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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by blueboy on June 20, 2008, at 13:46:41
For those of you who have read my posts: I'm older and have tried dozens of medications, including all kinds of anti-depressants and a lot of stuff I don't even remember what it was (neurontin, antipsychotics). I've had problems for over 40 years.
A month or two ago, my current (4 year?) pdoc sent me to a university research clinician who has a specialty diagnostic practice. He told me I was definitely Bipolar II and had a list of recommendations, the first of which was Lamictal.
(The only one that ever helped me was Nardil, which I had to discontinue due to a serious side effect after two years. In retrospect, however, I can see that what it did was to get me stuck in a hypomanic state. Really, it's not good for you even though it makes you think you're doing great.)
I did 25mg/day for two weeks and have been on 50mg for about two weeks. I noticed the first results yesterday.
I am a bit hesitant to attribute change to drugs, since I cycle through phases naturally.
Anyway, yesterday I noticed a very definite buzz. I got stuck in some sort of manic stupor for a while in the morning. But by 6:30, I suddenly rememberd what it was like to enjoy things. I was walking my dog (for the first time in months) and could feel actual pleasure from the flowers and birds and other hokey stuff.
The night was quite good. I was able to sleep without drugs from midnight to 8 am. I still haven't done any work today, though, although I feel fairly good.
My primary complaint is that I will get all interested in something for months or years, then suddenly I will be completely unable to work on it at all. I'll be in panic at the thought of working. No matter how hard I try, I won't be able to even do the smallest amount of work on it.
Soooo . . . hoping I will be able to do something, if not today then tomorrow. Boy would it be nice.
BTW, I have definite OCD and anxiety problems, but no clue how they fit in with the Bipolar diagnosis. Here's a partial list of symptoms not necessarily Bipolar in nature:
Counting (can get bad)
Sex obsessions/compulsions
Skin picking
Alcohol/drug abuse (sober for 4 years due to AA)
Constantly touching self, twirling hair, etc
Bulemia (no anorexia, I think it's serotonin seeking, related to drug abuse)
GAD
panic attacks
social anxiety
insomnia (can be obsessive, i.e. must watch another tv show even when I'm sleepy)
Posted by Phillipa on June 21, 2008, at 11:06:14
In reply to Lamictal starting to work, posted by blueboy on June 20, 2008, at 13:46:41
Hope it's the lamictal and it works for you. Ever been on luvox or anafranil for OCD? Phillipa
Posted by blueboy on June 21, 2008, at 12:19:49
In reply to Re: Lamictal starting to work » blueboy, posted by Phillipa on June 21, 2008, at 11:06:14
> Hope it's the lamictal and it works for you. Ever been on luvox or anafranil for OCD? Phillipa
I honestly don't know, I've tried so many drugs. Generally, I can't tolerate SSRI's. I actually think I took anafranil many years ago and it didn't have any effect except a lot of crappy side effects, including some very weird sexual ones (not all of them bad, LOL).
This is the end of the thread.
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