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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by JohnX2 on May 5, 2002, at 18:33:40
Lithium help bipolar intraday cycling?Thanks for any feedback.
I know that Tegetrol and Lamictal are good for
rapid cycling, but I run into snags with these
meds.John
Posted by Chloe on May 6, 2002, at 19:26:55
In reply to Does lithium help with bipolar intraday cycling?, posted by JohnX2 on May 5, 2002, at 18:33:40
>
> Lithium help bipolar intraday cycling?
>
> Thanks for any feedback.
>
> I know that Tegetrol and Lamictal are good for
> rapid cycling, but I run into snags with these
> meds.
>
> JohnJohn,
This is completely hearsay from my shrink. But her take on lithium is that it's good for the longer, bigger swings, and is excellent for rage outburst.From personal experience, I found lithium useful overall for bp2 in boosting my AD and a small amount of stabilization. But I would have to say, for intraday cycles, depakote has been a godsend to me. So, I take a small amount of both, 250 mgs of Depakote with 225 mgs of Li.
Have you ever considered Depakote? If it's not going to be the main mood stabilizer, you would only need a subtherapeutic dose...
Chloe
Posted by JohnX2 on May 6, 2002, at 20:00:23
In reply to Re: Does lithium help with bipolar intraday cycling? » JohnX2, posted by Chloe on May 6, 2002, at 19:26:55
> >
> > Lithium help bipolar intraday cycling?
> >
> > Thanks for any feedback.
> >
> > I know that Tegetrol and Lamictal are good for
> > rapid cycling, but I run into snags with these
> > meds.
> >
> > John
>
> John,
> This is completely hearsay from my shrink. But her take on lithium is that it's good for the longer, bigger swings, and is excellent for rage outburst.
>
> From personal experience, I found lithium useful overall for bp2 in boosting my AD and a small amount of stabilization. But I would have to say, for intraday cycles, depakote has been a godsend to me. So, I take a small amount of both, 250 mgs of Depakote with 225 mgs of Li.
>
> Have you ever considered Depakote? If it's not going to be the main mood stabilizer, you would only need a subtherapeutic dose...
>
> ChloeChloe,
Depakote had no activity for me. Dunno why? Seems to wipe out a lot
of people. But I tried it for 2 months and as far as I could tell it was
a sugar pill (it does smell like candy!).I've had luck with Lamictal and Trileptal smoothing out
rapid cycling, but the dose required gives me a really bad
headache and numbs out my emotions...bummer.Thanks for your feedback.
John
Posted by Chloe on May 6, 2002, at 22:19:51
In reply to Re: Does lithium help with bipolar intraday cycling? » Chloe, posted by JohnX2 on May 6, 2002, at 20:00:23
> > >
> > > Lithium help bipolar intraday cycling?
> > >
> > > Thanks for any feedback.
> > >
> > > I know that Tegetrol and Lamictal are good for
> > > rapid cycling, but I run into snags with these
> > > meds.
> > >
> > > John
> >
> > John,
> > This is completely hearsay from my shrink. But her take on lithium is that it's good for the longer, bigger swings, and is excellent for rage outburst.
> >
> > From personal experience, I found lithium useful overall for bp2 in boosting my AD and a small amount of stabilization. But I would have to say, for intraday cycles, depakote has been a godsend to me. So, I take a small amount of both, 250 mgs of Depakote with 225 mgs of Li.
> >
> > Have you ever considered Depakote? If it's not going to be the main mood stabilizer, you would only need a subtherapeutic dose...
> >
> > Chloe
>
> Chloe,
>
> Depakote had no activity for me. Dunno why? Seems to wipe out a lot
> of people. But I tried it for 2 months and as far as I could tell it was
> a sugar pill (it does smell like candy!).
>
> I've had luck with Lamictal and Trileptal smoothing out
> rapid cycling, but the dose required gives me a really bad
> headache and numbs out my emotions...bummer.
>
> Thanks for your feedback.
>
> John
John,
If you are "stuck" and don't know what to try next, I would certainly give lithium a trial. It works differently in everyone. And who knows, with combo of lamictal and/or trileptal+Li, you may just find some relief from the intraday cycling.I am a big fan of Li augmentation. It has been around "forever", and is useful for BP as well as unipolar depression. In smaller doses, it's quite tolerable in terms of side effects. And in my opinion, a very worthy drug. It's an important player in my cocktail.
For me, a small amount of many of meds (Li, neurontin, depakote, diazapam, amitriptyline, and a drop or two of Celexa), seems to keep my cycling under control. If I go to high on any one med, I get unbearable side effects, and eventually become non-compliant...I hope find some relief soon.
Chloe
Posted by JohnX2 on May 7, 2002, at 23:53:48
In reply to Re: Does lithium help with bipolar intraday cycling? » JohnX2, posted by Chloe on May 6, 2002, at 22:19:51
> > > >
> > > > Lithium help bipolar intraday cycling?
> > > >
> > > > Thanks for any feedback.
> > > >
> > > > I know that Tegetrol and Lamictal are good for
> > > > rapid cycling, but I run into snags with these
> > > > meds.
> > > >
> > > > John
> > >
> > > John,
> > > This is completely hearsay from my shrink. But her take on lithium is that it's good for the longer, bigger swings, and is excellent for rage outburst.
> > >
> > > From personal experience, I found lithium useful overall for bp2 in boosting my AD and a small amount of stabilization. But I would have to say, for intraday cycles, depakote has been a godsend to me. So, I take a small amount of both, 250 mgs of Depakote with 225 mgs of Li.
> > >
> > > Have you ever considered Depakote? If it's not going to be the main mood stabilizer, you would only need a subtherapeutic dose...
> > >
> > > Chloe
> >
> > Chloe,
> >
> > Depakote had no activity for me. Dunno why? Seems to wipe out a lot
> > of people. But I tried it for 2 months and as far as I could tell it was
> > a sugar pill (it does smell like candy!).
> >
> > I've had luck with Lamictal and Trileptal smoothing out
> > rapid cycling, but the dose required gives me a really bad
> > headache and numbs out my emotions...bummer.
> >
> > Thanks for your feedback.
> >
> > John
>
>
> John,
> If you are "stuck" and don't know what to try next, I would certainly give lithium a trial. It works differently in everyone. And who knows, with combo of lamictal and/or trileptal+Li, you may just find some relief from the intraday cycling.
>
> I am a big fan of Li augmentation. It has been around "forever", and is useful for BP as well as unipolar depression. In smaller doses, it's quite tolerable in terms of side effects. And in my opinion, a very worthy drug. It's an important player in my cocktail.
>
> For me, a small amount of many of meds (Li, neurontin, depakote, diazapam, amitriptyline, and a drop or two of Celexa), seems to keep my cycling under control. If I go to high on any one med, I get unbearable side effects, and eventually become non-compliant...
>
> I hope find some relief soon.
> ChloeChloe,
I am scheduled to start Li later this week. I've actually stabilized
quite a bit since I bumped my Serzone to the max. The medicine seems
to have mood stabilization and anti-manic properties for me?? Maybe
related to its sedative effect and block of adrenergic receptors?? who knows.I'll keep you posted.
Thanks,
John
This is the end of the thread.
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