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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 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.
Posted by jodie on January 21, 2003, at 19:03:55
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.Hi!!!
I was diagnosed as having bipolar disorder over a year ago. I tried different mood stabalizers, lithium, depakote. I am now being diagnosed as having ADD instead.
I have had problems with seizures in the past. I was on Dilantin for 3 years. I started taking it when I was 18, and stopped when I was 21. I gained weight on Dilantin, my gums would bleed very easily, and I became VERY moody, and lethargic. I felt like I was on a roller coaster the entire time I took it. Family and friends told me (after I stopped taking it) that I wasn't myself while on it. I am 26 now. I had a seizure a while back, the first one in years. I take Klonopin for seizure control, prevention. I also become agitated very easily, and have anxiety, panic attacks, so it helps with that too. I personally haven't heard anyone who takes dilantin as a mood stabilizer. I do know it can cause mood swings. When I was taking dilantin, I had a major deppresive episode for the first time in my life. Others may find dilantin helps them, but I could not stand the stuff!!!! I also took a very high dose because I was having seizures often, so I'm sure that plays a role in how it made me feel.
Jodie
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.
Posted by jodie on January 22, 2003, at 2:00:41
In reply to Re: Is Dilantin (phenytoin) a mood stabilizer/A.D. ??? » 3 Beer Effect, posted by Ritch on January 22, 2003, at 0:01:29
I would definetly look into other options. I've just heard too much bad stuff about dilantin. I took a total of 400 mg when I was on it. I weaned myself off of it , because I stopped having seizures, and hated the side effects. A couple of months ago, I was having strange auras, deja vu type of feelings, then about a month ago I had a grand mal seizure (tonic clonic). That was my 2nd seizure of that kind. I was diagnosed as having temporal lobe epilepsy when I was taking the dilantin. Now I take klonopin for multiple reasons, one is if I feel a strange aura, strong deja vu, or a slight feeling of depersonalization. But I will never go back to Dilantin. It just was not good. It did control my seizures, but I hated the side effects. Honestly it caused me to have concentration problems, I almost felt stupid for the three years I was taking it. I was really uncoordinated at a lot of things. I felt like I was taking something toxic to my body. I really try to forget those 3 years of my life that I was on it. Once again, it could work for you. I'm honestly scared of the stuff.
Take care, keep posting!!!
Jodie
Posted by JohnL on January 23, 2003, at 6:18:11
In reply to Is Dilantin (phenytoin) a mood stabilizer/A.D. ???, posted by 3 Beer Effect on January 21, 2003, at 17:13:16
There are lots of anti-aging websites that sell Dilantin for anti-aging benefits and mood benefits. It supposedly has some good properties for both normal people as well as psychiatric patients.
But truthfully, I have only ever known one person who did well with it. If 10 people were to try it, it's my guess that 9 of them would not like it.
There are much better choices out there, such as Lamictal and/or Zyprexa.
JohnL
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