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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by waterfall on September 29, 2006, at 19:23:28
I've come here off and on for several years to ask for help with various meds, and I've come here for the "I-want-to-go-off-everything-please-validate-that" times, too. I stop and try to provide insight or support to others, as well.
But things are really good for me right now and I didn't want to forget to say that, too, for those of you who are in that space where things feel hopeless or the side effects of the meds are so awful it feels only the slimmest margin better than the hell of unmedicated mental illness.
I have an absolutely amazing feet-firmly-on-the-ground mental clarity "normal" even-moodedness and an anxiety level so low it isn't even there every day! Cool beans.
I'm bi-polar, on 1350 of Lithium, 80 of Geodon, 5 of Lexapro and .5-1 of Klonopin.
Note of utmost honesty: OK, so I've only felt this way for less than two weeks and before that I was about ready to jump off a parking structure (had it picked out and everything). At this point, I'll gratefully take what I can get. Come to think of it, as a practicing manic-depressive I'll take what I can get pretty much for the rest of my life.
Posted by SLS on September 29, 2006, at 19:35:00
In reply to Sometimes the drugs do help, posted by waterfall on September 29, 2006, at 19:23:28
> I've come here off and on for several years to ask for help with various meds,...
> But things are really good for me right now and I didn't want to forget to say that, too, for those of you who are in that space where things feel hopeless...> I've only felt this way for less than two weeks...
I've got my fingers crossed.You know, it is pretty damned hard to type this way.
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on September 29, 2006, at 21:39:43
In reply to Sometimes the drugs do help, posted by waterfall on September 29, 2006, at 19:23:28
Waterfall hope it keeps up. I truly do. Love Phillipa
Posted by 4WD on September 30, 2006, at 16:00:05
In reply to Sometimes the drugs do help, posted by waterfall on September 29, 2006, at 19:23:28
Wow! You sound just like me. Almost the same combo of meds, except different. Instead of lithium, Neurontin 300mg. Instead of Lexapro, Celexa 10mg. Geodon 60mg and Klonopin .5 (except now that I'm on Geodon, I don't really need the Klonopin anymore and am tapering it.
What made the difference for you two weeks ago? Did you add a med? Change a dosage? How long have you been on the Geodon? I started it about 6 weeks ago and it truly changed my life. I was also at the point of suicide from the horrible fear (I'm bipolar with mixed states, never cycling, always scared, sometimes suicidally depressed). The Geodon changed all that. It took away the fear, added motivation and wiped out suicidal thoughts.
The only problem I'm having is that the Geodon has to be upped about every two weeks. I started at a very low dose (20mg) and have been upping it by 20mg every couple weeks. Did you start at your current dosage? How long have you been on it?
Does lithium really seem to help you? I was on it briefly and I just got more depressed. I've also read here on this board that any amount of an SSRI is not good for a bipolar and I'm thinking of stopping the Celexa since I feel so much better on the Geodon.
Mostly I wonder what happened that you got so much better a couple of weeks ago. In any event, I'm glad you did.
Marsha
> I've come here off and on for several years to ask for help with various meds, and I've come here for the "I-want-to-go-off-everything-please-validate-that" times, too. I stop and try to provide insight or support to others, as well.
>
> But things are really good for me right now and I didn't want to forget to say that, too, for those of you who are in that space where things feel hopeless or the side effects of the meds are so awful it feels only the slimmest margin better than the hell of unmedicated mental illness.
>
> I have an absolutely amazing feet-firmly-on-the-ground mental clarity "normal" even-moodedness and an anxiety level so low it isn't even there every day! Cool beans.
>
> I'm bi-polar, on 1350 of Lithium, 80 of Geodon, 5 of Lexapro and .5-1 of Klonopin.
>
> Note of utmost honesty: OK, so I've only felt this way for less than two weeks and before that I was about ready to jump off a parking structure (had it picked out and everything). At this point, I'll gratefully take what I can get. Come to think of it, as a practicing manic-depressive I'll take what I can get pretty much for the rest of my life.
Posted by waterfall on October 1, 2006, at 12:55:42
In reply to Re: Sometimes the drugs do help » waterfall, posted by 4WD on September 30, 2006, at 16:00:05
> What made the difference for you two weeks ago?Increasing lithium.
>How long have you been on the Geodon?
I've been on it about 6 months at 80 mg - 100 makes me edgy - and it completely kills my sex drive so I wasn't "happy" with it except I was sure done with climbing the walls. Hadn't routinely slept through the night in over two years.
>(I'm bipolar with mixed states, never cycling, always scared, sometimes suicidally depressed). The Geodon changed all that. It took away the fear, added motivation and wiped out suicidal thoughts.
Great! I'm happy to hear the Geodon is working so well for you.
> Does lithium really seem to help you? I was on it briefly and I just got more depressed.
In the past, Depakote has worked better but my psych has had really good success with the Geodon/Lithium combo and wanted me to see it through so I did, and now I'm happy I did.
>I've also read here on this board that any amount of an SSRI is not good for a bipolar and I'm thinking of stopping the Celexa since I feel so much better on the Geodon.
I've had pretty bad luck with anti-depressants. The 5 of Lexapro helps but with 10 I feel like someone is playing a violin on my nerves, just awful. When you're feeling suicidal you have to do what you have to do med-wise until you pick up, though.
> Mostly I wonder what happened that you got so much better a couple of weeks ago. In any event, I'm glad you did.I think it was reaching a therapeutic dose of Lithium in combo with the Geodon and Lexapro and Klonopin in combo with making some changes in my life. I had a hellish first six months of this year in my personal life, and I've made concerted efforts to lead a calm, quiet life and stay out of trouble (if I can stay away from mania that will be half my battle). I ended some relationships that were bad for me, started softly exploring some personal interests that can't get me in trouble (like planning to re-paint a bedroom and decorating the front of the house for the fall), and mostly just gritted my teeth while the drama of the first six months of '06 passed. Time heals all as they say.
Good luck to you Marsha! I hope your stability will last as well
This is the end of the thread.
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