Posted by JohnX2 on February 4, 2002, at 23:03:52
In reply to Update on my broken brain and its treatment, posted by Mr. Scott on February 4, 2002, at 21:32:13
Hi Scott,
That looks like a good strategy.
I'm not sure if you would want to start
into too many meds at once. But I like
the selection of meds.Personally I don't care much for mixing
Effexor with Wellbutrin and agree with
your strategy of dumping Effexor. I might
reconsider holding out on starting Wellbutrin
until you are at a healthy dose of Lamictal
and/or Lithium. You might find out that you
do just fine on Lithium and/or Lamictal alone.I would pick Klonopin over Xanax. I've never
heard of Tranxene? I might try Neurontin instead
of these as it is non habit forming. Again, you
may not require these meds if the Lamictal/Lithium/Wellbutrin
address the irritability issues. You just need
to wait and see I suppose. Another option is
Topamax. Topamax increases Gaba conductance
in a manner similar to Klonopin. When I added
it to Lamictal I only had benzo like side effects.
This was a unique experience as most people seem
to get cognitive side effects, but not me. So perhaps
I'm thinking that Lamictal interactions are keeping
the Topamax from causing cognitive downsides. I would
seriously consider a Topamax trial add on to Lamictal.Anyways, I suspect you'll hit paydirt with
your new approach.
Regards,
John
> Hello fellow babblers-
> I told my doc that antidepressants generally make we worse, by leaving me still depressed only activated and hence more angry, impulsive, irritable and more negative than ever. Like I become a ranting and raving depresssive instead of a quiet depressive. I also generally only get a few weeks or months at best out of any of them before I'm left with the above condition, and a bunch of side effects. Also the SSRI/Effexors of the world quickly pinch off my frontal lobes and make me dumb, numb and fatigued as hell. I also generally have a hard time tolerating pills.
>
> He said it sounds like I have bipolar III, whatever the hell that really means I don't know. In any event I think it's safe now to assume that I have some level of bipolarity that makes me unresponsive to SSRI's alone.
>
> 1)chemical sensitivities
> 2)sub affective bipolar disorder
> 3)poor response, non response, or worsening response to ADS
>
> So I'm taking a new approach to this whole mess.
>
> Lithium CR 450mg
> Lamictal 12.5mg (raise 12.5mg every 1-2 weeks)
> Xanax or Klonopin or Tranxene(whichever whenever)
> Wellbutrin SR (start low)
> Effexor XR 37.5mg (stop trying to tolerate 75mg and eventually ditch unless helpful)
>
> Anyone have any comments or suggestions?
> Scott
poster:JohnX2
thread:92893
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020131/msgs/92905.html