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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Sheilac on February 20, 2014, at 6:48:16
I just don't know what to take anymore. According to my docs I'm mixed BP leaning more towards BPII. My mood is easily effected by all the drugs. Adderall can send me into severe irritability and anger when it wears off. Steroids, cold medicine & even coffee can make my hypomanic and cause ups & downs. So I guess that's proof that there is something wrong with me.
I don't do well on ADs - hypomania.
I've been taking Trileptal and it has been great. It interferes with my estrogen level and I sweat all the freakin' time and I have developed swelling. The only answer I've gotten is to lessen the dose of Trileptal - but then I lose effectiveness. I also have akathesia in the morning with Trileptal. I take my dose at night to help with sleep, then wake up jittery feeling terrible. I literally have to take Klonopin in the morning to combat the Trileptal.
I can take a low dose of Depakote. Not sure when to take it. At night it doesn't help with sleep. Do I take it during the day? It causes me to be very depressed. What to do about the depression? Take low dose Adderall for depression? Klonopin for sleep?
I tried Lamictal and it never gave me stability, it caused terrible muscle tension, aches pains, just awful, but the antidepressant effects rock. First time I've felt interested in life in a long time. Not worth the pain.
I could take Geodon for depression, but once I get to 80mg it switches to more of a stabilizer and I lose the AD effect and develop sexual problems. Plus, at doses 40-60mg it helps with depression, but can make me it titanate in the morning. Seroquel helps with sleep, but made me a monster in the morning.
Sometimes I feel that these drugs are causing my mood problems and I wonder if I'll ever feel normal.
I'm easily effected by low doses and am sick of feeling like crap. I want to feel alive and interested in life. And I want to keep the irritability and anger in check.
I'm at a loss.
Posted by Phillipa on February 20, 2014, at 9:22:09
In reply to Help? Depakote/Mixed, etc., posted by Sheilac on February 20, 2014, at 6:48:16
I want the same for self. I was fine till started meds. Except for benzos. I have no idea at this point what the answer is. Phillipa
Posted by Sheilac on February 20, 2014, at 10:35:38
In reply to Re: Help? Depakote/Mixed, etc. » Sheilac, posted by Phillipa on February 20, 2014, at 9:22:09
I had so much akathesia this morning from taking 300mg of Trileptal last night I thought I was going to go crazy this morning. The higher I go on a Trileptal, the more daytime akathesia. I tapered down to 150mg and didn't have the swelling, pain and lessened akathesia, but not the stability, which is why I took 300mg last night!
This morning I decided to take the low dose Depakote since it doesn't help me sleep and I thought it would help. And it has! I know that good, old Geodon works for my depression and helps me sleep.
I think I might try the low dose Depakote during the day and Geodon at night. I always have Klonopin, but hate taking too much of that because it just puts me in a fog and takes away my personality.
I'm not sure if I should ditch the 150mg of Trileptal or keep it.
I may see if the Depakote and Geodon work. Maybe I won't get the swelling and pain I've had with Trileptal & Lamictal.
Will I have to get bloodwork for low dose Depakote?
Posted by SLS on February 20, 2014, at 11:43:02
In reply to Help? Depakote/Mixed, etc., posted by Sheilac on February 20, 2014, at 6:48:16
> I'm at a loss.
What antipsychotics have you tried, and what were the results?
Have you ever tried Remeron?
You might want to discuss with your doctor the use of Topamax starting at low dosages and titrating gradually to avoid cognitive side effects. You might do very well at 100 mg/day. I don't think it would leave you depressed.
- Scott
Posted by SLS on February 20, 2014, at 11:49:58
In reply to Depakote am, Geodon pm Opinions???, posted by Sheilac on February 20, 2014, at 10:35:38
I think you need to be methodical and create a treatment plan with your doctor and work closely with him.
Would you still have to take blood tests with Depakote when low dosages are employed? Unless you can find definitive evidence otherwise, I would suggest that you follow the accepted protocols for lab tests.
- Scott
Posted by phidippus on February 23, 2014, at 17:55:17
In reply to Help? Depakote/Mixed, etc., posted by Sheilac on February 20, 2014, at 6:48:16
>I'm easily effected by low doses and am sick of feeling like crap.
This is the problem. You aren't taking therapeutic doses-these low doses are only causing you side effects and certainly aren't treating your symptoms. You're a bag of side effects and symptoms.
Try Lyrica at 600 mgs. You may like it.
Eric
Posted by Sheilac on February 24, 2014, at 6:25:37
In reply to Re: Help? Depakote/Mixed, etc. » Sheilac, posted by phidippus on February 23, 2014, at 17:55:17
De pakora wasn't cutting it and I was spinning out of control as you can read from my posts. I had to go back to what has given me stability.
This weekend my husband had a talk with me and I promised him I would take the Trileptal dose the doctor gave me. I'm working up to 1200mg. So far I'm at 750mg and I feel a complete difference. Tonight is 900mg. Finally, no more anxiety attacks and I can even tolerate a morning cup of coffee.
I have an appointment with my pdoc today and I have to be honest with her about my non-compliance. I see her again in 2 weeks and I should be on 1200mg by then.
I'm also taking low dose Geodon for depression.
It's hard to grasp being a mixed BP. I hate it. But the medicine does work. So far, after 4 days no swelling. My husband says maybe the dose the doc gave me won't cause the side effects.
So, I'm being compliant for once in my life. My husband is really supporting me on this.
This is the end of the thread.
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