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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Spriggy on February 28, 2005, at 12:25:49
Ya know that feeling "good" I was so excited/scared about. By about 3 hours after I posted it, it was totally gone. I was back to depressed and anxious. *sigh*
I have to go back to my regular doctor this week- he's a great doctor but really knows little to nothing about things like this. He's great if you have a sinus infection or broken arm, but once it goes deeper than that, I am convinced I probably know more than he does (not saying that with arrogance but because I have the time to research and read).
Anyway, it is nearly impossible to see a psychiatrist around these parts. Even the pdoc in the hospital told me that. He said, " you may have to wait 3 months" and that's not possible for me at this point.
I think I have self diagnosed myself with Bipolar 2. It was something the pdoc in the hospital mentioned to me but he was in such a hurry to get to the other 13 patients that it was just in passing.
He officially diagnosed me with "akathasia" and sent me home with Klonopin.
So.. the Klonopin is great for the anxiety- I'm sleeping better (He also gave me Restoril).
BUT, I am still having those mood swings from feeling good to feeling bizarre to feeling anxious to feeling utter depression... and then back again.
I don't have dillusions, hallucinations,hear voices.
I don't get "manic" in the term that I feel euphoric for days without sleep, talk real fast, and spend lots of money (however my father fits that one to a tee!).BUT, I tend to be more dysphoric. Agitated, restless internally, racing mind, etc..
My highs aren't very high but my lows seem to be getting lower.
Looking back now, I recognize that about 6 years ago I went through a "depression." It lasted about 4 months where all I wanted to do was sleep, didn't care about eating or anything.I didn't have mood swings but stayed in that general state of feeling depressed.
Could this be my round 2 only 6 years later and more intense???
I'm not sure. All this seems to have been brought on after antidepressents but it's not going away even a month off of them.
SO.... I said ALL that to say, would somethign like Lamictal (my father is on it and does well with it) be a good choice for me?
Would Lamictal also help with my depression and anxiety?
Does it cause weight gain? Yeah.. probably not a good time to be vein but I worked hard for 2 years to drop about 20 pounds and don't want to put that back on again.
Scott- if you have any insight especially, I'd appreciate it. You inspire me with your knowledge (well, you all do!).
Thanks a bunch.
Posted by med_empowered on February 28, 2005, at 12:32:22
In reply to Maybe Lamictal for me??, posted by Spriggy on February 28, 2005, at 12:25:49
hey! I'd go try Lamictal, especially since: 1) you have problems with akathisia from the new antipsychotics and 2) you have major problems with depression, less of a problem with mania/hypomania. Lamictal is THE mood-stabilizer for the chronically depressed, or at least at lot of shrinks seem to think so. Some patients with a history of outright MANIA (note the caps) are advised to either take another mood-stabilizer or do a mix of Lamictal and something more traditional, like Depakote, but this doesn't seem like it would be a problem for you. There is the rash problem, and I think some people report nausea but..as long as you're being monitored reasonably closely, a trial of Lamictal is probably a good idea.
Posted by MoparFan91 on February 28, 2005, at 13:39:43
In reply to Maybe Lamictal for me??, posted by Spriggy on February 28, 2005, at 12:25:49
I'm Bipolar II myself as well, and I've been taking Lamictal for about six weeks. I'm currently at 150mg. I'm going into my seventh of Lamictal tomorrow and will be upping it to 200mg. So far, I'm tolerating it really well and have absolutely no side effects. I seem to be getting some lift from it now. At 100mg, I started to notice a little benefit in helping with the depression. I can't wait to see what 200mg will bring. ;-)
I also take 40mg of Geodon along with it, and I heard that they mix really well.
> Ya know that feeling "good" I was so excited/scared about. By about 3 hours after I posted it, it was totally gone. I was back to depressed and anxious. *sigh*
>
> I have to go back to my regular doctor this week- he's a great doctor but really knows little to nothing about things like this. He's great if you have a sinus infection or broken arm, but once it goes deeper than that, I am convinced I probably know more than he does (not saying that with arrogance but because I have the time to research and read).
>
> Anyway, it is nearly impossible to see a psychiatrist around these parts. Even the pdoc in the hospital told me that. He said, " you may have to wait 3 months" and that's not possible for me at this point.
>
> I think I have self diagnosed myself with Bipolar 2. It was something the pdoc in the hospital mentioned to me but he was in such a hurry to get to the other 13 patients that it was just in passing.
>
> He officially diagnosed me with "akathasia" and sent me home with Klonopin.
>
> So.. the Klonopin is great for the anxiety- I'm sleeping better (He also gave me Restoril).
>
> BUT, I am still having those mood swings from feeling good to feeling bizarre to feeling anxious to feeling utter depression... and then back again.
>
> I don't have dillusions, hallucinations,hear voices.
>
> I don't get "manic" in the term that I feel euphoric for days without sleep, talk real fast, and spend lots of money (however my father fits that one to a tee!).
>
> BUT, I tend to be more dysphoric. Agitated, restless internally, racing mind, etc..
>
> My highs aren't very high but my lows seem to be getting lower.
>
>
> Looking back now, I recognize that about 6 years ago I went through a "depression." It lasted about 4 months where all I wanted to do was sleep, didn't care about eating or anything.
>
> I didn't have mood swings but stayed in that general state of feeling depressed.
>
> Could this be my round 2 only 6 years later and more intense???
>
> I'm not sure. All this seems to have been brought on after antidepressents but it's not going away even a month off of them.
>
> SO.... I said ALL that to say, would somethign like Lamictal (my father is on it and does well with it) be a good choice for me?
>
> Would Lamictal also help with my depression and anxiety?
>
> Does it cause weight gain? Yeah.. probably not a good time to be vein but I worked hard for 2 years to drop about 20 pounds and don't want to put that back on again.
>
> Scott- if you have any insight especially, I'd appreciate it. You inspire me with your knowledge (well, you all do!).
>
> Thanks a bunch.
Posted by Spriggy on February 28, 2005, at 16:06:38
In reply to Re: Maybe Lamictal for me?? » Spriggy, posted by MoparFan91 on February 28, 2005, at 13:39:43
Okay, well Lamictal I will ask for then. It's settled.
Does anyone know if it's supposed to be weight neutral?
I've lost about 12 pounds throughout this ordeal so adding those pounds back would be just fine with me, but anything about that would not be acceptable.. Of course, I suppose if I was really happy I wouldn't give a flip about an extra 10 pounds perhaps.
Does anyone know the starting dosage of Lamictal? I'll likely have to tell my dr. what to prescribe and how to prescribe so it will be good if I know what I'm talking about. ROFL
My doctor is nice but I could go in there and ask for 1,000 vicodin's and he'd give it to me.
Kind of scarey thought.
Posted by Minnie-Haha on February 28, 2005, at 16:21:11
In reply to Re: Maybe Lamictal for me??, posted by Spriggy on February 28, 2005, at 16:06:38
Yes weight neutral. Have your doctor start you at a VERY low dose and go up VERY slowly, to avoid the rash, which is rare, but deadly. I used it for a couple months and it was doing good until I got a rash and my pdoc made me quit. At higher doses, MAY increase anxiety? (Read older threads.)
Posted by soc teach on February 28, 2005, at 16:40:50
In reply to Re: Maybe Lamictal for me??, posted by Minnie-Haha on February 28, 2005, at 16:21:11
Try to find a trial pak of Lamictal - or ask for 50 mg to start and split at the beginning. Go very slowly and you probably won't have a problem w/rash. They suggest 25mg every other day for a week, then every day, then up to 50mg etc.
You may find you have to go higher than 200mg. (I take 400 mg split 200/200.) Most recent consensus is leaning toward rewriting dose - 200 mg treatment for seizures-400mg and up for bipolar. My pdoc has some people on up to 800mg w/no side effects-(not that it's advised-but you do what you have to do). I think it's a wonder drug.
After 10 mo. the only discernible side effect I have is trouble sleeping, which is easily remedied. ***No weight gain> Yes weight neutral. Have your doctor start you at a VERY low dose and go up VERY slowly, to avoid the rash, which is rare, but deadly. I used it for a couple months and it was doing good until I got a rash and my pdoc made me quit. At higher doses, MAY increase anxiety? (Read older threads.)
>
Posted by Minnie-Haha on February 28, 2005, at 16:52:47
In reply to Re: Maybe Lamictal for me??, posted by Minnie-Haha on February 28, 2005, at 16:21:11
Spriggy,
My notebook computer's battery was about to go dead, so I rushed through that last post. Now I'm plugged-in and ready to go!
I am BP2 and OCD, and I took Lamictal for 6-8 weeks with good results before I developed a rash and my pdoc made me quit. (I am convinced it was a rash from a new sunscreen and/or from the sun itself -- I have sensitive skin and we were in Hawaii on vacation at the time.)
Anyway, I started up VERY slow and it took a couple of weeks to start feeling some results. The side effect I remember most during that period was a little tingly feeling in my lips and on my cheeks. I was starting to get a good anti-depressant effect on the med when I had to quit. The only thing I remember that I was starting to worry about (I had not reached a full therapeutic dose yet) is that I did feel maybe just a little wound-up or edgy.
It might be worth a try for you. Otherwise, if you are indeed BP2, you might try Trileptal and an AD. (I gained 30 pounds on Depakote, but Trileptal has been pretty weight neutral for me... though it does little for my depression as monotherapy.)
MinniePS: Because I have such sensitive skin, I started Lamictal VERY slowly... like 12.5mg every OTHER day. At the end of 6-8 weeks, I was only up to 75mg/day or 100mg/day (I don't have my notes in front of me), so you can see how slowly I was going. The rashes -- Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and TENS -- are deadly. (About 10% of Lamictal users get rashes, though what percentage of those are deadly I do not know.) So take that seriously. Have a plan in place with your doctor what you'll do if you develop a rash. See a doctor or dermatologist within 24 hours? Stop the Lamictal immediately? (My pdoc wanted me to stop immediately, but since my rash was not above the neck -- which is more worrisome -- I talked her into a 1-week taper, which was still pretty rough!)
Posted by Phillipa on February 28, 2005, at 17:37:00
In reply to Re: Maybe Lamictal for me??, posted by Minnie-Haha on February 28, 2005, at 16:52:47
Spriggy, I'm so sorry the good feelings didn't last. You deserve to feel better. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Lazarus on February 28, 2005, at 19:42:18
In reply to Maybe Lamictal for me??, posted by Spriggy on February 28, 2005, at 12:25:49
Warning! Seven to ten days after beginning Lamictal therapy I experienced horrible dizziness. It was so bad that I had to go to the hospital. The doctor assessed that it was the Lamictal that I was taking. Three days after discontinuing Lamictal my dizziness left. So please be forewarned.
Lazarus
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