Posted by Ritch on January 22, 2003, at 0:01:29
In reply to Is Dilantin (phenytoin) a mood stabilizer/A.D. ???, posted by 3 Beer Effect on January 21, 2003, at 17:13:16
> My psychiatrist is not sure if I am Bipolar II or ADHD. I have manic-type hyperactive behavior from alcohol, & find it stimulating even in near lethal amounts such as BAC .30 (I don't drink anymore). The only other med that has ever made me manic was Zoloft & only at 100 mg (50mg made me sleepy). Right now I take Paxil CR 50 mg/day + Wellbutrin SR 300mg/day, neither of which make me manic. I have also been on Dextrostat (d-amphetamine) 40 mg/day, the benzo Klonopin 2-4 mg/day, & a long time ago Ritalin 40 mg/day. Have also tried various A.D.'s such as Celexa, Remeron 45 mg, Effexor XR, none of which worked very well or caused too much drowsiness (Remeron).
>
> As for mood-stablilizers, I have already tried Lamictal & stopped at 200 mg due to lack of efficacy & teenager-like acne. Neurontin @ 900 mg mostly made me tired/lethargic. I was reading about Lithium & how it corrects both depression or mania while most of the other mood stablizers only calm mania & do little for depression. It sounds like Lithium is almost like ElectroShock Therapy in that whatever your problem- too much or too little of 5-HT, NE, DA, both EST & Lithium return those to NORMAL. The only problem is the side effects of Lithium sound pretty bad.
>
> I noticed Dilantin (phenytoin) like most of the mood stablizers is an anti-convulsant & is said by some to have anti-depressant qualities so I am wondering if it is used as a Lithium-like anti-depressant/mood stablizer with less side effects than Lithium?
>
> Thanks,
> 3 Beers.
I have heard that there are some folks that respond (a minority) to treatment with it for bipolar. My Mom took 100mg 4x daily (with phenobarbitol-can't recall the dosage on that one) for nocturnal generalized seizures. She lost all her teeth after fifteen years on it, then was gradually weaned off of it when her seizures had remitted for enough time. She still takes a 100mg capsule every so often when she feels what seems like an "aura" to her.
poster:Ritch
thread:136914
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030119/msgs/136984.html