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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 4mygrls on June 27, 2004, at 11:35:53
started out on trileptal a couple years back. but that was only a month trial. i still had some major agitation at pms time. agitation, inability to handle stress and major anger that feels like it's coming from the inside is my major problem.major depression follows. i always thought it was severe pms. though i now think i have that too. i was dx as bipolar ll awhile back and recently as bipolar nos. when i tried the trileptal i had the pms breakthrough and the trileptal made me feel so flat. it bugged me that something i would normally get pissed off about didn't bother me at all. i've never been one to let things roll off my back. anyhow, while i was on trileptal i read about topomax. since weightloss was a side affect i thought hey, why not take that one and kill two birds with one stone. but my reaction to the topomax was disasterous. i was so agitated and even got to the point of suicidal. it deffinatly made my brain shut down too. the pdoc acted shocked that i was acting like that and said it wasn't the med. i dumped him and went to a new pdoc. i was eventually put on lamictal. guess what happened? not as bad as the topomax but once again it happened. now the doc tried lithium. i'm on a very low dose of 300mg a day. right now i'm severely depressed. the past week i've been severely agitated. nothing went right. i hate my life. what's the use? nothing works. i don't want to be on the lithium cuz even on this low dose i'm dehydrated and i'm drinking lots of liquids. i don't think there is a mood stabilizer i can take. has anyone had these reactions to mood stabilizers? too be honest, i want off the lithium. the side i have read seem to be worse then my illness. this really sucks. i'm a mess all of the time. oh, and i just got the blood work you're suppose to have while on lithium. that put me back $100.00+. this is crazy. i feel like dissapearing. i would leave if i had the gutts to. but i'm too chicken of living on the streets. i have no way to suport myself.i hate life. why did god bother giving me life? there's no point or reason for me?
Posted by crazychickuk on June 27, 2004, at 12:25:30
In reply to I need some help with info on mood stabilizers?, posted by 4mygrls on June 27, 2004, at 11:35:53
There is a reason for u to live.... i watched this programm and ever since dot cotton said ''lifes to precious'' my life has changed ok my way in thinking has changed... i know how yu feel i am sure we all know how you feel we have all been there and we will onece again be there again ...
in my opinion maybe give the mood stabalizers a miss and try something else.. wat other meds r u taking?
hugs
Posted by jay on June 27, 2004, at 13:17:51
In reply to I need some help with info on mood stabilizers?, posted by 4mygrls on June 27, 2004, at 11:35:53
Hi:
I know it is tough as hell sometimes...in fact it is more often than not for many of us. One idea might be to try to tolerate a week or so of build up of mood stabalizer, than add a small amount of antidepressant. If you can, get clonazepam from your doc, or any benzo if possible. What you (and most of us) need is balance, meaning something to sedate the anxiety, and something to give a bit of a boost. Once you hit that balance, you will feel many of your symptoms disappear.
Check out the following link (as someone else has posted this too..thanks. :-) at: http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/meds/moodstabilizers.htm In honesty, after 10 or so years, I have gotten some relief by focusing on symptoms, and balancing things out. This means a fair size cocktail of medications, but there is *nothing* wrong with this, as I have found cocktails work better than just a single drug.
Let us know what you think...and hold tough, because there *is* relief out there. It's just not really easy to find. Please get back when you can.
Best,
Jay
Posted by 4mygrls on June 27, 2004, at 14:26:57
In reply to Re: I need some help with info on mood stabilizers? » 4mygrls, posted by jay on June 27, 2004, at 13:17:51
> Hi:
>
> I know it is tough as hell sometimes...in fact it is more often than not for many of us. One idea might be to try to tolerate a week or so of build up of mood stabalizer, than add a small amount of antidepressant. If you can, get clonazepam from your doc, or any benzo if possible. What you (and most of us) need is balance, meaning something to sedate the anxiety, and something to give a bit of a boost. Once you hit that balance, you will feel many of your symptoms disappear.
>
> Check out the following link (as someone else has posted this too..thanks. :-) at: http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/meds/moodstabilizers.htm In honesty, after 10 or so years, I have gotten some relief by focusing on symptoms, and balancing things out. This means a fair size cocktail of medications, but there is *nothing* wrong with this, as I have found cocktails work better than just a single drug.
>
> Let us know what you think...and hold tough, because there *is* relief out there. It's just not really easy to find. Please get back when you can.
>
> Best,
> Jayi have been on wellbutrin 350mg xl for quite some time. i was on it with the mood stabilizers. when he put me on lamictal, he also put me on klonopin. i just don't seem to respond to mood stabilizers very well. i don't know what the next combo is going to be but i do know that my pdoc is saying that we are running out of options.
Posted by crazychickuk on June 27, 2004, at 18:06:01
In reply to I need some help with info on mood stabilizers?, posted by 4mygrls on June 27, 2004, at 14:26:57
he said u r running out of opts? there are hundreds and hundreds if not thousands of meds to try... wat about adding another ad to your wellbutrin instead of a mood stabalizer?
Posted by 4mygrls on June 27, 2004, at 18:58:41
In reply to Re: I need some help with info on mood stabilizers?, posted by crazychickuk on June 27, 2004, at 18:06:01
> he said u r running out of opts? there are hundreds and hundreds if not thousands of meds to try... wat about adding another ad to your wellbutrin instead of a mood stabalizer?
i have tried every ssri out there. thanks to having tried all these meds, my memory is shot. i don't remember how long i tried each one for? i do know that zoloft didn't work. actually, when i tried zoloft, i was taking it by itself. that was about 6yrs back. i tried effexor xr for about a month. i don't know why he took me off it. he was pushing the lamictal. that was his pride and joy med. i have tried all of the ssri's except paxil. i tried a few of the old ad's too. i don't remember exactly which ones though. so he's thinking there's not much else i can try.i really don't like pdoc's. i'm tired of this.
Posted by Maxime on June 27, 2004, at 19:19:00
In reply to I need some help with info on mood stabilizers?, posted by 4mygrls on June 27, 2004, at 18:58:41
Have you tried any anti-psychotics? They are often good mood stabilisers. Actually the best one I have ever been on is an oldie - Thorazine. I was on a low dose and it helped a lot. It will help you with the agitation and irritability. I started at a dose of 25 mg and stayed there. Sadly, I lactate on anti-psychotics but most people wouldn't, especially on such a low dose.
Take care and don't give up!
Maxime
> > he said u r running out of opts? there are hundreds and hundreds if not thousands of meds to try... wat about adding another ad to your wellbutrin instead of a mood stabalizer?
>
> i have tried every ssri out there. thanks to having tried all these meds, my memory is shot. i don't remember how long i tried each one for? i do know that zoloft didn't work. actually, when i tried zoloft, i was taking it by itself. that was about 6yrs back. i tried effexor xr for about a month. i don't know why he took me off it. he was pushing the lamictal. that was his pride and joy med. i have tried all of the ssri's except paxil. i tried a few of the old ad's too. i don't remember exactly which ones though. so he's thinking there's not much else i can try.i really don't like pdoc's. i'm tired of this.
>
Posted by sooshi on June 27, 2004, at 19:19:28
In reply to I need some help with info on mood stabilizers?, posted by 4mygrls on June 27, 2004, at 18:58:41
Hi 4mygrls,
I see that you've tried Topamax and hated it also...I've been there too! I haven't tolerated mood stabilizers well either, and have just about tried them all. However, after Topa, I went on Zonegran, and hit the jackpot! I feel SOOOO much better, after years and years of struggling to find the right meds. It's just a suggestion, and of course it might not work out for you, but I thought I'd mention it.
It's supposed to be in the same class as Topamax, but it's a lot "cleaner"...I've had none of those nasty side effects like Topa has. All I had was some sleepiness when I first started it. The other side effect is weight loss! It makes me feel fuller as I'm eating, and I don't crave sweets and fatty foods as much.
Good luck, and keep me posted,
Sooshi
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