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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by bert99 on September 11, 2008, at 11:21:23
Is it too much to ask for? Why can't I just be happy? Why is there no middle ground?
I am waiting on a referral to a psychiatrist that will probably take months to go through.
I am fiddling with my lamictal dosages and doing it blindly at best. I am pretty much doing this on my own. I'm trying my best and I just feel like giving up at times.
100 mg was too low and caused me to cry all night last night. However the irritability levels went way down and the background chatter was significantly less than before.
I enjoyed two days of relative tranquility then last night I couldn't stop crying, so I took 200 mg.
This morning I woke up and the chatter is back again. Thinking of things to do, worrying about things, my stomach hurts, people piss me off, god I have all this stuff to do today, better make lists of things to do, oh why did I say that yesterday, oh I have all these things to do tomorrow, better check the computer..... and on and on and on and on.....
:(
I just want to give up.
Do I stay with 200? cut down to 150? My dr. said I am at such a low dose that it won't even be an effective mood stabilizer, and that I am just hanging on by a thread.
I want to get in today to see him to see if I can augment this with one of the meds that you all suggested in a previous thread.
He seems to want to push the tegretol again. Last time I took it I was completely out of it for three weeks. He doesn't seem to get it. I need to function. I have two little precious girls that need their mommy to be there for them.
Posted by sam K on September 11, 2008, at 11:48:47
In reply to Why? depressed---))) agitated/rage, no happy?, posted by bert99 on September 11, 2008, at 11:21:23
uh oh, Im only taking Lamictal and I quit taking my anti depressant... I feel like I might start going down the tubes very soon. Crying, rage, confusion. I hope not. Maybe Ill start taking something with dopamine function like Provigil.. That may raise my mood, maybe yours also? Wellbutrin maybe.
Ill pray for ya. Hope you figure stuff out!!
Posted by Phillipa on September 11, 2008, at 12:00:10
In reply to Re: Why? depressed---))) agitated/rage, no happy?, posted by sam K on September 11, 2008, at 11:48:47
Would I be correct in assuming it's an overload of stress and your brain can't handle it all at a time. Is it possible to break things down and do just a couple of the to do things? I do know the feelings of being overwhelmed. Phillipa
Posted by Racer on September 11, 2008, at 16:53:14
In reply to Why? depressed---))) agitated/rage, no happy?, posted by bert99 on September 11, 2008, at 11:21:23
First, I'm sorry y'all are feeling so lousy. It's not fun.
SamK, I only included you in this to say that Provigil is not dopaminergic, as far as I've ever read. It is a good med, though. And I didn't understand if you are also having a downturn since dropping your AD, or if you were worried because of Bert99's experience? If it's the former, I'm sorry -- that does sound as though you could use an addition to your cocktail.
Now, Bert99, it worries me to hear that you're monkeying around with the Lamictal dose. Has the reason for the slow titration on Lamictal been explained to you? The SJS risk? It's far better to get and stay at a dose, and give it time to read steady state in your bloodstream, with any drug -- but it's particularly wise in the case of Lamictal. Aside from anything other reason -- the response you get once something reaches steady state is more likely to tell you something useful about your reaction to the medication. Going up and down a lot on most of these medications isn't all that productive in the long run.
That said, it may be that Lamictal is not for you. Some people here have mentioned irritability as an effect of this medication. It could be that you're one of those people who are going to get this reaction, and you'll have to decide if the benefits outweigh the adverse effects.
And your doctor's wrong about your dose being too low to make a "real" difference. 200mg is the shooting point to try for mood disorders, and some people here have reported that 150mg is their optimal dose. Just stick with any given dose for a few weeks, before making any more changes. You may not feel the effects for a while -- in lowering a dose, you may feel worse because of your underlying disorder, or you may be experiencing withdrawal.
Best luck. It's a horrible place to be, and I hope you find yourself on more solid footing soon.
Posted by butternut on September 11, 2008, at 18:25:02
In reply to Re: Why? depressed---))) »SamK » bert99, posted by Racer on September 11, 2008, at 16:53:14
Hi, I'm so sorry you're feeling so terrible. I just read another of your posts and our symptoms sound somewhat similar--depressed and angry and racing thoughts--no happy hypomanias, just constant crappy mood shifts. ugh. I have a little one too so I know how hard it is to keep it together.
You said your doctor was pushing tegretol but you didn't want the sedation. I have never tried Trileptal, but I am considering starting it after I give birth in Dec. Since Trileptal is related to Teg, perhaps you will get some relief without as much sedation? Or, I saw in another post you've taken a ton of meds so you've probably tried it already, but if not, perhaps Lithium?
Good luck,and please post followups so we know how you're doing.
Posted by bert99 on September 11, 2008, at 22:52:58
In reply to Re: Why? depressed---))), posted by butternut on September 11, 2008, at 18:25:02
Thanks Racer for your response. Really appreciate it. :)
Posted by bert99 on September 11, 2008, at 22:55:53
In reply to Re: Why? depressed---))), posted by butternut on September 11, 2008, at 18:25:02
> Hi, I'm so sorry you're feeling so terrible. I just read another of your posts and our symptoms sound somewhat similar--depressed and angry and racing thoughts--no happy hypomanias, just constant crappy mood shifts. ugh. I have a little one too so I know how hard it is to keep it together.
>
> You said your doctor was pushing tegretol but you didn't want the sedation. I have never tried Trileptal, but I am considering starting it after I give birth in Dec. Since Trileptal is related to Teg, perhaps you will get some relief without as much sedation? Or, I saw in another post you've taken a ton of meds so you've probably tried it already, but if not, perhaps Lithium?
>
> Good luck,and please post followups so we know how you're doing.Hi Butternut,
I mentioned Trileptal to him but he said he'd never heard of it. We're in Canada so I'm not sure.....
I took Lithium, tried it four different times. I became toxic on it very easily, and it caused me to become extremely agitated on it, even as low as 600 mg ..... :( :(
Posted by rjlockhart04-08 on September 14, 2008, at 0:03:26
In reply to Re: Why? depressed---))) »SamK » bert99, posted by Racer on September 11, 2008, at 16:53:14
Triletal? lasts 6 hours.
Excessive Crying, i've noticed this with stimulants, when they wear off. I've learned to get over it. But this is only with stimulants.
Can you maybe say some why, vent on the psychology board.
;)
rj
Posted by chiron on September 20, 2008, at 1:47:33
In reply to Why? depressed---))) agitated/rage, no happy?, posted by bert99 on September 11, 2008, at 11:21:23
Another option is to take an SSRI like Celexa, or Xanax to help with the agitation.
Outstanding Questions:
1- What has been your response to SSRIs?
2- Has Lamictal helped in any way?
3- How fast are you titrating on Lamictal?I had tried Lamictal years ago and easily dismissed it after 3 weeks because I didn't notice anything & it was giving me intense acne. Two hospital stays later, and with bad reactions to all the mood stabilizers & antipsychotics (including neurontin btw), I have been on Lamictal for over a year. It did cause some initial agitation I think. Mixed agitated states no longer haunt me as much as they use to. That may be the Celexa and/or Xanax, and maybe the Lamictal is acting as a stabilizer. I don't know. I'm still not relieved of depression, but at least my agitation & anxiety are down, and I'm not worried about going back to the hospital any time soon. (btw- I'm at 300 but haven't really noticed positive changes when titrating, so I'm just going to stay at this dose)
Posted by bert99 on September 20, 2008, at 4:43:37
In reply to Re: Why? depressed---))) agitated/rage, no happy?, posted by chiron on September 20, 2008, at 1:47:33
Well, three days on Zyprexa and my gosh that med is amazing. It really quietens my mind. I am up to 10 mg. I start the Trileptal (sp?) tonight. Wish me luck. Glad to say goodbye to the Lamictal.
Posted by Phillipa on September 20, 2008, at 19:39:37
In reply to Re: Why? depressed---))) agitated/rage, no happy?, posted by bert99 on September 20, 2008, at 4:43:37
Bert what dose of trileptal are you starting at? No side effects for me with it but my dose was very low. Good Luck Love Phillipa
Posted by bert99 on September 22, 2008, at 3:11:19
In reply to Re: Why? depressed---))) agitated/rage, no happy? » bert99, posted by Phillipa on September 20, 2008, at 19:39:37
> Bert what dose of trileptal are you starting at? No side effects for me with it but my dose was very low. Good Luck Love Phillipa
Hi Phillipa, I'm at 300 to start. I posted in another thread that I feel pretty knocked out. It's day three now.
Thanks :) Roberta
Posted by Phillipa on September 22, 2008, at 20:34:46
In reply to Re: Why? depressed---))) agitated/rage, no happy? » Phillipa, posted by bert99 on September 22, 2008, at 3:11:19
Roberta why not at 150 and then raise it? Phillipa
Posted by bert99 on September 22, 2008, at 21:01:26
In reply to Re: Why? depressed---))) agitated/rage, no happy? » bert99, posted by Phillipa on September 22, 2008, at 20:34:46
> Roberta why not at 150 and then raise it? Phillipa
That's a good suggestion, but I'm already at 300 now so I don't want to change things. I seem to be getting used to it now. I have definitely noticed a change. I'm a lot more mellow and not so quick to anger. Not dwelling on things as much. (((Crossing fingers))). Lets hope this works.
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