Posted by Lorelai on September 16, 2002, at 9:16:50
In reply to Re: Need advice: meds for bipolar rapid cycling » lorelai, posted by judy1 on September 15, 2002, at 19:03:47
> Sorry, Lorelai, unfortunately depakote is the most effective anti-manic agent for rapid cyclers, also zyprexa (but that packs on the pounds). The first thing I noticed was the ADs you were on- they are definitely contraindicated in BP 1. So, hopefully, since you stopped them the cycling will slow. Klonopin is probably better than ativan for you- it's also a benzo but is often used as an adjunct mood stabilizer in bipolar disorder. neurontin is useless, lamictal is good for depression but not mania, and like the other poster said topomax has cognitive side effects. how trusting are you with your pdoc? I ask, because after 2 years with mine, I've been able to take depakote on a prn basis- when he starts seeing a manic swing he insists i take it. at first i blew him off, but i would have the psychotic episodes that landed me in the hospital and all the financial difficulties you mentioned. now i work with a therapist and shrink and we monitor (even my husband and son!) my moods so we're able to catch an episode early. i need to stress this will only work if you have an excellent partnership with your shrink, and really understand the danger a manic episode presents. so for now, i just take klonopin (i have panic and ptsd) and see my shrink and therapist once a week. best of luck- judy
**Judy, Thanks! I did have one shrink, back in the Chicago area, who allowed me to take Depakote only when I felt my mood going up. I didn't know him very well (I saw him only for med checks and had a therapist I saw on a weekly basis). The problem was (at that time) I enjoyed my manic episodes so much I wasn't honest with them or myself when I felt one coming on. Now, though, the mania often turns--dysphoric, I guess is the term. And the episodes seem worse as I grow older (this has caused me no end of personal problems--I'm 43, have two kids, and have been married and divorced 3 times and my last two longterm relationships have been rollercoaster rides: my last boyfriend told my current boyfriend, "Brace yourself!!!" Then went on to warn him about my manias and depressions). I'm a writer and SO prolific/creative during mania that it's tough to give that up. But I've got my kids to consider and though in the past I seemed to have more of a handle on things, I don't seem to have that control anymore. I'm currently working with a pdoc I'd avoided in the past because I thought she'd be too tough on me. Turns out she's really great and I trust her and feel comfortable with her. I don't know if Depakote would work for me again since I haven't taken it in nearly a year. When it worked, it worked well. Then it just seemed to peter out and around that time I went into a deep depression. Well, sorry to go on and on. I appreciate the input more than you know. And it's nice to know I'm not alone.
~Lorelai**
poster:Lorelai
thread:119887
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020914/msgs/119999.html