Posted by Ron Hill on March 6, 2003, at 12:02:13
In reply to Do Psych meds really work long term for BPs?, posted by catmint on March 5, 2003, at 23:38:16
Hey Amy,
> How many BPs have been successfully treated long term? Do most of us keep juggling medications endlessly?
My experience is that the hypomanic side of my BPII disorder has been successfully treated long-term but the depressive side has been more problematic. As you know, I currently think that I have found an effective treatment for my atypical depressive phase. But it might poop-out, and if it does I'll have to go back to the drawing board. Unfortunately, given the current state-of-the-art in the field of psychiatry, systematic trial-and-error is the best we have. Not willy-nilly trial-and-error, but systematic trial-and-error. What are our alternatives? Live in the pain of depression all our lives? I don't think so!
Instead, I keep a daily "med diary" so I can keep a record of my responses to various meds, supplements, exercise, social influences, and etc. My diary is not elaborate; I don't have time for that. Just the facts, as Joe Friday would say. Bottom line: Keep track of your daily responses to your medications so that you have data that help you to conduct an educated trial-and-error and not just keep juggling medications endlessly. A good medication (or medication combo) is out there for you Amy. Your job, with the help of your pdoc, is to find it.
> Does anyone worry what these drugs are doing to our bodies? Are side effects like nausea and headache a precursor for something worse later in life? What about the inert ingredients in all those pills?Yeah, I'm somewhat concerned about these issues. Nobody knows all of the possible long-term effects. But the worry may cause more health problems than the medications themselves. And actually, some meds are thought to be neuroprotective; lithium falls into this category.
The "Kindly Theory" is fairly well accepted. It holds that the more times a BP patient cycles, the worse the disease becomes. If this is true, early-on mood stabilization may actually help to prevent some of the worsening of the mental health disorder with age.
> All of us just tolerate all those annoying side effects like headaches, weight gain, and worst of all sexual dysfunction, just 'cause depression sucks so bad.
>
> Still have blurred vision and headaches from Lamictal, but hey, I'm not depressed.My hunch is that when you conclude the on-going upward titration of your Lamictal and stabilize at a particular dose, then the side effects will subside. Of course, I could be wrong, but that's my hunch.
Best Wishes, Amy. Remember, the glass is half-full, not half-empty. Keep looking for ways to fill the glass even fuller.
-- Ron
poster:Ron Hill
thread:206331
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030306/msgs/206464.html