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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 Dr. Bob on September 8, 2003, at 18:57:17
In reply to Bipolar ADHD - anyone have both?, posted by WorryGirl on September 8, 2003, at 14:00:55
> I've been diagnosed with bipolar (rapid cycling), for which I've been taking depakote for the past 2 months or so (I'm now up to 1,000 mg a day). I've seen an improvement, but it hasn't helped me with my problem of constantly being distracted and having too many things at one time going on at once, both in reality, and in my head. The last therapist I saw saw ADHD tendencies but was focusing more on my social and generalized anxiety.
> Does anyone have both bipolar and ADHD, and can you take drugs such as ritalin along with depakote without bad side effects?
> Even though the depakote has made me calmer and less socially anxious, in general, I still get over-excited, and talk too much, along with having 100 things going on at once, which makes it hard for me to keep up with the important stuff.
> Even though my p-doc thinks the depakote alone could be a cure-all (he claims it also can help OCD, ADHD among other), but I don't think it alone is going to cut it. Does anyone else have an opinion or advice?
> BTW, at times I feel horribly depressed. I always come out of it in a day or two but it disturbs me. Is this from the med, or could my hormones be out of wack?
Posted by cybercafe on September 8, 2003, at 22:16:52
In reply to Bipolar ADHD - anyone have both? « WorryGirl, posted by Dr. Bob on September 8, 2003, at 18:57:17
> > I've been diagnosed with bipolar (rapid cycling), for which I've been taking depakote for the past 2 months or so (I'm now up to 1,000 mg a day). I've seen an improvement, but it hasn't
i tried depakote but found it didnt' completely get rid of my mania
>helped me with my problem of constantly being distracted and having too many things at one time going on at once, both in reality, and in my head. The last therapist I saw saw ADHD tendencies but was focusing more on my social and generalized anxiety.
sounds like that's both ADHD and bipolar but who knows
> > Does anyone have both bipolar and ADHD, and can you take drugs such as ritalin along with depakote without bad side effects?
yes i am taking a mood stabilizer (zyprexa) along with ritalin
> > Even though the depakote has made me calmer and less socially anxious, in general, I still get over-excited, and talk too much, along with having 100 things going on at once, which makes it hard for me to keep up with the important stuff.
> > Even though my p-doc thinks the depakote alone could be a cure-all (he claims it also can help OCD, ADHD among other), but I don't think it alone is going to cut it. Does anyone else have an opinion or advice?i guess that depends on how bad your ADHD is
> > BTW, at times I feel horribly depressed. I always come out of it in a day or two but it disturbs me. Is this from the med, or could my hormones be out of wack?
hmmmm... is it possible to figure out the hormone thing with a blood test?
Posted by KimberlyDi on September 9, 2003, at 9:57:23
In reply to Bipolar ADHD - anyone have both? « WorryGirl, posted by Dr. Bob on September 8, 2003, at 18:57:17
Welbutrin is an AD that also is supposed to help with ADD/ADHD. Or ask about Strattera which I'm just now taking (less hassle than Ritalin).
"I feel your pain."
KDi in Texas> > I've been diagnosed with bipolar (rapid cycling), for which I've been taking depakote for the past 2 months or so (I'm now up to 1,000 mg a day). I've seen an improvement, but it hasn't helped me with my problem of constantly being distracted and having too many things at one time going on at once, both in reality, and in my head. The last therapist I saw saw ADHD tendencies but was focusing more on my social and generalized anxiety.
> > Does anyone have both bipolar and ADHD, and can you take drugs such as ritalin along with depakote without bad side effects?
> > Even though the depakote has made me calmer and less socially anxious, in general, I still get over-excited, and talk too much, along with having 100 things going on at once, which makes it hard for me to keep up with the important stuff.
> > Even though my p-doc thinks the depakote alone could be a cure-all (he claims it also can help OCD, ADHD among other), but I don't think it alone is going to cut it. Does anyone else have an opinion or advice?
> > BTW, at times I feel horribly depressed. I always come out of it in a day or two but it disturbs me. Is this from the med, or could my hormones be out of wack?
>
Posted by DSCH on September 11, 2003, at 14:14:14
In reply to Bipolar ADHD - anyone have both? « WorryGirl, posted by Dr. Bob on September 8, 2003, at 18:57:17
Posted by WorryGirl on September 16, 2003, at 15:25:19
In reply to Re: Bipolar ADHD - anyone have both? « WorryGirl, posted by cybercafe on September 8, 2003, at 22:16:52
> i tried depakote but found it didnt' completely get rid of my mania >
Mine has completely gone away either, but I see an improvement. After reading the article posted by DSCH, I'm fairly certain I also have ADHD (or even just ADHD).
I just talked with my p-doc and he is going to have me wait about 2 months and try taking something for ADHD along with the depakote. He wants to wait until I've stabilized completely on the correct dosage of depakote before I start taking something else.> yes i am taking a mood stabilizer (zyprexa) along with ritalin
How do you like this combination? How does the ritalin work for you? Any bad side effects? Sorry so many ?s!
I'm going to see my ob-gyn about possible hormone-related mood swings. I'm due for a refill of my bcps.
Thanks
Posted by WorryGirl on September 16, 2003, at 15:26:54
In reply to Re: Bipolar ADHD - anyone have both? « WorryGirl, posted by KimberlyDi on September 9, 2003, at 9:57:23
> Welbutrin is an AD that also is supposed to help with ADD/ADHD. Or ask about Strattera which I'm just now taking (less hassle than Ritalin).
>
> "I feel your pain."
> KDi in Texas
>Thanks Kim. I think I've heard good things about Strattera. How does it make you feel? Any side effects?
Posted by WorryGirl on September 16, 2003, at 15:28:01
In reply to Article on ADHD/Bipolar, quite long, posted by DSCH on September 11, 2003, at 14:14:14
Posted by KimberlyDi on September 17, 2003, at 7:53:28
In reply to Re: Bipolar ADHD - anyone have both? « WorryGirl » KimberlyDi, posted by WorryGirl on September 16, 2003, at 15:26:54
> Thanks Kim. I think I've heard good things about Strattera. How does it make you feel? Any side effects?
>
Insomnia, INSOMNIA, and more insomnia. I'm taking half what the pdoc prescribed. I can feel how it helps me focus, but I don't care much for how it makes me feel. make sense?
Posted by DSCH on September 17, 2003, at 8:16:50
In reply to Thank you for the article - very helpful (nm) » DSCH, posted by WorryGirl on September 16, 2003, at 15:28:01
Posted by cybercafe on September 17, 2003, at 11:39:48
In reply to Re: Bipolar ADHD - anyone have both? « WorryGirl » cybercafe, posted by WorryGirl on September 16, 2003, at 15:25:19
> > i tried depakote but found it didnt' completely get rid of my mania >
>
> Mine has completely gone away either, but I see an improvement. After reading the article posted by DSCH, I'm fairly certain I also have ADHD (or even just ADHD).i felt moments of euphoria and depression on a daily basis with depakote.... but with zyprexa i was completely stable (though depressed)
depakote made me sleepy too :(
> I just talked with my p-doc and he is going to have me wait about 2 months and try taking something for ADHD along with the depakote. He wants to wait until I've stabilized completely on the correct dosage of depakote before I start taking something else.
yep... because if you are experiencing mood swings... depression itself will make it difficult to concentrate
>
> > yes i am taking a mood stabilizer (zyprexa) along with ritalin
>
> How do you like this combination? How does the ritalin work for you? Any bad side effects? Sorry so many ?s!that combination was pretty good, quite excellent, but i managed to get away with only taking 2.5 mg of zyprexa ... i think most people have to take more (??) and that would suck
i actually switched to abilify recently as it is supposed to be more gooder
> I'm going to see my ob-gyn about possible hormone-related mood swings. I'm due for a refill of my bcps.
that would be my first choice - blood tests. then go for mood stabilizer, antidepressant... then a ADD med....
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