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Re: need help with bipolar diagnosis

Posted by med_empowered on February 8, 2007, at 1:02:39

In reply to need help with bipolar diagnosis, posted by bch on February 7, 2007, at 20:59:02

Its impossible to say "yes, you're bipolar" or "no, you're not bipolar" b/c there isn't a brain scan or blood test someone can give you--the illness really exists as a concept, a group of symptoms clustered together b/c lots of other people have similar clusters, and given a name--bipolar.
So, all you can really do is judge by what works, what doesn't, what makes your life easier and what makes things worse.
I don't know what to tell you about your antidepressant situation. Personally, I'd try another benzo if i were you--if klonopin's too much, maybe xanax (now available in xr and a dissolving wafer form, too) or ativan...even good-old fashioned valium can help people a lot.
Also, back to the topamax--the problem with a lot of doctors is that they confuse "sedated, lethargic, and flat" with "improved". This explains shrinks' ongoing love-affair with zombie-maker pills. Topamax could help, but it can also make people stupid,and there are other things to try--like lamictal, trileptal. Maybe Lyrica? Its related to neurontin and its a GABA drug, so its kind of benzo-ish...that might help you simmer down a little.
The ultimate chill pill of course would be an atypical antipsychotic, like zyprexa. I personally dislike these drugs, but some people like them for as-needed use or for continuous use at very low dosages (ex: most patients with psychosis take at least 5mgs of zyprexa, usually more like 10-20, but some with non-psychotic mood "issues" do well on 2.5mgs/day or less of zyprexa.) There's a combo pill, Symyax, that has zyprexa mixed with prozac. Zyprexa can cause diabetes and weight gain (both of which might be prevented by use of metformin and/or amantidine).

Good luck.


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