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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 2 of 2. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by SheilaC on January 30, 2010, at 17:47:14
I went to a 2nd doc for an opinion a few months ago. She thinks and is treating me for ADD.
I do admit the amphetamines help with focus, but they leave me irritable. I thought irritability was a sign of BP.
In the past Wellbutrin has caused all out BP symptoms.
I am wondering if I shouldn't start back at square one with a mood stabilizer.
I cannot take Lamictil (serious reaction).
But I am wondering if something like Depakote would help with irritability and maybe even give me some focus. I think when I tried it briefly before I had trouble sleeping. Not sure if you can take a sleep med with Depakote.
I am very med sensitive and often have the opposite reactions to meds (like not falling asleep on Depakote).
Vyvanse (for ADD) made me a little manic. Adderall made me extremely irritable.
I do crave focus and motivation, but not at the cost of severe irritability.
Posted by bleauberry on January 30, 2010, at 18:29:13
In reply to Not sure about diagnosis..., posted by SheilaC on January 30, 2010, at 17:47:14
I'm sorry to hear your struggles. We all have a tough time getting where we want to be, so at least you aren't alone in that.
I don't follow the crowd in puttnig much credence on a diagnosis, so I can't be of much help there. If you went to see 5 more doctors, each would have a different take.
In perfectly normal healthy people, Wellbutrin or any of the stimulants can commonly cause the same symptoms you are interpreting as BP...agitation, irritation, instability, and what would appear to be mixed state or BP symptoms. It could mean:
1. Wrong drug, or;
2. Right drug but needs a counterbalance;
3. Wrong dose.I suspect in your case it is probably #2. That doesn't automatically mean a mood stabilizer. It could mean a low dose ssri or low dose antipsychotic, or any number of OTC supplements.
Depakote is usually a rather mind-dumbing drug, so it may not be working in your direction. When I was on it, my thinking got slow, forgetful a lot, and hard to focus. And instead of good sleep, it gave me bad sleep. Instead of anti-anxiety, it made me a little nervous. So it's really hard to predict. We all react so differently.
Serotonin and/or gaba probably need to be strengthened at the same rate you are strengthening NE/DA. Your symptoms indicate that the calming inhibitive guys are being overwhelmed by the stimulant guys.
Savella is an option. It's new in USA, but other countries and newer reports show it being helpful for ADD. I would agree with that on my own experience with it. Not to mention it helped me sleep great and worked on depression after ECT failed.
Ritalin?
I could be wrong, but I'm not quite sold on the BP thing. Anyone could have those reactions to the meds you are taking.
This is the end of the thread.
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