Shown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by linkadge on March 13, 2021, at 17:30:53
My mother has been in an episode of bipolar depression for almost a year now. The doctors keep adjusting various mood stabilizers to no avail.
I hate this notion that mood stabilizers alone are the cure for bipolar depression. They aren't working! I wanted her to try mirtazapine, but the doctor popoo'd the idea.
Frustrating.
Linkadge
Posted by rjlockhart37 on March 13, 2021, at 18:09:22
In reply to Mother - bad bipolar depression, posted by linkadge on March 13, 2021, at 17:30:53
link i read somewhere that Prozac is appoved to be used with mood stablizers in bipolar disorders. I don't where i read that, but rerember it was a psychiatric article saying prozac could be used in bipolar disorder if having moderate to many mood stablizers
Lamictal, Lithium, and valporic acid are mood stablizers that could be used, olanzipine (which i take) is good also
Posted by jay2112 on March 13, 2021, at 21:01:23
In reply to Mother - bad bipolar depression, posted by linkadge on March 13, 2021, at 17:30:53
> My mother has been in an episode of bipolar depression for almost a year now. The doctors keep adjusting various mood stabilizers to no avail.
>
> I hate this notion that mood stabilizers alone are the cure for bipolar depression. They aren't working! I wanted her to try mirtazapine, but the doctor popoo'd the idea.
>
> Frustrating.
>
> Linkadge
>
>Linkadge:
Mood stabalizers are a sad joke. The current 'popular' ones (valporate, carbamazepine) will send you to the basement, majorly, or (lithium) occasionally work or (lamictal/lamotragine) likely send you high as a kite.
Do you have your mother's power of attorney? If you do, and she consent's to it, you can bully the f#$%^ing doctor into prescribing (mirtazapine) it. You gotta be mean with these bastards. If not, get another doctor! I had to do this with my Dad, and I would do it a million times again. This is your Mom's life, NOT the freakin' doctor's!!
Best,
Jay
Posted by undopaminergic on March 14, 2021, at 3:41:24
In reply to Mother - bad bipolar depression, posted by linkadge on March 13, 2021, at 17:30:53
> I wanted her to try mirtazapine, but the doctor popoo'd the idea.
>Maybe lurasidone (Latuda) is worth a trial? It is approved for bipolar *depression* and I'm having some success with it myself.
-undopaminergic
Posted by Lamdage22 on March 14, 2021, at 4:16:48
In reply to Re: Mother - bad bipolar depression, posted by undopaminergic on March 14, 2021, at 3:41:24
They say that Seroquel is good for bipolar depression. I haven't confirmed wether or not that is true for me although I have been taking it for many years. I agree that something needs to be done, while at the same time avoiding a switch into mania. What about a Antidepressant/Moodstabilizer combo?
Posted by Christ_empowered on March 14, 2021, at 4:40:11
In reply to Re: Mother - bad bipolar depression, posted by Lamdage22 on March 14, 2021, at 4:16:48
psych prescribing seems to be much more affected by trends and/or dogma than other branches of medicine. sad times :-(
piling on 'mood stabilizers' could easily make things worse, as other posters point out. limited data points to a possible 'antidepressant effect' from coenzyme q10 supplementation, with the psych drugs kept in place. some of the ((limited)) research on coenzyme q10 in mood problems focuses on the geriatric population...
while some more recent research covers a wide range of age groups. anyway, the last little study I skimmed over used 200mgs coenzyme q10 daily, psych drugs kept the same, and saw what the researchers call a "robust" effect after 8 weeks. I mention coenzyme q10, in particular, because it seems than many pharmaceuticals, especially the psych drugs, can deplete coq10 levels, over the long haul.
will the psych prescribe benzodiazepines? Not a huge fan of Mother's Little Helpers, myself, but...if the prescribing doctors are gung ho on this 'no antidepressants' rule, then...
at least a benzodiazepine would reduce tension, anxiety, etc., maybe help brighten mood? a lot of 'antidepressants' are really used to reduce tension, anxiety, etc....that's why just about any and every calming, sedating drug out there can knock points off depression scales. just...if a benzodiazepine is an option, try to avoid clonazepam. difficult to taper, seems to be worse for exacerbating and/or inducing depression.
other than that, I really have about 0 ideas. any way to see about a different treatment provider, maybe?
Posted by beckett2 on March 14, 2021, at 23:15:45
In reply to Mother - bad bipolar depression, posted by linkadge on March 13, 2021, at 17:30:53
> My mother has been in an episode of bipolar depression for almost a year now. The doctors keep adjusting various mood stabilizers to no avail.
>
> I hate this notion that mood stabilizers alone are the cure for bipolar depression. They aren't working! I wanted her to try mirtazapine, but the doctor popoo'd the idea.
>
> Frustrating.
>
> Linkadge
>
>Does she have BP l or ll? Is she sensitive to medications?
Lamictal has been good with an antidepressant. However, I started the lamotrigine at least a few months before lexapro. This did not precipitate a BP crisis. The slow onset of efficacy is a drawback, but honestly, it built a scaffolding beneath my depression. Which is good.Do you have access to ketamine? I hype it often (sorry!) but I have terrible bipolar depression. Like years at a time :/ and it helped.
Posted by rjlockhart37 on March 15, 2021, at 16:03:54
In reply to Re: Mother - bad bipolar depression, posted by rjlockhart37 on March 13, 2021, at 18:09:22
Bipolar 1 - Lithium
Bipolar 2 - Lamotraginei read that on reddit, trying to fiund which is superior. But if they both are used, lamictal fights bipolar depression.. i don't think the doctor would approve Prozac because it's antidepressant that can cause mania, but i read if it was used with moderate mood stablizers, they have Symbax, which is a mixture of fluoxetine and olazipin. Prozac has been approved (i think) to be used for bioilar deression
Posted by rjlockhart37 on March 15, 2021, at 16:05:04
In reply to Re: Mother - bad bipolar depression, posted by rjlockhart37 on March 15, 2021, at 16:03:54
that's just my 2cents - her doctor will have work with the medications, but those are just suggestions
Posted by rjlockhart37 on March 15, 2021, at 16:10:01
In reply to Re: Mother - bad bipolar depression, posted by rjlockhart37 on March 15, 2021, at 16:03:54
sorry for mispelling typos lol
This is the end of the thread.
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