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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Anna Laura on July 1, 2002, at 1:41:33
I just need some personal experience/feedback on the bipolar II issue.
I've been suffering from psychotic depression residual symptoms (no more major anxiety and delusions, mainly anhedonia) since 1995.
I've been diagnosed with bipolar II this Spring. Went to a Neuroscience Research University Clinic to get a second opionion and my dx has been confirmed.
Couldn't get to try mood stabilizers as my current pdoc doesn't believe i need them; i called the Neuroscience Clinic last week and they told me i should be on a mood stabilizer (they suggested Tegretol); I'm currently on Wellbutrin (450 mg. Wellbutrin, 150 mg. Effexor); I'm slowly dropping Effexor (i was on 300 mg.) as it didn't have any effect in the long run other then fatigue and weight gain;
Wellbutrin worked at first, then pooped out quickly; it worked again as i raised the dose and pooped out again; sexual life is somewhat improved even though it's been deteriorating throughout the years (strangely it was better when i was psychotic!).
I was skeptical about my last dx, so i've been researching myself for bipolar II .
I have to admit do have many symptoms such as premorbid lifelong hyperthymic condition with hypomanic swings, a history of agitated major depression with psychotic features, ADs poop out, plus current letargy, hypersomnia and apathy.
I did experience some mood swings during my 12 years long depression but i never went hypomanic again; I'm undecided between dopaminergic agents and mood stabilizers; I've read a bunch of discouraging negative stories on Tegretol and Depakote; i was thinking about trying Neurontin but i don't have any anxiety and i 'm afraid i'll end up feeling sedated (that's what my current pdoc told me by the way); Lamictal may be ? I was thinking about Mirapex also; i'm torn between the two; i'm really discouraged, need some advice/personal experience please.
I feel that i can't bear this damned anhedonia much longer.Thanks for listening and forgive me for my poor english
PREVIOUS MEDS:
Tofranil: took it two times: first time (1993, psychotic depression) : made more delusional at first; became very aggressive on it; anger eventually subsided, anxiety faded away and dysphoria took its place.
Second time: 2000 (double depression): worked at first, then pooped out and i got cognitively impaired and apathetic on it.Notice: During the last Bipolar Disorder Conference Dr. Koukopulos stated that AD monotherapy might induce treatment resistant chronic dysphoria (!!) in agitated depressed with a premorbid hyperthymic temperament.
Zoloft (Took it for CFS back in 1998), helped somewhat for extreme fatigue and severe hypotension, but did nothing for anhedonia.
Prozac: worked for three days after a 8 weeks trial, then pooped out.
Levosulpiride (atypical AP): made my anhedonia worse, disrupted my cycle, i became severely depressed on it: terrible, i hated it.
Amytryptiline: did nothing;
Effexor: didn't do much; just a bit more motivation and self-confidence; i became aggressive on it for a few months, got involved in fights.
Posted by rainbowlight on July 1, 2002, at 2:38:34
In reply to Bipolar II dilemma, posted by Anna Laura on July 1, 2002, at 1:41:33
I am Bipolar II also. I have symptoms very similiar to yours when unmedicated. I take Lamictal for mood stabilization, Remeron for depression, Risperdal for anxiety and Zoloft for anxiety. You might want to give Lamictal a try for a mood stabilizer. It is one of the only meds I don't get any side effects from (which is rare for me). Good luck!
Posted by judy1 on July 2, 2002, at 2:12:32
In reply to Bipolar II dilemma, posted by Anna Laura on July 1, 2002, at 1:41:33
I agree that lamictal is an excellent mood stabilizer, particularly with people dxed bp2, since depression is the main problem. It is an excellent AD and you may find that's all you'll have to take- now wouldn't that be nice. I bet once you taper off all those AD's you'll feel a lot more stable. Best of luck- judy
Posted by Mr. Scott on July 3, 2002, at 0:38:44
In reply to Bipolar II dilemma, posted by Anna Laura on July 1, 2002, at 1:41:33
We have very similar patterns of med response have you tried lithium or lamictal or a combination of the two?
Posted by Zo on July 5, 2002, at 16:43:59
In reply to Bipolar II dilemma, posted by Anna Laura on July 1, 2002, at 1:41:33
Ha! I was right! Intuition carries the day again!Okay, got that out of my system.
Neurontin: pretty useless for BP.
Good: Lamictal, lithium, Zyprexa. Of the three, I find Lamictal pretty easy to live with. ..
Good to see you again,
Zo
Posted by Anna Laura on July 6, 2002, at 0:46:47
In reply to Re: Bipolar II dilemma » Anna Laura, posted by Zo on July 5, 2002, at 16:43:59
>
> Ha! I was right! Intuition carries the day again!
>
> Okay, got that out of my system.
>
> Neurontin: pretty useless for BP.
>
> Good: Lamictal, lithium, Zyprexa. Of the three, I find Lamictal pretty easy to live with. ..
>
> Good to see you again,
> Zo
Hi Zo
I 'm tapering off Effexor : went from 300 mg. down to 112 mg. ; feeling o.k. so far; felt spaced out and dizzy the first days, feeling less numbed now.
i'm being very cautious though, gonna decrease it very slowly (too many effexor withdrawal horror stories i guess). Don't know what to do with Wellbutrin yet.
I have got another appointment fixed for July 25Th at the Neuroscience Research Clinic down south; they're gonna give me Tegretol at first i'm afraid: i think it's a routine testing; they give you the older drugs at first. I will have to wait a little bit longer for Lamictal.
Well , i'll let everyone how it went anyway;
Thanks for answering guys;
Scott, how're doing with lithium?
Posted by cybercafe on July 7, 2002, at 4:09:13
In reply to Re: Bipolar II dilemma » Anna Laura, posted by Zo on July 5, 2002, at 16:43:59
> Neurontin: pretty useless for BP.
>
> Good: Lamictal, lithium, Zyprexa. Of the three, I find Lamictal pretty easy to live with. ..
Hello.... I was wondering what doses of lamictal, zyprexa and gabapentin you tried.... also did you take each of them alone or with other mood stabilising agents?cheers :)
Posted by katekite on July 7, 2002, at 9:16:46
In reply to Re: Bipolar II dilemma;to everybody, posted by Anna Laura on July 6, 2002, at 0:46:47
Trileptal is the new version of tegretol that does not have as many side effects and generally doesn't require the checks on liver function etc that tegretol does. Many docs have switched all their tegretol patients to trileptal.
If they do suggest tegretol, consider only accepting trileptal -- its safer.
kate
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