Posted by JohnX2 on May 14, 2002, at 18:31:22
In reply to New Questions=New Diagnosis In Progress=Thanks, posted by Leighwit on May 14, 2002, at 10:49:55
> Someone here wrote recently about irritable and dysphoric moods as part of the bi-polar spectrum even without any episodes of mania whatsoever. They also linked a site titled "Dr. Ivan's Depression Central" and I cannot find the post using the site search engine. (I must be doing something wrong).
>
> In any case, if you're recognizing this as the author I'm referring to, please respond, so I can thank you again.
>
> I saw my Pdoc yesterday, and she agreed that I should try Lamictal, and that it's possible I am not unipolar. !!! She didn't actually give me a new diagnosis yet, but talked about why I might meet the criteria for a cyclothymic (I'm not sure that was the word she used -- sounded like it) type. She also said that since nothing across the board had worked in terms of AD meds, perhaps a mood-stabilizer had been needed all along.
>
> I guess she's waiting to see if the Lamictal works, and if it does then she'd "backwards-engineer" the diagnosis. At this point, given the dismal performance of everything else that's been tried, it sounds like that's as good a diagnostic tool as anything else (process of drug elimination?)
>
> I'll start tomorrow. I can't believe the many ADs I've taken for over a decade might have been excaserbating my condition instead of treating it. On the other hand, I'll be greatful if this works.
>
> Speaking of gratitude, thanks to everyone who responded to my posts about Wellbutrin and irritability and questions about the Bi-Polar Spectrum. I had no idea that someone without any mania should think/look outside of the box in terms of their unipolar depression diagnosis. I had been using a number of erroneous assumptions in deciding to just "grin and bear it" year in, and year out.
>
> Lamictal might not be the answer. But at least I'm asking new questions and have been told by a Pdoc that they are valid questions. If it weren't for this site, I wouldn't be asking any of them.
>
> Thanks again,
> LaurieLamictal has one of the more notable antidepressant effects
of the mood stabilizer and is generally good for cycling.
Dosing into the medicine is a little time consuming to
avoid the itchy skin or rash, but a lot of people report
few side effects once they are on a maintanance dose of
the medicine. Of all the medicines I've taken (which is
like almost all of them), Lamictal has had the fewest
side effects. After taken a zillion ADs, lamictal was the
first medicine to help with my depression and not poop-out
and stabilize me. A lot of people also take AD's with Lamictal.
Your results may vary as always.Depakote is good for cycling too but generally has less/or no
antidepressant effect (more of an antimanic agent).
There usually are adjunctive medicines with Depakote.
Depakote may be better in some situations if you feel irritable.Lamictal is more likely to be mildly stimulating than
Depakote.Good Luck,
John
poster:JohnX2
thread:106330
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020510/msgs/106396.html