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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 18 of 18. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by sac on May 20, 2004, at 13:05:15
I am ready to quit all mood stabilizers. I have bipolar II with mostly depressive symptoms. Why does it feel like the cure is worse than the disease? I'm currenly on Lamictal 150mgs. but have also tried Lithium, Depakote, Trileptal, etc. Why do these drugs make me feel worse as in, more depressed and disinterested than ever?? If I discontinue my current mood stabilizer I know I am risking a hypomanic episode and probably a very bad depressive episode after that, but I wondering if maybe it's worth taking that risk and not feeling numbed out and apathetic every single day because of these drugs. I feel like I'm emotionally empty when I'm on these things. Sure, I can function every day, but the zest for living is gone, I don't have the capacity for enjoying my children because of the numbing effects of these drugs.
Posted by Buckeye Fan on May 20, 2004, at 13:28:30
In reply to Sick of these mood stabilizers, posted by sac on May 20, 2004, at 13:05:15
You are not alone Sac!
It is a constant "weighing" between evils, as far as these mind-altering drugs are concerned.Were the symptoms of Bipolar worse than the effecs of your Meds?
Lamictal contains the activeingredient lamotrigine
It is usually prescribed to control mini-siezures
the side effects are:drowsiness
upset stomach
vomiting
diarrhea
changes in balance
loss of taste and appetite
headache
irritability
insomniaIt sounds to me like your dpression is NOT responding to the Meds you have tried.
Keep trying..dont give up...and know that the zest for life WILL return.!God bless
Buckeye Fan
Posted by anxiety_free on May 20, 2004, at 14:21:11
In reply to Sick of these mood stabilizers, posted by sac on May 20, 2004, at 13:05:15
Mood-stabilizers are notorious for DAMPENING mood, insulating you from the occasional highs but not the lows...worst of all, they often leave a sense of numbness. Rest assured, this is common. Talk to your doctor about it. Antidepressants can help, stimulants can sometimes help, and neuroleptics (abilify,zyprexa, seroquel, etc.) can also sometimes be of use. In the meantime, try to get a little bit of exercise, talk to friends/family you trust about how you're feeling, write down your feelings, and focus on the future, when you'll be feeling TREMENDOUSLY better. I've personally found that a number of drugs help with mood-stabilizer induced depression/melancholy, and this is true with most people. Please post updates as to your situation on the board when you can; its good to talk to others about your issues, especially people who have been in the same situation.
Posted by psychosage on May 20, 2004, at 14:28:29
In reply to Sick of these mood stabilizers, posted by sac on May 20, 2004, at 13:05:15
> I am ready to quit all mood stabilizers. I have bipolar II with mostly depressive symptoms. Why does it feel like the cure is worse than the disease? I'm currenly on Lamictal 150mgs. but have also tried Lithium, Depakote, Trileptal, etc. Why do these drugs make me feel worse as in, more depressed and disinterested than ever?? If I discontinue my current mood stabilizer I know I am risking a hypomanic episode and probably a very bad depressive episode after that, but I wondering if maybe it's worth taking that risk and not feeling numbed out and apathetic every single day because of these drugs. I feel like I'm emotionally empty when I'm on these things. Sure, I can function every day, but the zest for living is gone, I don't have the capacity for enjoying my children because of the numbing effects of these drugs.
add Provigil and start low {my cocktail is Trileptal, Effexor xr, and Provigil}
Posted by Lazarus on May 20, 2004, at 16:32:00
In reply to Sick of these mood stabilizers, posted by sac on May 20, 2004, at 13:05:15
I am BPII, Rapid Cycler, and agree with you about the dulling effects of mood stabilizers.
Try Abilify, an atypical anti-psychotic. It has mood-stabilizing properties but won't remove the color from your world.
Lazarus
Posted by terrics on May 20, 2004, at 18:04:30
In reply to Sick of these mood stabilizers, posted by sac on May 20, 2004, at 13:05:15
I'd try going off them, but that's me. terrics
Posted by griswald on May 20, 2004, at 19:28:08
In reply to Re: Sick of these mood stabilizers » sac, posted by terrics on May 20, 2004, at 18:04:30
I sympathize with you sac. I've tried everything too. Today I just told my doc that I want to stop Lithium and Lamictal. They have every side effect but no intended effect. I'll probably go hypomanic then depressed too, but these side effects are horrible. I think I'll try a combination of Wellbutrin and Zyprexa and see if that works.
Posted by sac on May 20, 2004, at 21:03:27
In reply to Re: Sick of these mood stabilizers, posted by Lazarus on May 20, 2004, at 16:32:00
Hi there, I am BPII and also rapid cycler. Thank you for your response. I did try Abilify, the only problem was I couldn't sleep on it at all and all night long, I was very agitated and kept moving my arms and legs. I also tried Geodon which I was able to sleep with. I have a prescription for Geodon but have been afraid to take it regularly because of the risks associated with neuroleptics. I have some though disorder along with this bipolar II so that is why my Pdoc gave me the Geodon. Gosh, I have been on so many different things. Do you know if an atypical like Abilify or Geodon alone would be enough to stabilize mood?
> I am BPII, Rapid Cycler, and agree with you about the dulling effects of mood stabilizers.
>
> Try Abilify, an atypical anti-psychotic. It has mood-stabilizing properties but won't remove the color from your world.
>
> Lazarus
>
Posted by sac on May 20, 2004, at 21:06:52
In reply to Re: Sick of these mood stabilizers - sac, posted by griswald on May 20, 2004, at 19:28:08
I guess I'm not alone in this struggle based on the response I got from this post. I'm not sure what I will do at this point. Either I will go off the Lamictal and try an atypical or just go off everything except my AD (that is dangerous I know)
Posted by sac on May 20, 2004, at 21:16:07
In reply to Re: Sick of these mood stabilizers, posted by Buckeye Fan on May 20, 2004, at 13:28:30
Hello. Thanks for your response. My diagnosis is Bipolar II, predominately depressive but without mood stabilizers, I also have hypomanic swings. Nothing too dangerous (except spending too much money and heightened irritability). If it wasn't for the depression that follows the "up", I wouldn't mind but the depression is what becomes dangerous for me. I still feel that the mood stabilizer side effects are worse to put up with on a day to day basis. Basically, on the Lamictal I feel stimulated but not in a good way. Agitated is more like it. Also, in the evening I crash and become depressed. I feel pretty much dysphoric most of the time on this despite the Prozac. This has been my experience with Lamictal. I realize I have not exhausted all the possibilities out there either so I may keep trying.
> You are not alone Sac!
> It is a constant "weighing" between evils, as far as these mind-altering drugs are concerned.
>
> Were the symptoms of Bipolar worse than the effecs of your Meds?
>
> Lamictal contains the activeingredient lamotrigine
> It is usually prescribed to control mini-siezures
> the side effects are:
>
> drowsiness
> upset stomach
> vomiting
> diarrhea
> changes in balance
> loss of taste and appetite
> headache
> irritability
> insomnia
>
> It sounds to me like your dpression is NOT responding to the Meds you have tried.
> Keep trying..dont give up...and know that the zest for life WILL return.!
>
> God bless
> Buckeye Fan
>
Posted by Rachel Terese on May 20, 2004, at 21:19:31
In reply to Sick of these mood stabilizers, posted by sac on May 20, 2004, at 13:05:15
Hi- I have been on lamictal for 5 weeks and had never felt so depressed in my entire life. I, like you was ready to completely give it up. I cried nonstop everyday for no reason. I am currenly on 200mg/day and just a few days ago started to feel better. I don't know why in the beginning it feels hopeless, but I think you should give it a little more time. Maybe ask your doctor about a low dosage ssri. I take 20mg paxil and that maybe has also helped as well. Do you take anything else? I as well have tried lithium and hated it. I hope you feel better.
Posted by tabitha on May 21, 2004, at 1:44:13
In reply to Re: Sick of these mood stabilizers » Buckeye Fan, posted by sac on May 20, 2004, at 21:16:07
Hi, I'm also BPII, and had trouble with side effects from mood stabilizers. I couldn't even tolerate them long enough to get any benefit. I finally got tired of trying one after another and just decided to stay on an AD alone. I'm on a low dose. It has worked out OK for me. I know they say you'll go manic from antidepressant monotherapy, but it hasn't been the case. My hypomania isn't any worse. It's seasonal, fairly predictable, and I've been able to manage it.
Posted by sac on May 21, 2004, at 15:27:35
In reply to Re: Sick of these mood stabilizers, posted by Rachel Terese on May 20, 2004, at 21:19:31
Hi, yes I am also on Prozac 20 mgs. The trouble with Lamictal is that when I was up to 200 mgs. a day, I would also get very agitated so I was needing to take Serax every day just to deal with the agitation. Once I backed off to 100, the agitation has gone away but I'm still depressed. I seem to have a love/hate relationship with Lamictal. It works great when I first start it (because I've done this before... stopped it for a while and then started again) but then after I'm on it for awhile, I start feeling depressed and apathetic.
> Hi- I have been on lamictal for 5 weeks and had never felt so depressed in my entire life. I, like you was ready to completely give it up. I cried nonstop everyday for no reason. I am currenly on 200mg/day and just a few days ago started to feel better. I don't know why in the beginning it feels hopeless, but I think you should give it a little more time. Maybe ask your doctor about a low dosage ssri. I take 20mg paxil and that maybe has also helped as well. Do you take anything else? I as well have tried lithium and hated it. I hope you feel better.
Posted by cybercafe on May 21, 2004, at 22:07:26
In reply to Re: Sick of these mood stabilizers, posted by Lazarus on May 20, 2004, at 16:32:00
> I am BPII, Rapid Cycler, and agree with you about the dulling effects of mood stabilizers.
>
> Try Abilify, an atypical anti-psychotic. It has mood-stabilizing properties but won't remove the color from your world.
>
> Lazarus
>
yeah, i lowered my dose of abilify, and my friends were like, dude, you're not a zombie anymore
Posted by cybercafe on May 21, 2004, at 22:09:20
In reply to Re: Sick of these mood stabilizers » Lazarus, posted by sac on May 20, 2004, at 21:03:27
> Hi there, I am BPII and also rapid cycler. Thank you for your response. I did try Abilify, the only problem was I couldn't sleep on it at all and all night long, I was very agitated and kept moving my arms and legs. I also tried Geodon which I was able to sleep with. I have a prescription for Geodon but have been afraid to take it regularly because of the risks associated with neuroleptics. I have some though disorder along with this bipolar II so that is why my Pdoc gave me the Geodon. Gosh, I have been on so many different things. Do you know if an atypical like Abilify or Geodon alone would be enough to stabilize mood?
>
>
>
> > I am BPII, Rapid Cycler, and agree with you about the dulling effects of mood stabilizers.
> >
> > Try Abilify, an atypical anti-psychotic. It has mood-stabilizing properties but won't remove the color from your world.
> >
> > Lazarus
> >
>
>for me 3.75 mg of abilify definately kept me stable even in combination with 40 mg parnate and lots of ritalin ...
i lowered the dose to 1.875 mg abilify and now i'm still somewhat stable... though mainly a little on the hypomanic side...
Posted by Lazarus on May 22, 2004, at 15:13:46
In reply to Re: Sick of these mood stabilizers » Lazarus, posted by sac on May 20, 2004, at 21:03:27
> Do you know if an atypical like Abilify or Geodon alone would be enough to stabilize mood?
I did two trials of Geodon and during both trials I experienced extreme mania and insomnia.
Abilify is much different. I take 2.5-5.0 mg daily and find it to be an excellent mood stabilizer. It has both tranquilizing and energizing (antidepressant) effects. The only problem is that it exacerbates underlying insomnia, requiring me to take Seroquel (25mg) or Zyprexa (2.5mg) at bedtime.
Good luck,
Lazarus
Posted by sac on May 23, 2004, at 14:06:51
In reply to Re: Sick of these mood stabilizers-Sac, posted by Lazarus on May 22, 2004, at 15:13:46
Posted by cybercafe on May 25, 2004, at 1:37:29
In reply to Re: Sick of these mood stabilizers-Sac, posted by Lazarus on May 22, 2004, at 15:13:46
> > Do you know if an atypical like Abilify or Geodon alone would be enough to stabilize mood?
>
> I did two trials of Geodon and during both trials I experienced extreme mania and insomnia.
>
> Abilify is much different. I take 2.5-5.0 mg daily and find it to be an excellent mood stabilizer. It has both tranquilizing and energizing (antidepressant) effects. The only problem is that it exacerbates underlying insomnia, requiring me to take Seroquel (25mg) or Zyprexa (2.5mg) at bedtime.
>
> Good luck,
> Lazarus
>parnate causes me insomnia, abilify causes me insomnia, when i combine the two -- no insomnia! a good 8 hours and i'm fine
but even on abilify 3.75 mg the insomnia wasn't that bad... only initially. after a while i think i started getting a good 7 hours or so
This is the end of the thread.
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