Posted by Ritch on January 16, 2005, at 16:23:34
In reply to kindling and recent rapid cycling, posted by CareBear04 on January 16, 2005, at 15:01:23
> hi-- can anyone explain the theory of kindling and how/whether it relates to faster and faster cycling in bipolar?
>
> i have never been a rapid cycler. a few years ago when i first became symptomatic, i would have weeks or months of hypomania and depression that would eventually resolve back to normal. when i first started lithium, it kept me from any cycling, and my dr said i was ideal for lithium because of mania before depression, few cycles a year; more "classic" bipolar. i hated lithium even though it worked, so i took myself off and then went back on handfuls of times. then this fall, i got really toxic off lithium a few times, restarting in between because i needed the drug. since november, i've been off completely and on some lamictal. all of a sudden, i go rapidly from depression to hypomania, each lasting no more than a few days, sometimes just short spurts of hyper energy. what explains the rapid cycling now? is it from going on and off lithium so many times? i could say it's the lamictal being ineffective, but before i started mood stabilizers at all, i didn't rapid cycle.
>
> please let me know what you think! thanks much.Hi, I doubt if I could explain the kindling thing very well - I've read a good explanation in the past but can't remember it too well. It is supposed to relate to the mechanisms that are in play that can trigger seizure activity. The amygdala is supposed to be involed somewhere in there. Are you taking anything with the Lamictal that might be kicking the cycling up? It might be possible that the Lamictal is a bad fit for you. My cycling has always been about 2-3 weeks in phase for many many years. I only notice worsening when I'm taking too high of a dose of an antidepressant.. I back off the AD the cycling settles down. As far as the on and off lithium thing goes.. it was my understanding that the lithium could become ineffective by stopping and starting, not that it would provoke rapid cycling. I went off lithium for about 2 years after being on it for about 10 years and then restarted in the middle of a really bad depression and it worked quite well. I hope you get some more responses to your questions, I'm curious now.
poster:Ritch
thread:442817
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050113/msgs/442865.html