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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by bert99 on August 12, 2004, at 16:51:17
Hi all,
this is my first post ..
a bit of background - first put on meds at 19, on/off antidepressants (almost EVERYTHING out there believe it or not) until 26 where after two self-admitted hospitalizations and a suicide attempt (it didn't work) I was then dx with bipolar II.
Was put on a pile of meds including lamictal, then went off all.
Lived in denial of my condition for four years. I blamed it on everything else ... chronic fatigue, thyroid, etc.
On/off ad's during that time.
Had a baby in 2002, surprise gift, saved my life honestly. In hindsight quite depressed during my pregnancy but not on meds. Went on AD's again at about 3 months pp. 4 mo pp dx with hyperthyroid (i'm now hypo). On and off AD's again, they'd stop working, not work, etc.
Second pregnancy in 2003, put on prozac in Sept 2003 (first trimester ) augmented with trazodone at bedtime. Trazodone was a wonder drug for me as it helped me sleep. Would have my tired days but otherwise it worked great and I remarked quite often I hadn't felt that good since I was 19. Then around 30 wks (Jan 04) it started not to work anymore. Then meds were upped to 40 mg prozac and 75 mg trazodone. Didn't work for long.
April 04, had baby (wonderful home birth). Wonderful postpartum, everything went well.. Four days I felt awesome, then BAM, back into the exhaustion again.
June 2004 - I started reading this board, looked up BPII, and finally admitted to myself that that was what was wrong with me.
Went back to my doctor and he said he was glad I finally admitted to it (he's a really great guy).
He switched me to effexor 75 and tegretol 100, then 200, then 400 within a few days. Still on trazodone at night 75 mg.
I should also add I started weight watchers a few weeks before that and was doing quite well despite my depression.
Within days I started sweating profusely (my head was always hot!!) and craving sweets and carbs. Also getting nervous a lot - anxiety in public, feeling people were staring at me. I also didn't feel pretty anymore (???) even though I was losing weight. ARGH!
Dr also sent me to "postpartum depression experts" at hospital (Dr. Shaila Misri, not sure if anybody heard of her, she wrote a book) and the shrink said she would recommend wellbutrin, and if that didn't work, then not on AD's and just on Seroquel and tegretol.
Saw my dr after that consult and we both agreed seroquel wouldn't be a good idea as I am too heavy right now and don't need ANOTHER med making me gain weight. Wellbutrin, isn't it a no-no for those who have anger problems when depressed?
Anyways switched back to prozac 40 mg, became tired/depressed again after less than a week, couldn't handle it, went back on effexor, this time to 150 mg. After a few days felt awesome again.
I wake up in the morning, have energy, I rarely take naps, and I can function, can think, can manage the household, enjoy being with my kids, and don't get ticked off with my husband.
Off meds, I am easily agitated, very, very physically exhausted, I just want to sleep, have no motivation, get easily annoyed with people. I cannot think very well, have a hard time remembering and also have a hard time doing simple tasks like making dinner (I can't keep track of everything I have to do).
So here I am now, almost 3 months on effexor/tegretol/trazodone. The effexor is wreaking havoc on me. I love it so much, but I NEED to lose weight, I am still on weight watchers, and the sweating is CONSTANT. Plus the nervousness I experience in public makes me quite uncomfortable.
Any suggestions?
Thanks so much, and sorry for the long rant.
Posted by HappyGirl on August 12, 2004, at 20:44:51
In reply to Med options for BPII after prozac, effexor (long!), posted by bert99 on August 12, 2004, at 16:51:17
Hi:
Frankly, ... your question on med. combo. is NOT easy, as reading your past experience on different medications. However, I try to answer to your question at the best I can.First, you're saying, 'sweat profusely,' ... I wonder why you're sweating? Trazodone I've been on along with other med. makes me 'NOT' get perspirating, ... actually 'cooling' effect on me. Here where I live is quite hot, then it's very beneficial of taking Trazodone, btw.
Another med., Tegretol is, in my knowledge, a weight neutral, non-weight problem. Effexor seems not giving any weight on majority from the reading here, psycho-babble. However, there is always an exception, ... then never know what effect you would get, since everyone reacts differently on different medications.Your 'GREAT' concern over 'weight' is very understandable as seeing you have 'two' little ones to take care of. Some saying, Topamax is a good med. for losing a weight, but I have no idea whether Topamax goes well with 'Tegretol.' Further, Topamax has other annoying side-effect, 'cognitive problem,' such as word and some degree of memory problem and the like.
First, you may need to ask your pdoc. why 'perspiration problem' has started after taking this med. combo. Along the way, your pdoc. is able to see whether you have some problem on any of meds. you're on. Afterwards, your pdoc. may rx. more appropriate med. combo. for both your Bp and weight-watcher.
Lastly, your Bp sounds like a milder form of Bp II. However, a med. search is a MOST tough part to deal with. In my personal experience, it took a lot of 'time/wasting time' to look for a good pdoc. who is able to rx a right med. combo. But, at the end, it's well worth. At least, there are many meds. for us to choose from.
H.G.
Posted by tabitha on August 13, 2004, at 0:03:04
In reply to Med options for BPII after prozac, effexor (long!), posted by bert99 on August 12, 2004, at 16:51:17
Hi Bert, I feel for you. It's tough accepting the unacceptable, and starting the med combo merry-go-round. The upside is you're having energy and functioning better. As for the side effects, well keep working with your doctor on that. Some docs are really good at balancing dosages, and adding one thing to offset the side effects of another. It takes a long time and a lot of trial-and-error to get symptom relief *plus* tolerable side effects. The maddening thing is people are all different even with the same Dx, and a miracle med for one might be useless for another. Be persistent.
It can also help to keep some written records of what you're taking and how you're doing. In case you want to go off the meds again, you can have an objective record to look back and remind yourself that you really did feel better on them. It's also useful if you change docs to have a record of what you've tried.
This is the end of the thread.
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