![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by polarbear206 on March 7, 2007, at 12:33:57
Hello,
How's the weather in Canada? I was there for the first time last August on vacation. Beautiful place. Stayed in a cabin right on the lake near Kingston and Gananoque (sp?) Looking forward to going back this year.
Saw my pdoc today. He said that adding Lithium to Lamictal is an excellent idea and many have good results with this. I told him my main concern was lowering my effexor because of sexual side effects and preventing some mild mood cycling still going on around my menstrual cycle and cycling when we change the clocks. Just had a bad week of a couple days of hypersomnia and anxiety. This happens twice a year. He wants me to start with 300mg. He said I can go up to 900mg if I want to. I told him I have no interest in blood level range. I will slowly cut back on the Effexor.
Polarbear
Posted by Phillipa on March 7, 2007, at 13:17:53
In reply to MAXIMUS, posted by polarbear206 on March 7, 2007, at 12:33:57
Well I'm not Maximus but we set the clocks back this week. Doesn't the extra light trigger bipolar cycling? Love Phillipa
Posted by Squiggles on March 7, 2007, at 13:45:03
In reply to MAXIMUS, posted by polarbear206 on March 7, 2007, at 12:33:57
> Hello,
>
> How's the weather in Canada? I was there for the first time last August on vacation. Beautiful place. Stayed in a cabin right on the lake near Kingston and Gananoque (sp?) Looking forward to going back this year.Hi Polarbear. I've been to Kingston - what a lovely town. I wish I lived there.
>
> Saw my pdoc today. He said that adding Lithium to Lamictal is an excellent idea and many have good results with this.Lithium is a common adjunct to antidepressants, and i think that it is especially good for antidepressants that have an anxiety-provoking effects.
I told him my main concern was lowering my effexor because of sexual side effects and preventing some mild mood cycling still going on around my menstrual cycle and cycling when we change the clocks.
If my memory of what I have read is correct,
it is not a good idea to mix SSRIs with lithium, but i think that is not what you mean?
Just had a bad week of a couple days of hypersomnia and anxiety. This happens twice a year. He wants me to start with 300mg. He said I can go up to 900mg if I want to. I told him I have no interest in blood level range. I will slowly cut back on the Effexor.I take it you are getting off Effexor, going on
Lamictal ( an anticonvulsant based AD ) and adding lithium as an adjunct? Your doctor sounds very creative.. I hope things turn out well for you.Squiggles
Posted by polarbear206 on March 7, 2007, at 14:34:58
In reply to Re: MAXIMUS, posted by Squiggles on March 7, 2007, at 13:45:03
> > Hello,
> >
> > How's the weather in Canada? I was there for the first time last August on vacation. Beautiful place. Stayed in a cabin right on the lake near Kingston and Gananoque (sp?) Looking forward to going back this year.
>
> Hi Polarbear. I've been to Kingston - what a lovely town. I wish I lived there.
> >
> > Saw my pdoc today. He said that adding Lithium to Lamictal is an excellent idea and many have good results with this.
>
> Lithium is a common adjunct to antidepressants, and i think that it is especially good for antidepressants that have an anxiety-provoking effects.
>
>
>
> I told him my main concern was lowering my effexor because of sexual side effects and preventing some mild mood cycling still going on around my menstrual cycle and cycling when we change the clocks.
>
> If my memory of what I have read is correct,
> it is not a good idea to mix SSRIs with lithium, but i think that is not what you mean?
>
>
> Just had a bad week of a couple days of hypersomnia and anxiety. This happens twice a year. He wants me to start with 300mg. He said I can go up to 900mg if I want to. I told him I have no interest in blood level range. I will slowly cut back on the Effexor.
>
> I take it you are getting off Effexor, going on
> Lamictal ( an anticonvulsant based AD ) and adding lithium as an adjunct? Your doctor sounds very creative.. I hope things turn out well for you.
>
> Squiggles
>
>
>
Actually, it was my idea after doing some research to go this avenue. I have been on Lamictal for a long time. It has done wonders for my moods. I plan to stay on effexor, but at a lowere dose. Best AD I have ever been on!!!Thanks.
Posted by polarbear206 on March 7, 2007, at 14:48:10
In reply to Re: MAXIMUS » polarbear206, posted by Phillipa on March 7, 2007, at 13:17:53
> Well I'm not Maximus but we set the clocks back this week. Doesn't the extra light trigger bipolar cycling? Love Phillipa
It throws off my circadium rhythm. Some bipolars are very sensitive to this
My body goes through a adjustment period, and them I'm fine. Light affects everyone differently. I have light hunger in the winter months when I don't get enough.polarbear
P.S. Glad your on the right path with your new doc.
Posted by Maximus on March 7, 2007, at 15:52:28
In reply to MAXIMUS, posted by polarbear206 on March 7, 2007, at 12:33:57
> Hello,
>
> How's the weather in Canada? I was there for the first time last August on vacation. Beautiful place. Stayed in a cabin right on the lake near Kingston and Gananoque (sp?) Looking forward to going back this year.
>
> Saw my pdoc today. He said that adding Lithium to Lamictal is an excellent idea and many have good results with this. I told him my main concern was lowering my effexor because of sexual side effects and preventing some mild mood cycling still going on around my menstrual cycle and cycling when we change the clocks. Just had a bad week of a couple days of hypersomnia and anxiety. This happens twice a year. He wants me to start with 300mg. He said I can go up to 900mg if I want to. I told him I have no interest in blood level range. I will slowly cut back on the Effexor.
>
> Polarbear
>Hi dear friend,
Ah! Actually it is very cold, -20C, brrr. Glad you came in Canada and enjoyed your trip. Don't forget to visit the wonderful Province of Québec :-)
So you're going to begin Lithium. That's good news. Your psychiatrist is very intelligent, indeed. Lithium + Lamictal are the most successful and cutting edge combos for the treatment of bipolar II.
Lithium is a circadian rhythm tuner. The quality of your sleep will improve and it will be easier for you to get up in the morning, no joke.
Taken with Lamictal it is unnecessary to go as high as 900 mg. 600 mg or a blood level of 0.4 should do the job nicely :-)
Don't increase Lithium and/or decrease Effexor too quickly. Go slowly at first. By sexual side effect i assume you mean anorgasmia, mainly. It is a distressing side effect. I still have it "moderatly" on a dose of 150-225 Effexor.
So, i wish you well and i'm sure you will be fine with your new med.
Bye from Québec :-)
Eric
Posted by polarbear206 on March 7, 2007, at 16:22:36
In reply to Re: I'm here :-) » polarbear206, posted by Maximus on March 7, 2007, at 15:52:28
> > Hello,
> >
> > How's the weather in Canada? I was there for the first time last August on vacation. Beautiful place. Stayed in a cabin right on the lake near Kingston and Gananoque (sp?) Looking forward to going back this year.
> >
> > Saw my pdoc today. He said that adding Lithium to Lamictal is an excellent idea and many have good results with this. I told him my main concern was lowering my effexor because of sexual side effects and preventing some mild mood cycling still going on around my menstrual cycle and cycling when we change the clocks. Just had a bad week of a couple days of hypersomnia and anxiety. This happens twice a year. He wants me to start with 300mg. He said I can go up to 900mg if I want to. I told him I have no interest in blood level range. I will slowly cut back on the Effexor.
> >
> > Polarbear
> >
>
> Hi dear friend,
>
> Ah! Actually it is very cold, -20C, brrr. Glad you came in Canada and enjoyed your trip. Don't forget to visit the wonderful Province of Québec :-)
>
> So you're going to begin Lithium. That's good news. Your psychiatrist is very intelligent, indeed. Lithium + Lamictal are the most successful and cutting edge combos for the treatment of bipolar II.
>
> Lithium is a circadian rhythm tuner. The quality of your sleep will improve and it will be easier for you to get up in the morning, no joke.
>
> Taken with Lamictal it is unnecessary to go as high as 900 mg. 600 mg or a blood level of 0.4 should do the job nicely :-)
>
> Don't increase Lithium and/or decrease Effexor too quickly. Go slowly at first. By sexual side effect i assume you mean anorgasmia, mainly. It is a distressing side effect. I still have it "moderatly" on a dose of 150-225 Effexor.
>
> So, i wish you well and i'm sure you will be fine with your new med.
>
> Bye from Québec :-)
>
> Eric>
Eric,Thanks so much for your quick response and valuable input. I'll keep you posted.
Thanks again
Laura
Posted by Phillipa on March 7, 2007, at 19:23:49
In reply to Re: MAXIMUS » Phillipa, posted by polarbear206 on March 7, 2007, at 14:48:10
Thank-you polarbear. Love Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.