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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by PM80 on April 6, 2005, at 8:04:14
Hi all, I just wanted to be a ray of sunshine(hopefully) and tell everyone that my small cocktail is working :). I'm on Seroquel and Depakote. I'm depressed much less often, and when I am, it is not nearly as severe. Also, I have no racing thoughts, no panic attacks, and little anxiety. Okay, occasionally I do talk rather fast and sometimes I have a lot of energy (as seen by a lot of small movements, toe-tapping, etc), but it is all manageable. My sleep isn't perfect, but it is not poor either. I actually feel content as often as not. Pretty cool!
SO, it seems the right drugs are out there. Don't lose hope if your current cocktail doesn't quite work as smoothly as you hoped. Keep working with your doc to find what works for you.
Posted by TomG on April 6, 2005, at 11:51:45
In reply to They're working!, posted by PM80 on April 6, 2005, at 8:04:14
Thats good news. I started Seroquel 50mgs/night one month ago and I'm about raise the dose this Friday probably to 100-150mgs. I have to see what my doctor says. It has really helped me go to bed at a desired time, but it hasn't done much in the way of mood like giving me a feeling of well-being and giving me the desire to get out of my house and get aggressive with life. How much do you take and at what dosage did you start to notice it make a lift in your mood? Continued Sucess!
Posted by Spriggy on April 6, 2005, at 13:23:10
In reply to Re: They're working!, posted by TomG on April 6, 2005, at 11:51:45
That is great news PM80!!
Yes, please share dosages! I am just starting Seroquel- last night was first dose of 50mg's.
Posted by PM80 on April 6, 2005, at 14:50:51
In reply to Re: They're working!, posted by Spriggy on April 6, 2005, at 13:23:10
I WAS on 300mg/day Seroquel, which helped a lot withmy anxiety and racing thoughts - basically the too-highs of the spectrum - but didn't help my downs. I took 50mg in the morning and afternoon and 200mg at bedtime.
Now I take 300mg Seroquel once a day at bedtime. And I take 500mg/day Depakote (250mg twice daily). The depakote REALLY helps me with the low end of the spectrum. I felt better the first day on it. I never wake up sad now, which used to always happen. I'm less impulsive. BUT caffeine seems to affect me much more strongly (racing thoughts, lots of movement, etc) so I have had to cut back on that to one cup a day.
Now I feel and think like me. Not lethargic. Not too spastic.
Posted by PM80 on April 6, 2005, at 15:20:16
In reply to Re: They're working!, posted by PM80 on April 6, 2005, at 14:50:51
I'm also seeing a therapist that is very supportive and understanding, while honest. His philosophy is one of empowering his clients in their lives.
Posted by fires on April 6, 2005, at 16:34:47
In reply to They're working!, posted by PM80 on April 6, 2005, at 8:04:14
Is it correct to assume that you are BP?
I'm wondering about no AD in your cocktail.
Thanks
Posted by Phillipa on April 6, 2005, at 19:00:05
In reply to Re: They're working! » PM80, posted by fires on April 6, 2005, at 16:34:47
So glad your meds are working! But, yes, what is your dx? Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Spriggy on April 6, 2005, at 21:03:17
In reply to Re: They're working!, posted by Phillipa on April 6, 2005, at 19:00:05
Hey, I was wondering how long you've been on this combo?? And like everyone else, what your diagnosis is.
BECAUSE mainly, I have a full bottle of Depakote that I could add to my Seroquel to see if it would work.
Lamictal caused anxiety ( i think- it could've been my low blood sugar).
Anyway, also have you Gained any weight on your dosages? Both of those drugs are kind of known for weight gain.
Posted by PM80 on April 7, 2005, at 7:51:11
In reply to Re: They're working! » PM80, posted by fires on April 6, 2005, at 16:34:47
Yeah, I'm BP, more on the cyclothymic end of the spectrum. I've never been psychotic, nor have I been suicidal (even though I've been VERY low before) - maybe because my mom died when I was a teenager and death absolutely scares the bgeezers out of me. Things like restlessness, racing thoughts, very fast speech, and anxiety alternated or sometimes in conjunction with depression are my brain's m.o. So sometimes I'm hypomanic, sometimes depressed, sometimes "normal", and sometimes I'm in a mild-to-moderate mixed state.
Just to help things stay clear, I am seeing a therapist who is a PhD Pyschologist (can't prescribe meds). He works with my doc (not specifically a pdoc) with multiple patients. It is my impression, though, that she [my doc] knows her stuff when it comes to pdrugs.
Initially, near the beginning of my therapy I was put on Lexapro (an SSRI) which increased my anxiety and blood pressure and all that. I only took it for a few days, then stopped because of my body's reaction. Then my doc put me on Seroquel alone at 100mg/day, titrating up slowly. Well, I also cut back on drinking (which had been a 4-5 nights per week thing) for a few weeks and I was a bit(or a little more than a bit) manic for one therapy session. So I saw my doc again and we upped the Seroquel dose. It worked great for anxiety, restlessness, racing thoughts, etc, but I still got to some very low places just as often or more than before I took anything. Although, I was still drinking a lot, so that didn't help things. After about four months, I took my therapist's advice and went to my doc for something to help with my depression. My doc has completely ruled out SSRIs as a possible treatment for me, and would only try something like a tricyclic antidepressant as a last resort. So she put me on Depakote in combo with my seroquel. If the Depakote didn't work, her next choice was Stratera (I'm not ADD). Obviously, I think that the Depakote is working. I've been on this combo for about a month now, and I feel noticeably different.
Posted by PM80 on April 7, 2005, at 7:59:24
In reply to My Cocktail Evolution Story, posted by PM80 on April 7, 2005, at 7:51:11
Oh yeah, the weight question. I did gain a little weight when I was on the Seroquel alone. BUT I was drinking a lot and wasn't working out and was eating a lot just because I was depressed(not because I had the munchies), but actually I gained LESS than I did when I went through that same kind of phase (drinking, eating a lot) in college and I was not on any meds.
The Depakote has actually helped! I've lost 3 or 4 pounds in about 3 weeks because I've been less impulsive. It's amazing how much easier it is to eat healthily(is that a word?!?). It's like now I choose what I eat rather than seeing something or thinking about something (mmmm, french fries; mmm, pizza) and just having to have it.
Posted by Spriggy on April 7, 2005, at 11:17:58
In reply to No weight gain, posted by PM80 on April 7, 2005, at 7:59:24
Thanks so much for sharing all that PM80, I appreciate all the details.
We sound similar- they have said I am BP2 because I don't get "manic" highs were I feel grand, go out and spend money, etc. I get very agitated, restless, and then depressed- although I have been suicidal, it was ONLY while on Lexapro so I believe (as did the pdoc) the Lexapro made me much worse ( I was put on it for anxiety).Anyway, I just hope this Seroquel doesn't cause any depression for me. I am going to stay at a low dose (despite what dr. wants) because quite frankly, if I took the amount he suggested titrating to, I could not function as a mother or wife.
Plus, I want to see how this will affect after a few weeks before even thinking of adding more.
Thanks for answering all the questions and I am soo glad this is working for you. You sound happy and content.. That's the way life should be!
Posted by theo on April 10, 2005, at 10:15:50
In reply to They're working!, posted by PM80 on April 6, 2005, at 8:04:14
> Hi all, I just wanted to be a ray of sunshine(hopefully) and tell everyone that my small cocktail is working :). I'm on Seroquel and Depakote. I'm depressed much less often, and when I am, it is not nearly as severe. Also, I have no racing thoughts, no panic attacks, and little anxiety. Okay, occasionally I do talk rather fast and sometimes I have a lot of energy (as seen by a lot of small movements, toe-tapping, etc), but it is all manageable. My sleep isn't perfect, but it is not poor either. I actually feel content as often as not. Pretty cool!
>
> SO, it seems the right drugs are out there. Don't lose hope if your current cocktail doesn't quite work as smoothly as you hoped. Keep working with your doc to find what works for you.
What dose of Depakote are you taking. Are you taking regular or ER?I'm thinking about trying Depakote and was curious.
Posted by PM80 on April 11, 2005, at 7:49:56
In reply to Re: They're working! » PM80, posted by theo on April 10, 2005, at 10:15:50
I'm on 500mg/day regular (not ER) Depakote, along with 200-300mg/day Seroquel. First, I was on the Seroquel all by itself, but this only took away the top of the spectrum (racing thoughts, anxiety, etc). Then the depakote was added to act as an antidepressant. It's basically working. It does not make me drowsy at all, although it commonly does for a lot of people.
I would not see any reason not to try it. The bad side-effects usually only happen at larger doses (say, at least 1000mg/day). I am not extra-hungry or without a libido or going bald.
This is the end of the thread.
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