Bipolar Support Group

I am going back to my pdoc on monday because the meds I am currently on are not making me better they are making me worse. I am on wellbutrin, gabapentin and klonopin and I am rapid cycling more and feeling jittery, irritated, then happy and crazy and then really depressed and its like worse than before I got treated. If you have any suggestions let me know, I just know my doc needs to change these because they are not helping, I feel as if they are making me insane. Thanks!!

I take 300 mg Wellbutrin in the morning (that's important for me) as it is energizing and hard to sleep on. I took Neurontin (gabapentin) for some time and it did not hold my mania in check and I lost stability because of it. When they raised my lithium back to the right level and Neurontin to a lesser level, I was more okay. I took Klonopin for a few years and just when I wanted to sleep or chill out.

I'm only on two drugs for bipolar. I take 1200 mg of extended release lithium. With the extended release, you can actually take a lower dosage. I take 600 mg in the morning and the same at night. I take 75 mg of Effexor, and that is adjusted when I get depressed. I also take a drug called atenolol, which works for my tachycardia and also helps alleviate some symptoms of anxiety.

I was on Wellbutrin when I was taking Lamictal, but my doc took me off of it because it made me jittery and gave me a horrible tremor. I've got a tremor with the lithium, but it's nothing compared to the Wellbutrin.

Jenny,

I take extended release lithium but 900 mg. The amount isn't so important as your serum blood level. Range is .06 to 1.2.

I couldn't deal with Effexor but am now using Wellbutrin, and I haven't noticed much tremor. Of course, I have some related to my lithium but I take 20 mg of Inderal (propanolol), a blood pressure med often used for lithium tremors.

I'm taking Lamictal, now up to 150 mg, and I'm hopeful it can do more of the stabilizing work and lithium can do less. Are you still taking Lamictal and how is it working for you so far?

We live in a world of pills, don't we!

Cheers,

Scooby

Post edited by: scooby, at: 01/31/2009 21:38

With the lithium, I know there are two types at the hospital I go to. There's the extended release and the regular. The max dose on the extended is 1800mg, but the max dose on the regular is 2400 because it requires more to have to same long-lasting effect. My doc put me on the extended release so that I wouldn't have to go as high. I'm not allergic to a lot of meds, but when I do have a reaction, it's a terrible one.

Which brings me to the Lamictal. I had a horrible allergic reaction to Lamictal. I turned into what my mother called a paranoid psycho and I developed a rash on my leg (fortunately not THE lamictal rash). I also developed a burning sensation under the skin over my whole body. Needless to say, I don't take Lamictal anymore. I mostly blame my old psychiatrist for starting me on a higher-than-recommended dose and being a prick.

Thanks, yeah I'm getting shaky and I don't know which of the drugs it is. See my doc is using the neurontin as a mood stabilizer and it doesn't work like at all! So I have an appointment tommorow and I am going to tell him I want a real mood stabilizer and I am really hoping he can change my anti depressant because it really isn't working either. The wellbutrin just makes me hyper and jittery. I don't know, anyway, thanks so much any more suggestions would be great, I appreciate all the help!

I am currently on Lamictal 300mg and Zoloft 100mg for depression, and 300mg Trileptal and 15mf of Zyprexa for mood stabilizers. I was taking more zoloft but it began to trigger a hypomanic response, so we cut it back. Right now, I am doing okay.

I'm glad you are doing alright, I really hope my doc listens to me. I just can't take those two meds now, they are making me miserable and if he won't change it, i'm not going to be his patient anymore. Thanks for sharing!!

Everybody has differnt body chemistry..I take more then one mood stablizer and I also take a anti-depressent booster at night..I also take Nuerontin so it did not work for me by its self but they added some more to me..If your Pdoc is any good he will find the combonation that works for you ..It is a trail and error thing and I know it is hard but you can do it..We are here for you my friend..PM me if you need me..

Jolly,

I think when they start advertising on the television, somebody is making some money off that drug, at least enough to afford the fancy commercials.

Often an insurance company will approve this drug but won't approve that drug, so it seems like the insurance companies sit in one chair and the doctor sits in the other.

And at lunchtime, georgeous sales representatives from the drug companies bring them both delicious sandwiches and sushi...and, oh yes, samples, pens and more, whatever it takes.

I'm not cynical, no way!

scooby

Post edited by: scooby, at: 02/01/2009 11:34