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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 BP2TreadingWater on March 30, 2005, at 19:45:53
Hey, all!
I am BP II, rapid-cycling, now in my seventh month on Lamictal, 100mg. I'm doing pretty well. Just one problem...I'm getting cheap therapy at a hospital. As you might have guessed, my psych's attitude is 'one pill does it all'...but I don't think so.
Now that my cycling is under control and my depression mostly gone, I notice what people have been telling me for years: I really don't respond to anything with much feeling. I guess I'm detached, maybe I'm short on dopamine receptors in the midbrain, or something like that. I think I also ruminate a lot, seems like obsession, but not about everyday events. My mind reaches for really far-out issues that don't have anything to do with me in the moment. I'm not suicidal or anything. Problem is, this is what my psych also thinks...except that he isn't willing to go beyond Lamictal and do something about it.
Here's my question: is detachment a Mirapex or an Abilify kind of thing? I guess what I'm asking is anyone else experiencing this and how are you dealing with it?
Cheers.
Posted by banga on March 30, 2005, at 22:08:15
In reply to BPII and 'detached' - how do I deal with it?, posted by BP2TreadingWater on March 30, 2005, at 19:45:53
I also ruminate and have symptoms of derealization---a feeling you are not really participating in reality, that you are in fact not part of reality. I so far have not had much luck finding something that helps. I am on Abilify now, close to a month...
Some evidence indicates that a least with depersonalization/derealization, Lamictal can help. 100 mg is not a very high dose. Though what you describe is a bit different--sound more like emotional numbing than reality-distance/distortion?, maybe it's something to consider? One thought that comes to mind is trying a higher dose before adding another med....
Posted by BP2TreadingWater on March 31, 2005, at 13:21:07
In reply to Re: BPII and 'detached' - how do I deal with it?, posted by banga on March 30, 2005, at 22:08:15
> I also ruminate and have symptoms of derealization---a feeling you are not really participating in reality, that you are in fact not part of reality. I so far have not had much luck finding something that helps. I am on Abilify now, close to a month...
>
> Some evidence indicates that a least with depersonalization/derealization, Lamictal can help. 100 mg is not a very high dose. Though what you describe is a bit different--sound more like emotional numbing than reality-distance/distortion?, maybe it's something to consider? One thought that comes to mind is trying a higher dose before adding another med....Banga,
Thank you for your reply. You didn't say exactly how you were feeling on Abilify. Do you get any warmth, any intensity? Do other people notice that you have changed (in a positive way)?
Posted by banga on March 31, 2005, at 15:41:58
In reply to Re: BPII and 'detached' - how do I deal with it? » banga, posted by BP2TreadingWater on March 31, 2005, at 13:21:07
I can't say that Abilify has helped with that problem in a direct way. I still have the sensation of detachment from reality. At the same time, I seem to react more to my environment--how do I explain that? I simply am quicker to answer people's questions (with some humor finally). I am sure I give people more of an impression of being present. Maybe with time it will help. It seems like Adderall is the medication that alleviates the detachment from reality, but not from emotion.
Posted by theo on March 31, 2005, at 16:13:46
In reply to BPII and 'detached' - how do I deal with it?, posted by BP2TreadingWater on March 30, 2005, at 19:45:53
The Lamictal can definitely blunt emotions and creativity.
This is the end of the thread.
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