Posted by Krazy Kat on June 5, 2002, at 11:01:34
In reply to So what does a mood stabiliser feel like?, posted by automatedlady on June 3, 2002, at 18:53:56
That's a tough question. Basically, it doesn't feel like much (as Cece said), though I have seen some people say that a calming effect comes over them after about 2 weeks on a stabilizer (if they're bipolar). I don't know how it affects one if one's not Bipolar...
I am bipolar, and Depakote at first makes me really sedated (esp. if I'm in a mixed state - which is why I've started it in the past). Then, after about 2 weeks, I notice, "heh, I haven't had an extreme high or low in the last two weeks!"
Then, I notice that my thought patterns aren't as scattered (though they are by no means "focused"). I am more grounded in reality (which means I'm still pretty "out-there";)) and I can handle everyday problems a little more easily.
Now, I also get "fuzzy-headed" from Depakote, which I'm trying to offset with Ritalin.
I can not take SSRI's- they make me manic.
If you're considered Bipolar, I would think trying a stabilizer first is a necessity (we've had that discussion here). If you start to get depressed, let your pdoc know. But I would think, because they act so quickly, that within 2 weeks you'd have an idea of what's going on.
- kk
poster:Krazy Kat
thread:108402
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020602/msgs/108769.html