treatment resistant - what else can be tried?

Check out Merlin’s post in the Bipolar Success stories sub forum

I have not tried cortisone. Also, I did not consult with a dermatologist - I took Benadryl and Famotidine that ER dr prescribed. Since then I have written to the dermatologist who suggested that I could use topical Benadryl cream, work on moisturizing preventatively, be seen, etc. So I am thinking of trying Tegretol again armed with those tools and knowledge.

I am retrying Tegretol XR. First morning - so far so good. Dermatologist suggested I prep the skin by ample moisturizing, which is what I am doing. Hopeful.

Not understanding much about either psychology or brain functions, but rather from an electrical engineering point of view, ECT seems a very crude measure. Voltage surges don't usually do computers much good, for lack of a better comparison. But then, all those psych meds equally affect the whole body, when they are actually meant to help with specific symptoms in specific brain circuits.

For therapy targeted at specific brain regions I find brain pacemakers an interesting new development. Long term positive effects of this seem much more plausible to me than ECT, just from an engineering point of view again.

I'm so sorry you're going through all of this, AspiringAuthor It sounds like you're handling all of this pretty well. Just wanted to let you know that I admire your strength and clarity of vision. If you have tried every other meds out there, then I guess you may start considering ECT as an option. Stay safe and take care of yourself. Keep doing what you're doing. Have an healthy lifestyle, eat well, ecc. Evaluate all the options you have. You can do this! You're strong, I know that. I believe in you. Feel free to PM me anytime. Let me know if I can do something to help you. Wish you good luck! Let us know how it goes. Sending many hugs to you

Can't say I have any further suggestions. You have been looked after well here. I just want to say as another treatment resistant BP person I understand the overwhelming frustration and olympic athletes stamina that it takes to keep fighting for the treatment that works, and it sounds like you have gone, and are going through, a tougher fight than I. Hang in there.

I find insomnia the worst symptom of my BP condition, so I had to chime in. Ambien was only giving me 4 hours of sleep for about two nights at my peak hypomanic phase. I have learned to avoid strong coffee and sweets during insomniac. I go swimming, and I take either antihistamine (Hydroxyzine up to 150mg), but I have never gone above 100 mg or 25-50mg Thorazine.
Now if I do not sleep one night, I will sleep the next day — no big deal. You must not get anxiety over insomnia because that is the vicious circle. I wish you the best to find a solution. When you refuse to get up at night and force yourself to remain in bed, then you start "micro dreaming", and if you do not stimulate yourself, eventually you fall asleep. I get rested this way when hypomanic. Lithium allows me that rapid change of thoughts, agitation, and panic are in abeyance.

Oh yeah, the other night I was insomniac, and I took THC and CBD if nothing the anxiety went away and I listened to music all night!