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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by btrout on July 18, 2002, at 23:59:00
Hi,
I am diagnosed with unipolar depression, and chronic fatigue syndrome. I have had the following reactions to medications:
Zyprexa: made me sick as a dog while I was on it and then euphoric for about three days afterward.
Reboxetine makes me really tired and fairly sick a t a dose higher than 1mg twice daily. Dosing once daily, at night gives me extra energy as the dose wears off by the next morning.
Celexa 40mg: made me sick as a dog. Lowering the dose by ten mg made me feel sick for 2 days and then wonderful for 3-4. Each successeve drop in dose produced a euphoria in proportion to how sick the former dose was making me feel, if that makes sense.
So... I seem to feel good only when medications are wearing off. I'm thinking of trying lamictal.As for the correctness of my diagnosis, here are my symptoms:
feel the worst in the morning
excessive appetite
insomnia
anhedonia
irritability
periodic disproportionate feelings of hate and anger
numbness
poor concentration
poor memory
fatigue
tendency towards anxiety
general unhappinessWhat do you think?
Thanks,
btrout
Posted by wcfrench on July 19, 2002, at 16:39:40
In reply to Do I need a mood stabilizer?, posted by btrout on July 18, 2002, at 23:59:00
I think you would benefit from the right anti-depressant and a sleep aid.. maybe you should try Prozac or Zoloft, and some ambien.
Just my thoughts,Charlie
Posted by rainbowlight on July 19, 2002, at 19:21:57
In reply to Do I need a mood stabilizer?, posted by btrout on July 18, 2002, at 23:59:00
From some of the symtoms you mentioned it sounds like you could be bipolar. Have you been ruled out as not having bipolar? Trying a mood stabilizer couldn't hurt. I take Lamictal and have had great results with it. Just make sure to be on the alert for the serious rash it could give you.
Posted by hildi on July 20, 2002, at 14:36:15
In reply to Do I need a mood stabilizer?, posted by btrout on July 18, 2002, at 23:59:00
I completely understand- I'm feeling the same way myself as far as symptom-wise and feeling better as the meds wear off-
The more euphoria, or better I feel on the med (at some point at the beginning) goes to feeling just the opposite right afterwards. I go from feeling like I'm feeling good again, or better
than ever, to feeling like hell.
I just couldn't find a way to explain this to anyone-
I hope we find some answers, soon!
Hildi
Posted by hildi on July 20, 2002, at 14:39:31
In reply to Re: Do I need a mood stabilizer?, posted by rainbowlight on July 19, 2002, at 19:21:57
Does this work? Or is a mood stabilizer always augumented with an a/d?
Hildi
Posted by cybercafe on July 21, 2002, at 1:47:05
In reply to How about a mood stabilizer alone??, posted by hildi on July 20, 2002, at 14:39:31
> Does this work? Or is a mood stabilizer always augumented with an a/d?
depends if you are type I or type II etc ...
for depression lithium or lamotrigine are believed to work best...
Posted by McPac on July 22, 2002, at 16:51:42
In reply to Re: Do I need a mood stabilizer?, posted by rainbowlight on July 19, 2002, at 19:21:57
Rainbowlight
You said, "I take Lamictal and have had great results with it. Just make sure to be on the alert for the serious rash it could give you."
>>>>>>>>>>>I just started Lamictal today. What can you tell me about it? Any "tips"? Also, if I develop only a slight rash, do I still HAVE to stop the med. or is it more of a SEVERE rash that doesn't go away? Thanks!
Posted by McPac on July 22, 2002, at 16:54:11
In reply to Re: How about a mood stabilizer alone??, posted by cybercafe on July 21, 2002, at 1:47:05
Cybercafe, you said, "for depression lithium or lamotrigine are believed to work best... "
>>>>>>>Any idea which one is generally regarded as having the superior anti-dep. potency?
Posted by cybercafe on July 22, 2002, at 21:23:01
In reply to Re: How about a mood stabilizer alone??, posted by McPac on July 22, 2002, at 16:54:11
> Cybercafe, you said, "for depression lithium or lamotrigine are believed to work best... "
>
> >>>>>>>Any idea which one is generally regarded as having the superior anti-dep. potency?actually no, i don't have a clue... i imagine they probably both can lead to 100% remission ...
lithium is the best studied... lamotrigine has the better side effect profile...
if i were the doc, i'd probably put you on lithium, and see how bad your side effects were
if i were the patient, i'd probably go for lamotrigine :)
Posted by Hattree on July 22, 2002, at 22:58:43
In reply to Re: How about a mood stabilizer alone??, posted by cybercafe on July 22, 2002, at 21:23:01
Dropped my Zoloft after a short time on Lamictal...haven't looked back.
Posted by hildi on July 23, 2002, at 20:56:28
In reply to Re: How about a mood stabilizer alone??, posted by Hattree on July 22, 2002, at 22:58:43
> Dropped my Zoloft after a short time on Lamictal...haven't looked back.
Hi. That sounds encouraging! I would love to drop my zoloft. If I can find something I can tolerate, and it works, I will. For you, the lamictal has good a/d qualities?! How about for anxiety, do you know? I have major anxiety d/o-cannot take benzos and buspar didn't work for me.
Oh yeah- how about price- is it expensive? I was going to give trileptal a try, but at its price, and without insurance as I am, cannot afford it.
Hildi
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