[Meta]

It seems like not too long after my mother died my latest med combination began to fail me. Hard to know how much of what I am going thru is normal grief. For the 20+ years I have been taking meds, I have felt stable maybe 20% of the time. In other words most of the time I am not functioning or barely functional. I don't think I have gone much more than 3 mos of feeling well without relapsing. Most of the time I have been on an antidepressant and lithium, clonazepam, and most recently Focalin xr was added for my most recent diagnosis of ADD. I was doing pretty good I thought--although my therapist and others wondered if I wasn't hypomanic again after I started taking the focalin.

Recently I have been looking at the website of the psychologist who wrote "Why Am I Still Depressed?" which discusses how individuals with bipolar disorder should probably avoid Antidepressants of any kind because he feels there is a lot of evidence that antidepressants will likely cause more cycling up and down for bipolar people.

I most definitely feel I have been cycling up and down since I started taking meds so long ago.

I guess what I am thinking is I would like to talk to my pdoc on Tuesday about discontinuing the Paxil and only taking lithium and the other meds.

Really since I started on meds so long ago I have only felt "normal" maybe 20% of the time. Most of the rest of the time I am moderately to severely depressed, with a very small amount of time hypomanic.

Does anyone have any experience with no longer taking antidepressants for their bipolar disorder?

I am most definitely bipolar II or III. Although I think I had 2 hypomanic episodes before I ever took imipramine, and those hypomanic episodes were followed by severe depressions, it was the imipramine that set off the first unmistakeable hypomanic episode that last 2 or 3 months before I became severely depressed again.

I would appreciate any input. I know I haven't probably painted the clearest picture, but instead of sitting here forever trying to keep writing when my mind is not really clear, I am just going to go ahead and post
. I am sorry I haven't been more responsive to other people's postings. I have tried many times and then thought what I had written would not be a productive or helpful response to the person posting.

I really do appreciate the people here who are able to respond to myself and others in a good way. It is a great and valuable service you provide. Maybe someday I will be at the point where I can be of more help and assistance to others.

Thanks for listening.

Meta

[DaveyJones]

Hi, Meta!

I am DEFINITELY a bipolar II person that did very badly on antidepressants for nearly 10 years. I watched my jobs, my reputation and my family slip away because of my condition. I tried many drug cocktails, but they all contained one or more antidepressants. In the long run they did nothing for me as I became more and more depressed. After I was hospitalized I found Dr. Jim Phelp's website (to which you refer). I had to change health providers after I lost my insurance, and the new pdoc took me off all antidepressants. Funny, my mood improved radically within a few days. Since then I had one depressive episode in the fall, and I was put on Seroquel. I now take lithium, Lamictal and Seroquel, and feel bettter than I have in ten years. I have started back to school, and I am worried about the stress getting to me and triggering an episode, but we'll see.

So, yes...given your history, I think you should ask about treatment without antidepressants. Both Lamictal and Seroquel have been shown to be effective in bipolar deppression, and have certainly helped in my case. I wish you the best, I hope your pdoc will consider this for you.

DJ

[Meta]

Thanks for the response, Davey. As a matter of fact it may have been a posting by you that prompted me to visit that website by Dr. Phelps. His ideas made a lot of sense to me. Especially him saying that many people experience hypomania as unpleasant, feeling agitated and anxious. That was an eyeopener for me. Again, thanks for the input.

Meta

[bipolar_bear]

((((((((((((((Meta))))))))))))) I am sorry that over 20 years you have only felt good 20% of the time. What does your pdoc think abou that? Have you ever gotten a second opinion? I know I went through many combinations before coming up with the right combination for me and even now he tailors it to how I am feeling. I am bipolar I and have not had an antidepressant ever prescibed for me but have read many times that it may trigger mania. Many people do take them though with being monitored. It seems to me that you should be working closely with your pdoc to make sure your meds are working to your advantage. IMO.

Please take care and I hope that you find the right meds soon. And yes, I really do think you need to talk to your pdoc on Tuesday.

[darkeyes]

(((((((( Meta ))))))))))))

I've been on Lamictal for a few years now, didn't need any AD's once I started using Lamictal.
For me, Lamictal has been a Godsend. For occasional anxiety I may get due to high stress 3D things I use Ativan, if it's just something during the day time that will produce great stress, my doc says I can use the Klonopin, I'm happy to say I haven't had to use it for awhile.
Maybe, a change in meds is what is needed? You may want to discuss Lamictal as an option with your pdoc, and see what he or she thinks.
Please, keep the faith, today there are a lot of medications compared to many years ago, that with a pdoc's work with his or her client can almost custom make a medication regimen.
Take care,
DE

[Meta]

Thanks(((((bipolarbear)))), I greatly appreciate the support and the caring. I will be talking on Tuesday to my pdoc.

[Meta]

Thanks (((Darkeyes))))also for the support and info on yourself. I am trying to hang in there. My mood swings finally pushed me to get social security disability, but this is no way to live. It takes tremendous effort for me to even give my daughter her daily bath and I live in dread of her asking me to play with her or take her somewhere. A child should not have to endure a mother like me.

Meta

[Meta]

Just wanted to let you guys know: I just got back from the pdoc and I will be starting Lamictal. Keep your fingers crossed and thanks for the support.

Meta

[(JD)]

Fingers crossed

[Pughead]

Cool. It sounds like that's the way to go for BP. I'm not so sure Effexor/Wellbutrin/Depakote is

[January]

Hi Meta,

Lamictal is a wonderful medication. Good for you!

I wish you well,

January

[Meta]

Thanks ((((_Sky))), I am feeling less agitation already -maybe it's the placebo effect, but I'll take it whereever it comes from.

Meta

[Meta]

(((Pughead)))

Thanks for the support.

I hope you find something that works for you. If the postings on these forums are any indication, the first tremendous hurdle is getting properly diagnosed as bipolar. The second hurdle seems to be the ever elusive search for right med combination. It has definitely been a struggle for me. I hope this works out for me and I hope you find what you need too.

Meta

[Meta]

Thanks for the support, (((January))).

I hope it's right for me.

Meta