![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by amber_spirit on January 27, 2003, at 15:31:31
Up till recently I've been DX major depression. Now I'm DX BP1.
Anyway... I'm on depakote and lamictal. Depakote helped but didn't handle the depression. Lamictal alone seemed to make me too anxious. So, I'm on both. It seems that lately I'll feel good for a while (a few days, a day, part of a day) then suddenly I'm anxious, irritable, depressed. One day I'll think this is wonderful then the next I'm so down - for no reason. Sometimes its even one minute to the next. I'll be having an animated conversation and then in a lull I'll think how miserable I am. I don't know if this is depression getting better/worse, mixed state, rapid cycling or what.
It seems with the lamictal that each time we increase the dose it gets better for a while, I plateau (feeling functional and pretty good) then it starts to go downhill again. Medication or cycling?
Anyway, I'd like any input on what "rapid cycling" means to different people
Thanks, Amber
Posted by Peter S. on January 28, 2003, at 17:01:50
In reply to Am I rapid cycling?, posted by amber_spirit on January 27, 2003, at 15:31:31
Hi amber,
That's an excellent question about rapid cycling and one that I've tried to answer for myself. I seem to be contiunally on a psychic rollercoaster. anti-depressants seem to increase the cylcing. I've had good responses for a day or two and then the crash begins lasting 3-4 days and then back up again. I'm currently on Lamictal which worked great for about a month and then faded out. Now it works to bring my energy up in the am but then fades out in the pm.
I think I've always been cyclic but on a weekly/daily basis just like you. Is this Bipolar II or III? I have no idea, but mood stabilizers don't seem to do something (except lamictal which I think has anti-depressant effects by itself.
Anyway it's all a mystery that it seems I will never solve. The diagnosis makes no difference if it doesn't respond to anything.
Best,
Peter
> Up till recently I've been DX major depression. Now I'm DX BP1.
>
> Anyway... I'm on depakote and lamictal. Depakote helped but didn't handle the depression. Lamictal alone seemed to make me too anxious. So, I'm on both. It seems that lately I'll feel good for a while (a few days, a day, part of a day) then suddenly I'm anxious, irritable, depressed. One day I'll think this is wonderful then the next I'm so down - for no reason. Sometimes its even one minute to the next. I'll be having an animated conversation and then in a lull I'll think how miserable I am. I don't know if this is depression getting better/worse, mixed state, rapid cycling or what.
>
> It seems with the lamictal that each time we increase the dose it gets better for a while, I plateau (feeling functional and pretty good) then it starts to go downhill again. Medication or cycling?
>
> Anyway, I'd like any input on what "rapid cycling" means to different people
>
> Thanks, Amber
Posted by judy1 on January 28, 2003, at 17:48:07
In reply to Am I rapid cycling?, posted by amber_spirit on January 27, 2003, at 15:31:31
I also have a diagnosis of bp1 and found I got hypomanic on lamictal- alone or in conjunction with depakote. Can you try tapering off and seeing if your symptoms stop? I can't take any AD so all my depressions are handled with therapy. good luck- judy
Posted by Shawn. T. on January 28, 2003, at 19:20:21
In reply to Am I rapid cycling?, posted by amber_spirit on January 27, 2003, at 15:31:31
You are definitely experiencing rapid cycling. One thing to think about is the fact that depakote increases blood levels of lamictal by a large degree. So when you increase your dosage of lamictal, the amount of the drug in your body will be raised moreso than if you were taking it without depakote. I would assume that your doc knows this, but you might mention it to her/him just to be sure.
Shawn
Posted by amber_spirit on January 29, 2003, at 16:15:57
In reply to Re: Am I rapid cycling?, posted by Shawn. T. on January 28, 2003, at 19:20:21
Thanks all.
The lamictal doesn't necessarily seem to increase the frequency of cycling just the overall mood base level. For example at lower doses I get really down then functioning. At higher doses I get not as low and then feeling pretty good.
I see the doc next week. I also see an endocrinologist about thyroid augmentation which can sometimes help rapid cycling.
I'll let you know if I find anything out...
Thanks again,
AS
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.