Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 491064

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which to use - anticonvulsant or lithium?

Posted by tendency on April 28, 2005, at 16:48:52

ive been diagnosed with bpII (unfortunately, the mania, as ive gotten older, has given way to mainly depression - sigh, but I digress) with rapid cycling. im wondering if i should stick to anti-convulsants for this condition or if some form of lithium would be better?
tried lamictal for 8 months and while it killed the mania (blast!) it slowly made my irritability, anxiety and depression worse. so i quit that and started on some OTC lithium orotate (240mg x 2) but am not sure it's doing much. is it worth sticking with lithium or is this not recommended for rapid cycling? thanks..

Re: which to use - anticonvulsant or lithium?

Posted by linkadge on April 28, 2005, at 17:28:36

In reply to which to use - anticonvulsant or lithium?, posted by tendency on April 28, 2005, at 16:48:52

Generally lithium is not the first choice for rapid cycling, but it can certainly still work.
It just may take more time to stabalize.

Lithium is generally better for depression than are the anticonvulsants. However, if you are a drug resistant type, then divalproex can have a higher efficacy.

I think lithium has more going for it (antisuicide effect, trophic to the grey matter,
robustly neuroprotective) but some people cannot tollerate it.

Divalproex might work better for anxiety, panic and anger.

Good Luck

Linkadge

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