to go into highs but when I go into lows they last rather long. I have never gone to the extremes with either ones and never have required hospitalization for treatment. I know that at this moment I would appreciate one of my highs since I am so sick of being flatlined.
You seem to be ontract with your statements since my psych. is already started cutting back my Depakotr and increasing my neurontin, however, this procedure has not shown any effects to date.
I am very anxious to get ontrack and desire to have my life back. I have a very wonderful wife and children and they deserve better.
Thanks for hearing me out Judy, I really appreciate this, and I hope you don't think that I am a hypercondriac being that I mostly keep to myself. You have just opened up something in me and have giving me some clarity and hope.
Again thank you very much,
Denny
Posted by Mania on August 30, 2000, at 10:22:30
In reply to Re: Concerns about bipolar meds, posted by Denis H. Faucher on August 28, 2000, at 9:25:19
Hi again...
Lithium
Absenor (antiepileptica)
Remeron (Serotonin and Noradrenalin-med)
Seroxat (SSRI-med, don't know the name in US)This are my lifesavers, all in lowdoses.
My doc sas that I'm a very hardmedicated patient so went thrue much problems before we found my way back to a normal life.I hope you will find any solution soon to get your memory back.
Mania
Posted by Denis H. Faucher on August 30, 2000, at 11:26:30
In reply to Re: My four lifesavers, posted by Mania on August 30, 2000, at 10:22:30
Dear Mania:
Thank you for your information, I will discuss it with my physician.
I hope you remain well.
By the way I am originally from Canada and do speak french.
Is this your nationalityDenis
Posted by judy1 on August 30, 2000, at 11:33:17
In reply to Denny to judy1, posted by Denis H. Faucher on August 29, 2000, at 9:49:49
Hi,
I'm glad you found some hope in my letter, I just wanted to add a couple of things. First, I would suggest to your pdoc to alter one drug at a time, that is lower the depakote without touching your neurontin. It is very difficult to tell what's going on when there is more than one drug involved. Second, since your manias have never landed you in the hospital, that would make you a bipolar 2. While being in a hypomanic state can lead to a lot of damage, it certainly gives your dr. more room to lower the depakote without much fear of you going ballistic (in my case I made everyone nervous). I also wanted to make sure that you are getting therapy, I have the feeling that you're harboring guilt and it would probably help to work that through. And I certainly don't think you're a hypochondriac, quite the contrary. You are dealing with a very difficult disorder, and when your emotions are all over the place, it makes life so much harder. Take care.
Posted by Mania on August 31, 2000, at 8:18:12
In reply to Denny to Mania, posted by Denis H. Faucher on August 30, 2000, at 11:26:30
Hi Denny...
I'm Swedish and I'm not so god in writing English. Its esyer to talk than wright...
=)
Plaese hold me informated how it workes out.
Mania
marie_4_fun@kvinna.nu
Posted by Denis H. Faucher on August 31, 2000, at 10:43:43
In reply to Judy to Denny, posted by judy1 on August 30, 2000, at 11:33:17
Thanks Judy'
Denny
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.