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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by SLS on June 7, 2013, at 3:08:09
I am again progressing towards remission of chronic depression associated with bipolar disorder. I was "stuck" for quite awhile, making little or no progress. I had tried to keep my dosage of prazosin at 10 mg/day in an effort to minimize fatigue, weakness, and brain fog. To me, these things seemed more like side effects than symptoms of depression. After experimenting with a dosage of 8 mg/day, it became obvious that depression was emerging. At this point, I retitrated the dosage upwards and found that 15 mg/day produced a more robust antidepressant response than 10 mg/day. It is quite possible that the fatigue, weakness, and cognitive impairments I experienced at the lower dosage was actually residual depression rather than side effects. I was fooled.
I have been taking 15 mg/day of prazosin for over a week. I am encouraged by the surge of improvement I am experiencing. I'm going to stay at this dosage for awhile to see where it takes me. Over the last few months, I have increased the dosages of lithium and Lamictal. This is actually the first time I will be taking these drugs at these dosages.
Currently:
Parnate 80 mg/day
nortriptyline 150 mg/day
Lamictal 300 mg/day
lithium 450 mg/day
Abilify 10 mg/day
prazosin 15 mg/day
minocycine 200 mg/day
- Scott
Posted by Twinleaf on June 7, 2013, at 6:41:29
In reply to Update., posted by SLS on June 7, 2013, at 3:08:09
Just delighted to hear this, Scott!
Posted by gilmourr on June 7, 2013, at 9:27:56
In reply to Update., posted by SLS on June 7, 2013, at 3:08:09
> I am again progressing towards remission of chronic depression associated with bipolar disorder. I was "stuck" for quite awhile, making little or no progress. I had tried to keep my dosage of prazosin at 10 mg/day in an effort to minimize fatigue, weakness, and brain fog. To me, these things seemed more like side effects than symptoms of depression. After experimenting with a dosage of 8 mg/day, it became obvious that depression was emerging. At this point, I retitrated the dosage upwards and found that 15 mg/day produced a more robust antidepressant response than 10 mg/day. It is quite possible that the fatigue, weakness, and cognitive impairments I experienced at the lower dosage was actually residual depression rather than side effects. I was fooled.
>
> I have been taking 15 mg/day of prazosin for over a week. I am encouraged by the surge of improvement I am experiencing. I'm going to stay at this dosage for awhile to see where it takes me. Over the last few months, I have increased the dosages of lithium and Lamictal. This is actually the first time I will be taking these drugs at these dosages.
>
> Currently:
>
> Parnate 80 mg/day
> nortriptyline 150 mg/day
> Lamictal 300 mg/day
> lithium 450 mg/day
> Abilify 10 mg/day
> prazosin 15 mg/day
> minocycine 200 mg/day
>
>
> - ScottCurious...how long have you been in a depressive/bipolar state for? It seems like to add all these medications together you'd have to have some idea of how they work independently of each other.
Do you remember the order in which you added everything? It's just such a large stack that I would get lost immediately as to what is doing what.
Did the brain fog come into play once lithium was added?
Posted by Phillipa on June 7, 2013, at 9:33:43
In reply to Re: Update., posted by gilmourr on June 7, 2013, at 9:27:56
Hope it continues. Phillipa
Posted by herpills on June 7, 2013, at 10:11:33
In reply to Update., posted by SLS on June 7, 2013, at 3:08:09
Thanks, Scott for sharing this. I think your patience and persistence is encouraging to many of us here.
Posted by Tomatheus on June 7, 2013, at 15:42:27
In reply to Re: Update., posted by Phillipa on June 7, 2013, at 9:33:43
> Hope it continues. Phillipa
Same here. Good luck, Scott.
T.
Posted by Roslynn on June 7, 2013, at 15:58:22
In reply to Update., posted by SLS on June 7, 2013, at 3:08:09
Positive news, Scott! Keep goin'!!
Roslynn
Posted by alchemy on June 9, 2013, at 0:24:11
In reply to Update., posted by SLS on June 7, 2013, at 3:08:09
I'm so happy for you Scott, you deserve it. It is also encouraging for the rest of us.
Question for you on the nortiptyline. I haven't taken it very long and am curious to hear what your experience was like when you started it.
Also, at what dosage did you find that lithium had a stabilizing effect?
Posted by rjlockhart37 on June 9, 2013, at 21:45:27
In reply to Update., posted by SLS on June 7, 2013, at 3:08:09
thats great scott....im on lamictal 300mg too i havent updated it on my med chart on the signature, and also with zyprexa 20mg's i've got to do something about the zyprexa...all day today was sedated, no energy, gloomy.....lamictal with zyprexa really can cause me mental impairment....
but glad to hear this...
r
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on June 10, 2013, at 22:10:25
In reply to Re: Update., posted by rjlockhart37 on June 9, 2013, at 21:45:27
Amazing news Scott! Best of luck from Down Under!
Posted by gadchik on June 14, 2013, at 13:19:28
In reply to Re: Update., posted by jono_in_adelaide on June 10, 2013, at 22:10:25
Its the most wonderful feeling to come through the forest into the sun.
Posted by SLS on June 14, 2013, at 15:25:38
In reply to Cheers, Scott!, posted by gadchik on June 14, 2013, at 13:19:28
> Its the most wonderful feeling to come through the forest into the sun.
Thanks.
:-)
You understand.
I describe my depression as being chained to the bottom of a murky ocean while looking up to watch everyone else on land playing in the sun.
The chain is still attached, but it now grows longer as I continue to struggle swimming toward the surface.
- Scott
This is the end of the thread.
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