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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 bipolarspectrum on September 24, 2006, at 1:02:05
Hi,
I may ask my pdoc if I can combine either t3 or t4 with lithium for my rapid cycling bipolar... does anyone recommend one over the other?? im a little confused...
bps
Posted by SLS on September 24, 2006, at 4:11:29
In reply to whats better for BIPOLAR - T3 or T4?, posted by bipolarspectrum on September 24, 2006, at 1:02:05
> Hi,
> I may ask my pdoc if I can combine either t3 or t4 with lithium for my rapid cycling bipolar... does anyone recommend one over the other?? im a little confused...
> bpsMy type of bipolar is probably closer to Bipolar I than to Bipolar II. T3 is like poison to me. It exacerbates my depression. I found T4 helpful. I believe high dose T4 has been looked at to treat rapid-cyclicity. Personally, I think T4 has been passed-over in research because it had been the assumption that T3 does all the work. However, this is not true. There is more evidence that T3 works as an augmentor of antidepressants to treat depression because this is what studies were designed to look at. Perhaps there is more recent interest in T4.
For bipolar, I think there is some evidence that T4 is effective. Certainly, in my case, which is atypical, it is preferable. T3 is the old standard for unipolar, though.
- Scott
Posted by bipolarspectrum on September 24, 2006, at 13:18:10
In reply to Re: whats better for BIPOLAR - T3 or T4?, posted by SLS on September 24, 2006, at 4:11:29
Thx SLS,
My impression has been the same.. It appears that T3 seems to be more useful for unipolar depression augmentation whereas T4 appears to benefit bipolars... one fascinating point that I actually read in the literature was that, on its own, t4 can cause dypshoric manic-like symptoms.. but when combined with a lithium or an anticonvulsant it can be very effective in reducing both mania and depression...I had tried t4 by itself once and it instantly made me feel incredibly uncomfortable... id like to retry it with a mood stabilizer on board.. how u doing scott?
bps
Posted by Phillipa on September 24, 2006, at 13:24:09
In reply to Re: whats better for BIPOLAR - T3 or T4?, posted by SLS on September 24, 2006, at 4:11:29
I thought they could give cytomel but not mess with thyroid unless you has a thyroid problem? Love Phillipa
Posted by SLS on September 24, 2006, at 13:40:45
In reply to Re: whats better for BIPOLAR - T3 or T4?, posted by bipolarspectrum on September 24, 2006, at 13:18:10
> how u doing scott?
Thanks for asking.
Right now, I am at my 15% over baseline severe depression. Nortriptyline + Lamictal get me there with Abilify to help prevent occasional anxious catastrophic thinking.
I recently started Lyrica. I am taking 450mg. It isn't working. I doubt it will at this point, but I am going to push it up to 600mg, as this is the dosage a few people here have reported success with.
A few months ago, I responded to the addition of Wellbutrin for about two weeks. I was ready to go back to work. Then it fizzled out on me. Thereafter, it actually made me feel worse. I believe the combination of Lamictal + Wellbutrin to be a particularly good one for bipolar depression. I don't know about unipolar depression, but if I were TRD, I would definitely try it.
- Scott
Posted by SLS on September 24, 2006, at 13:42:11
In reply to Re: whats better for BIPOLAR - T3 or T4? » SLS, posted by Phillipa on September 24, 2006, at 13:24:09
> I thought they could give cytomel but not mess with thyroid unless you has a thyroid problem? Love Phillipa
For a very long time, psychiatrists have been adding Cytomel to tricyclic antidepressants as an augmentor regardless of basal thyroid function. It works.
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on September 24, 2006, at 20:18:23
In reply to Re: whats better for BIPOLAR - T3 or T4? » Phillipa, posted by SLS on September 24, 2006, at 13:42:11
Scott I'm so sorry lyrica isn't working. I really am. I want to see you succeed more than you can imagine. But seriously did you ever have a Western Blot for lymes? What if an infection all along was the reason? And antibiotics could still get rid of it. Love Jan
Posted by SLS on September 24, 2006, at 20:48:50
In reply to Re: whats better for BIPOLAR - T3 or T4? » SLS, posted by Phillipa on September 24, 2006, at 20:18:23
> Scott I'm so sorry lyrica isn't working. I really am. I want to see you succeed more than you can imagine. But seriously did you ever have a Western Blot for lymes? What if an infection all along was the reason? And antibiotics could still get rid of it. Love Jan
I tried taking doxycycline for 4 months. It didn't make any difference. What do you think?
- Scott
This is the end of the thread.
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