Posted by fluffy on July 27, 2003, at 17:05:59
In reply to Re: Depakote » fluffy, posted by katia on July 27, 2003, at 16:15:54
Was Tegretol the first mood stab. (besides the neurontin) that you were on specifically for your BP? It sounds like it took away the up side and left you mildly low. That's what I'm afraid of. But what did it for you after that then? What are you on now? and is it working? Sorry if you've already described this in an earlier thread, it's just so hard to follow them all.
> thanks!That's ok Katia--this thread has turned into about 5 at once. Yes--Tegretol was the first mood stabilizer I was put on (after a *tiny* dose of Neurontin (100mg). I never got to a high enough dose of Tegretol to see if it would help my depression. I didn't trust my current psychiatrist who kept insisting that I was having major depression (DUHHH!) and kept loading me full of SSRI's. Even though I became fully manic/mixed, he insisted I was just depressed. I started to suspect that I might be bipolar. I had to beg and plead for a mood stabilizer trial. He started me off on Tegretol, but wouldn't believe me when I told him I was feeling depressed still. Needless to say, he was arrogant and very difficult to work with.
When I went to my new doc and told him I was on Tegretol, and I was still depressed, he promptly gave me two drugs to choose from: Lamictal or Lithium.
I think he did this for two reasons.
One--I was depressed, and the other mood stabilizers don't have a good antidepressant profile. Many people report a "flat" feeling. I'm not sure if I was still depressed or if the Tegretol was the culprit.
Two--I am currently going to a mood disorder clinic, and they sometimes hire their patients to be guinea pigs for science, testing new and old drugs and supplements. At the time, they were enrolling people with BPII, currently depressed to ramdomly try Lithium or Lamictal to determine which drug worked best. I fit that profile to a tee. I got the Lamictal. Free appointments, free Lamictal. It has worked really well for me so far. If I have breakthrough stuff, I'll probably try augmenting with Li. But for the time being, I've found what I feel is going to be the main work horse of my coctail.
Have you tried doing a search on this site about Depakote and its efficacy on depression?
best,
Katy
poster:fluffy
thread:9730
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030723/msgs/245910.html