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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jay on March 9, 2003, at 10:32:01
I was wondering (and I hope this can help folks too) what combinations of particular mood stabilizers have you found best? (And been on the longest). I am really keen on seeing what either Lamictal or Topomax in combo with any of the "old staples" mood stabilizers, like Depakote, Tegretol, or Lithium
are like.Also, I have found **MAJOR** relief with a regular SRI/SNRI in combination with most of the 5HT agonists. (Most have mixed agonist/antagonist properties, and some work on dopamine and/or norepinephrine.) Low dose Serzone, and I am also experimenting with low dose Remeron in combo, seem helpful with sleep (Remeron seems best for this), agitation, and sex drive.(Serzone seems best for this.) I was enthusiastic about Zyprexa and even Risperidone, but they seem best and safest used for acute and short periods.
So, please "dish up" your experiences, as we may be on to something here. (I know..don't jump for joy all at once..hehee. After years of this s**t, it's kinda hard to get excited. When there is even the tiniest glimpse of hope, though, it can at least sustain us when so much else has failed.) I am strongly enthusiastic of the serotonin agonists, though, because they seem to be able to stamp out what can lead to suicidal impulses, especially the agitation.
Jay
Posted by canwetalk on March 9, 2003, at 11:32:38
In reply to Best/fav combination of mood stabilizers??..etc.., posted by jay on March 9, 2003, at 10:32:01
Jay I had read your post and found it rather interesting. Hope you can give me your feelings on this. My daughter has been on abilify 15mgs now for 2 months. She has been agitated as well as aggressive.
Her psdoc prescribed Busoirone 10mg twice daily for the aggitation. It really is not working.
She was originally on Risperdal 7mg total which was divided up 2mg in AM and 5mg in PM. This did eliminate any aggitation and aggression. However since she has been on Abilify this has magnified itself.
Now my question to you is do you feel that a low dose of risperdal might help to eliminate the problems she is experiencing? Any suggestions you might have would be most welcomed.
canwetalk
ps any suggestions anyone else might have would be most welcomed as well. Thanks
>
Posted by JohnL on March 9, 2003, at 12:40:53
In reply to Best/fav combination of mood stabilizers??..etc.., posted by jay on March 9, 2003, at 10:32:01
You mentioned Zyprexa. That's my fav.
> I was wondering (and I hope this can help folks too) what combinations of particular mood stabilizers have you found best? (And been on the longest). I am really keen on seeing what either Lamictal or Topomax in combo with any of the "old staples" mood stabilizers, like Depakote, Tegretol, or Lithium
> are like.
>
> Also, I have found **MAJOR** relief with a regular SRI/SNRI in combination with most of the 5HT agonists. (Most have mixed agonist/antagonist properties, and some work on dopamine and/or norepinephrine.) Low dose Serzone, and I am also experimenting with low dose Remeron in combo, seem helpful with sleep (Remeron seems best for this), agitation, and sex drive.(Serzone seems best for this.) I was enthusiastic about Zyprexa and even Risperidone, but they seem best and safest used for acute and short periods.
>
> So, please "dish up" your experiences, as we may be on to something here. (I know..don't jump for joy all at once..hehee. After years of this s**t, it's kinda hard to get excited. When there is even the tiniest glimpse of hope, though, it can at least sustain us when so much else has failed.) I am strongly enthusiastic of the serotonin agonists, though, because they seem to be able to stamp out what can lead to suicidal impulses, especially the agitation.
>
> Jay
>
Posted by Maximus on March 9, 2003, at 16:21:05
In reply to Best/fav combination of mood stabilizers??..etc.., posted by jay on March 9, 2003, at 10:32:01
Posted by jay on March 9, 2003, at 18:57:21
In reply to Re: Best/fav combination of mood stabilizers??..etc.., posted by canwetalk on March 9, 2003, at 11:32:38
> Jay I had read your post and found it rather interesting. Hope you can give me your feelings on this. My daughter has been on abilify 15mgs now for 2 months. She has been agitated as well as aggressive.
>
> Her psdoc prescribed Busoirone 10mg twice daily for the aggitation. It really is not working.
>
> She was originally on Risperdal 7mg total which was divided up 2mg in AM and 5mg in PM. This did eliminate any aggitation and aggression. However since she has been on Abilify this has magnified itself.
>
> Now my question to you is do you feel that a low dose of risperdal might help to eliminate the problems she is experiencing? Any suggestions you might have would be most welcomed.
>
> canwetalk
>
> ps any suggestions anyone else might have would be most welcomed as well. Thanks
> >
>
>Hi:
I am not sure what to think of Abilify. I haven't tried it, as we don't have it here in Canada. From what I have read, and research et al, it is one of the more slightly activating antipsychotics, and I don't see much use for it in calming the agitation/anxiety-like symptoms.
For all around tolerance and even possible relief of agitation, have you and your doc considered Seroquel? A good dose of this 2x a day I would think would be much, much better for agitation than Buspar/Buspirone. Seroquel is quite sedating, and has strong anti-anxiety properties.
How about a mood stabilizer? Has Depakote or Tegretol been considered? I'd see no problem in one of them being used with Seroquel.
Please let me/us know what your child's doctor thinks. There are many good medications, but it takes a LOT of experimenting. What is your daughter's diagnosis, do you know? (For example, they say the average time for bipolars to find correct meds and help is about 9-10 years often. I think that is just taken into consideration that so many effective medications have come around this past decade.) I find this last part kinda sad for many people who where heavily drugged large amounts of older antipsychotics, for really is was a lot to do with timing, and having worked in a group home, have seen many of the effects of years of large doses of the old antipsychotics.
Talk to you soon..
Best,
Jay
Posted by jay on March 9, 2003, at 19:02:02
In reply to Re: Best/fav combination of mood stabilizers??..etc.., posted by JohnL on March 9, 2003, at 12:40:53
> You mentioned Zyprexa. That's my fav.
>Hi John:
Yeah, I did have some success with Zyprexa. I am very hopeful for this med, as it is likely to really help the mos Tx resistant of folks. As you know, just keep an eye on regular blood sugar checks. How long have you been on it, and at what dose?
Thanx...
Jay
Posted by KrissyP on March 9, 2003, at 22:27:53
In reply to Best/fav combination of mood stabilizers??..etc.., posted by jay on March 9, 2003, at 10:32:01
Hi, for me, I have found that Lamictal is the only thing I need but YMMV. It is the med I have taken for the longest in terms of mood stabilizers, and it's helped. I've heard great things about Serzone-but I, didn't give it a chance because I found Effexor-XR. I know Remeron works well for some people who experience chronic pain. It made my joints HURT-and because of that-I couldn't stick with it either. I wanted to try Topomax becasue of the side effect that a lot of people have experienced-weight loss-but I decided to go back on what worked for me Lamictal.
Hope this helped?
Kristen:-)
==================================================================================================I was wondering (and I hope this can help folks too) what combinations of particular mood stabilizers have you found best? (And been on the longest). I am really keen on seeing what either Lamictal or Topomax in combo with any of the "old staples" mood stabilizers, like Depakote, Tegretol, or Lithium
are like.
Also, I have found **MAJOR** relief with a regular SRI/SNRI in combination with most of the 5HT agonists. (Most have mixed agonist/antagonist properties, and some work on dopamine and/or norepinephrine.) Low dose Serzone, and I am also experimenting with low dose Remeron in combo, seem helpful with sleep (Remeron seems best for this), agitation, and sex drive.(Serzone seems best for this.) I was enthusiastic about Zyprexa and even Risperidone, but they seem best and safest used for acute and short periods.
So, please "dish up" your experiences, as we may be on to something here. (I know..don't jump for joy all at once..hehee. After years of this s**t, it's kinda hard to get excited. When there is even the tiniest glimpse of hope, though, it can at least sustain us when so much else has failed.) I am strongly enthusiastic of the serotonin agonists, though, because they seem to be able to stamp out what can lead to suicidal impulses, especially the agitation.
Jay
Posted by KrissyP on March 9, 2003, at 22:28:48
In reply to Re: Lamictal + Lithium win hands down (nm) » jay, posted by Maximus on March 9, 2003, at 16:21:05
This is the end of the thread.
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