Posted by maxime on June 9, 2003, at 17:46:51
In reply to Which meds for mania and depression ?, posted by AWorriedMom on June 9, 2003, at 14:04:04
Hello - First off, your daughter is very lucky to have a mom who cares so much about her mental health.
I don't think your daughter is taking her meds. Her blood levels are low considering the high amount of meds she is suppose to be taking.
First off, the lithium level is on the low side. I think .8 is what is usually aimed for but if someone wants to correct me on this I am ready to listen. Also, I thought the therapeutic level for Depakote was suppose to be between 70 to 150.And if your daughter is taking her meds, the levels are still low so maybe she needs a higher dosage of both.
One thing you can do before the appointment is gain knowledge on the meds that are out there as a mood stabiliser (if you haven't already).
I suffer the same sort of mania as your daughter. Tegretol is suppose to be good for the "rage". I had side effects from the med and had to stop taking it, but I know that so many people have success with it. Also, Trileptal, which is related to Tegretol is suppose to be good for the irritability and rage. But my guess is that the doctor will want to start your daughter on Lamictal because it's mood stabiliser AND has anti-depressant properties.
Another thing you need to take into account is the Lexapro or any other anti-depressant she might be prescribed. SSRIs often make people with bipolar disorder slip into manic mode.
I hope I have helped somewhat. I am sure others will have suggestions as well.
Good luck.
Maxime
> I am interested in what others have said about the manic side of BP. My 16 yr. old daughter has experience both the 'high'manias and the more irritable mania. Her manias were more often rage, anger, irritability and racing thoughts sometimes along with risky and dangerous behaviors.
>
> In fact, it has been hard to tell the difference between normal, healthy energy and beginning of mania. Often she is depressed, and then I think that thankfully she is getting better and functioning better, then the manic symptoms start.
>
> She is seeing new pdoc. First change was to gradually stop the zyprexa and replace with seroquel. Also to add 10mg lexapro due to the immediate problem of her depression. Next the doc will look at mood stabilizer change or adjustment. She presently takes 1200 mg lithobid (blood level of .5) and 2000 mg depakote (level was 30)
>
> Obviously to me this mood stabilizer regimine doesn't seem to be working. It is like she is on some sort of ledge and that at any moment she could go either way to mania or depression.
>
> Are there some intelligent questions I can pose to pdoc at Thursday's appt? BTW, one of her worst manic periods happened when she was on topomax.
poster:maxime
thread:232648
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030609/msgs/232704.html