Posted by inanimate peanut on February 3, 2010, at 21:59:46
In reply to Re: Will Lithium augment or weaken Parnate? » inanimate peanut, posted by Girlnterrupted78 on February 3, 2010, at 16:59:32
I'm glad you found some of the info helpful. My diagnosis is bipolar I, Mixed type, but the mixed states are fairly well controlled by Geodon, so really I'm just left with a very treatment resistant bipolar depression.
I'd ask your doc about increasing the Parnate-- that's the first thing I would try. I don't know whether your shortness of breath is associated with the Parnate or not, but I would definitely keep an eye on it and stop if it gets worse. Your doc may not want to go any higher on the Parnate, as 80mg is a high dose according to the PDR, but it's worth a try to ask. I don't know enough about Adderall to know how high 20mg is, but that might be worth boosting too.
As for combos, I just got back from Stanford who gave me my final 5 or so combos. My best combo was Lithium+Wellbutrin+Lamictal but I don't have any really good combos at the moment. I'm currently on Parnate+Lamictal+Geodon+Mirapex, but I'm still pretty depressed. I definitely encourage you to try Lithium. It was the first thing that got me partially stable and I haven't been stable since going off of it. It should make things better not worse, but of course everyone's brain is different. Lithium actually provides neuroprotection for your brain and helps keep the damage in your brain from getting worse. I would give anything if Lithium still worked for me.
Anyway, do post your prior and current meds and see if anyone has any suggestions. I would say definitely try the Lithium and then if that makes you feel bad try increasing the Parnate and the Adderall. I really hope some of that helps and you start feeling better.
poster:inanimate peanut
thread:935824
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20100122/msgs/935907.html