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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by MichaelH on August 17, 2007, at 20:50:28
My wife has suffered from depression for most of her life. She recently switched psychiatrists who took her off zoloft and switched her to Topamax and Geodon. From what I read on the internet, neither of these are for depression. Has anyone heard of this combination being used to treat depression?
Posted by linkadge on August 17, 2007, at 21:33:19
In reply to Topamax with Geodon, posted by MichaelH on August 17, 2007, at 20:50:28
Unless your doctor has specifically diagnosed your wife as having bipolar disorder (ie manic depression), I would not use these meds.
These two meds are for bipolar disorder, and have no evidence of efficacy in unipolar disorder.
If your wife has failed several drugs used for unipolar disorder sometimes doctors try bipolar meds.
But, if your wife just has unipolar depression and failed one antidepressant, she may just want to try another antidepressant.
Bipolar meds in general are less safe, and probably cary more risks than regular unipolar meds.
Linkadge
Posted by jhj on August 18, 2007, at 7:02:23
In reply to Topamax with Geodon, posted by MichaelH on August 17, 2007, at 20:50:28
Yes.I have not read or heard about any significant study of effectiveness of these drugs in unipolar depression.If she has tried only one AD only from SSRI class,there are plenty of option from same class and also from other classes before one should even think of taking drugs used for bipolar disorder.
Posted by MichaelH on August 21, 2007, at 8:03:49
In reply to Re: Topamax with Geodon, posted by jhj on August 18, 2007, at 7:02:23
> Thank you for your opinion. It supports what I thought all along. We have been married for 22 years, then, after switching from Effexor to these meds, her personality changed. Very flat,not too depressed, but almost never happy. Now she says she wants a separation to "find herself." It is like I don't know who she is anymore. I am encouraging her to get a second opinion.
> Yes.I have not read or heard about any significant study of effectiveness of these drugs in unipolar depression.If she has tried only one AD only from SSRI class,there are plenty of option from same class and also from other classes before one should even think of taking drugs used for bipolar disorder.
This is the end of the thread.
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