Shown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by AMD on May 27, 2004, at 15:01:43
Are there any?
What are the best options for mood stabilizers that do not affect memory and/or cognition?
Thanks
Posted by psychosage on May 27, 2004, at 16:07:10
In reply to Bipolar drugs with no effect on cognition/memory, posted by AMD on May 27, 2004, at 15:01:43
> Are there any?
>
> What are the best options for mood stabilizers that do not affect memory and/or cognition?
>
> ThanksI read Keppra is supposed to be the only stimulating one, but it's not really a first line mood stabilizer. I am personally against antipsychotics for maintenance, but Abilify is supposed to not be as sedating {which in turn affects what you are concerned about}.
Check out http://www.crazymeds.org for detailed info.
I take Trileptal, and it has the best side effect profile for major bipolar anticonvulsants {or perhaps for all of them}.
If Prozac is stimulating for you than Symbyax might be a good choice but that would be balanced out by the Zyprexa in it {Symbyax is a combination of Prozac and Zyprexa in one pill and designed for bipolar depression specifically.}
You could have Provigil added to your bipolar drug like I have and many others. Provigil is also added to antipsychotics and antidepressants for the concerns you have.
Good luck!
Posted by AMD on May 27, 2004, at 17:03:00
In reply to Re: Bipolar drugs with no effect on cognition/memory » AMD, posted by psychosage on May 27, 2004, at 16:07:10
Actually, I'm taking Celexa and Trileptal. I've upped the dose of the Trileptal to 1200 mg, and it seems to be keeping my cycling at bay -- in fact, I've had a pretty good week. But I also feel a fit spaced out, and not quite as sharp with regard to my memory. (My memory is typically awesome.)
So, it's not like I have a major complaint on the medicine, except for breaking out in acne and feeling out of shape! I just want to keep all options open.
I will not take an AP. Period. I consider them chemical lobotomies.
On another note, does going up on Trileptal add any benefit? 1200 mg seems to be working, although I find myself a little bit obsessive still. Could I expect to get more benefit at a higher dose?
Thanks
Posted by Chairman_MAO on May 28, 2004, at 11:08:12
In reply to Bipolar drugs with no effect on cognition/memory, posted by AMD on May 27, 2004, at 15:01:43
I believe Lamictal is supposed to be favorable in this regard. Also, Mirapex has mood-stabilizing properties. Perhaps you could lower the Trileptal to a more comfortable level and then add Mirapex.
Posted by kotsunega on May 31, 2004, at 16:00:17
In reply to Re: Bipolar drugs with no effect on cognition/memory » AMD, posted by Chairman_MAO on May 28, 2004, at 11:08:12
I just have to say that we are all different. I am Bipolar 1 and take 10 mg of Zyprexa nightly. In the past 4 years that I have taken Zyprexa, I have not had a manic or depressive episode, and beleive me, I used to be in a constant and very debilitating mixed state -- for years.
I don't find Zyprexa to cause any cognitive problems. What it does do is allow me to get a good night's sleep and keeps the bipolar boogeyman away. I have read about people who only take 2.5 mgs of Zyprexa and sleep too much taking that, but not me.
Oh, I also tried Lithium, Tegretal, Depakote, and one other of the anti-convulsant class and not only did it not help my bipolar problems much, it also caused severe cognitive dulling -- not Zyprexa. At least for me, that is.
Regards,
kotsunega
Posted by AMD on June 1, 2004, at 15:35:21
In reply to Re: Bipolar drugs with no effect on cognition/memory » AMD, posted by Chairman_MAO on May 28, 2004, at 11:08:12
Thanks for your reply.
Frankly, I have been so afraid of medicines I rarely give them more than a couple weeks to really work.
For example, I started Trileptal at 300 m.g. about two weeks ago, and noticed some immediate relief from my rapid cycling. I upped the dose over two weeks to 1200 m.g. I slowly began to feel these side effects:
+ Overall spaced-out feeling;
+ Acne;
+ Low energy -- well, energy was OK, but I felt fatigued and tired, and when I'd go to the gym, I would feel weak, as if my muscles weren't recovering well. I think I even gain five pounds.
+ MOST SCARY: memory fuzziness. It's hard to pinpoint how this feels, just as if I can't bring memories to the fore as quickly sharply as I normally could.So, what do I do? PANIC. Stop taking the medicine, quickly tapering down to 300 m.g., then nothing. This morning, on two days of nothing but Celexa, I felt my heart kind of racing, and an overall anxiety. Is this mania coming back? (I've never had a full-blown manic episode.) Or withdrawal that would settle in a few days? Anyhow, I gave in and took 300 m.g. to settle me down. But now I'm convinced the Trileptal will cause permanent damage to my memory abilities. (Note I differentiate this from memory loss -- I see memory loss and the capacity to form new memories as two separate things.)
I just want my MIND BACK! I feel like a test rat. Does anyone know whether these medicines permanently alter your brain chemistry after a few weeks or even months? I mean, I am beginning to think I might be better off off everything, but I seem to have become some psychologically dependent on the drugs now that my doctors have told me "you have to take these"? Before I never thought about it, nor considered my being a bit hyper a problem. Now I am constantly second guessing myself.
Oy, I am really rambling here, I'm just frustrated. I want a drug that mellows me out without killing all my brain cells! Even alcohol didn't make me feel DUMB the way these drugs can at high doses.
Do you think it's possible the lower dose of Trileptal could prevent memory problems?
Are these memory, attention, concentration problems permanent?
Is it possible a higher dose of these drugs makes your thoughts more jumbled, not the other way around? My thoughts were /never/ jumbled before I started mood stablizers. Has taken these actually introduced a problem I didn't have before? Has teasing my brain chemistry in this way induced the very symptoms they were suppose to "fix"?
Thanks,
Annoyed
Posted by AMD on June 1, 2004, at 15:56:00
In reply to Re: Bipolar drugs with no effect on cognition/memory, posted by kotsunega on May 31, 2004, at 16:00:17
That's amazing: I took one dose of Zyprexa 2.5 m.g., and it gave me dry mouth, stupors, and extreme cognitive blunting for almost two weeks! Out of control. My other experience with an AP -- Risperdal at .5 m.g. -- had the same effects although they didn't last nearly as long. Apparently the AP's are not for me.
Anticonvulsant wise, Lamictal was good for a few months at 25 m.g., but it caused me to rapid cycle -- something I'd never had before off mood stablizers -- and at higher doses made me feel dazed and confused. And very slowed down cognitively. At 100 m.g. concentration was an impossibility, and I would become more depressed by the frustration of it all.
300-600 m.g. of Trileptal seems OK, although higher and I get a sick, dazed out feeling, and just feel overall horribly. I wonder if 300 m.g. will be enough to level me out. But after the experience at a higher dose, does it make sense that a lower dose wouldn't cause these side effects? Or is it just a yes/no proposition?
I remain faithful to my 40 m.g. Celexa dose, though I might taper that down (very very very slowly) as soon as I find a mood stablizer that works for me.
Glad you, though, had great success with Zyprexa!
a
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