Posted by Janelle on March 7, 2002, at 17:24:43
In reply to Re: Need experiences w/ LITHIUM (and versus DEPAKOTE) » Janelle, posted by Ron Hill on March 7, 2002, at 0:13:09
Ron:
Interesting that you mentioned that the general "rule" is that Bipolar I patients typically do better on lithium whereas Bipolar II patients typically do better on the AEDs (eg Lamictal, Depakote, etc). This is something I have been wondering about. I am definitely NOT BiPolar 1. I do have cycles, but they are mostly feeling good then crashing, feeling good then crashing. The depression side is FAR more than the so-called "hypomanic" side.
What does AED mean?
I wonder if you got a rash from Lamictal because you either started at too high a dose or titrated up too rapidly. The thing with Lamictal is to go "LOW AND SLOW", meaning start with a micro (pediatric) dose (which is what I did) and titrate VERY slowly and gradulally into the hundreds of mg's. I never got the rash.
You're the first person I've heard of who got a rash on DEPAKOTE - I've heard that one can start losing hair on that one, which is a concern for me.
You also mentioned something else which concerns me - you said that Li does a fine job of keeping you out of hypomania but does very little for your depression. Well, since I don't really have much, if any, hypomania, I'm wondering how effective Li will be for me, if it doesn't doo much for depression (I read on some other site, that Li is for the MANIC part of BiPolar)
Thank you for your response and those links.
-Janelle
poster:Janelle
thread:96752
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020307/msgs/96924.html