[littlep]

Hi,

First of all I don't think my psychiatrist actually listens to me I am looking for a new one in my network that is pretty useless. Here it is I have been on meds and in therapy for 12 years. I started on paxil which worked well went off it for a year and spiraled downward. Tried alot of other anti depressants didn't help. Diagnosed with GAD,. Major Depression and ADD. Put on effexor and adderall. I was in heaven felt great, alot of energy etc. Was told that this was hypomania and was BP II. Went on lithium 1200 mgs stead for 6 months, trileptal 900 mgs. Lithium made me like a zombie went down to 900 mgs with trileptal. Felt much better on lower dose of lithium but not sure it was doing anything. Am now titrating up on lamictal. Personally I don't think a mood stabilizer is for me. Depression, anxiety, rumination, obsessive thoughts, unable to organize thoughts, agitated, irritable, jump at people, angry and unreasonable, analyze everything.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[littlep]

I wanted to clarify on now on 100 mgs lamictal suppose to be titrating up but would like to get off it, 900 mgs trileptal and titrating down from 900 mgs lithium to 600 mgs.

[bptoo]

littlep,

Just from my own experience, there really doesn't seen to be a consensus among doctors on the best way to treat BPII. I've seen so many combos of meds used for treatment. The first problem I see here is the one you pointed out, a doctor that won't listen. I've been lucky to have a Psych that that works with me, and not for me. He has no problem listening to my ideas, suggestions, and concerns. I wish everyone had a doc like mine. If there is a roadblock between you and your doc, maybe a change is in order?

Has your doc ever suggested an anti-psychotic for treating your BP symptoms? I know the term AP seems very extreme, but there has been a lot of success with meds like Zyprexa and Abilify. I looked for years to find the right meds for me, and it wasn't until we tryed Zyprexa and Topomax (mood stabilizer) that I finally got relief. Lithium and Lamictal are a few of the standards for treating BPII, but some people just don't respond to them. A little less conventional treatment should be tried.

I hope you're able to get your Psych to open his/her mind a bit and give some other things a try. We're all different, and what works for one doesn't necessarily work for the next person. If you can't get you Psych to open up their mind, then I hope you'll consider moving on to someone who will work with your best interests at heart. You deserve the best treatment available, we all do.

Wishing you all the best,
Greg



"Beauty is truth, truth is beauty - that is all you know on earth, and all you need to know"

[littlep]

Greg,

Thanks for your thoughts. Finding a new pdoc is on the top of my list, however, the number of them in my health insurance is minimal. I do alot of research and go into my pdoc with many suggestions she always turns them down. She has not suggested the antipsychotics at this point. Since I am BP II with short and infrequent mania I have seen others who didn't have to be on a mood stabilizer, actually on Effexor (small amount and Wellbutrin) unfortunately she is unwilling to go that root. Are you BP I or BP II due have another other diagnoses? I am glad that you have found the right combo for you and hope that I someday will too. As we all know it is a ongoing cycle.

Good Luck to you

[Butterfly_Faerie]

I too suffer from GAD and Clinical Depression/ Seasonal Affective Disorder, as we as PTSD.

What I am currently on for this is Remeron, before that I've been on Celexa which was horrible, and before that for 8 yrs Zoloft.

If you find that nothing is working for you then keep your doctor up to date. Sometimes it can take someone along time to find the right medication or combo of meds that is right for you. It's frustrating, but just try to be paitent, keep talking to your doctor explain how you feel and find perhaps other alternatives...

Good luck to you.

<font color=red>~Sundance~</font color=red>

<font color=blue>"Never react emotionally to criticism. Analyze yourself to determine whether it is justified. If it is, correct yourself. Otherwise, go on about your business."</font color=blue>

<font color=black>Norman Vincent Peale</font color=black>

[littlep]

Sundance,
Thanks for your thoughts. I keep trying to find a combination that is right for me, someday I will find it.

littlep

[Butterfly_Faerie]

Just try to think postive, finding the right med or combo of meds can be very frustrating, look at other options if that is the case, make sure you talk to your doctor about this.

Take care of yourself.

<font color=red>~Sundance~</font color=red>

<font color=blue>"Never react emotionally to criticism. Analyze yourself to determine whether it is justified. If it is, correct yourself. Otherwise, go on about your business."</font color=blue>

<font color=black>Norman Vincent Peale</font color=black>

[cleomaru]

hey, i've been on nearly 35 psych meds, in only...............5 years? maybe less, it's terribly frustrating and annoying and depressing....

has anyone ever said you might have borderline or personality disorder traits? those dx's are not treated primarily with meds

"don't kick the puppy" ~ j.e.p.

[littlep]

Hey,

Yes, I have been told that I have BPD traits. I have looked into going into Dialectical Behavior Therapy for it. It is a year commitment 3 days a week; I need to put it off until my kids are in school full time. They don't make it easy to get there it is only in the am.

Thanks for the thoughts

[designs]

How do you really know whether you have to gt past the side effects or med is not working? Taking Zoloft for 9 days now..headaches..feel bad..seems I am worse than before...is this side effect I have to endure or does this mean i can't take zoloft..Very scared right now