Medication w/BP and Depression - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

juliewi · 07-18-2006, 06:42 AM

Hi I am one of these lerkers

and not sure if this is were to post this but i am a BP patient been on Lamictal 400 mg at night with Abilify 15mg at night also and topamax 25mg 3x a day but the depression is a bit out of control and I am on Effexor and PDoc wants to take me off Dep. drugs all together and I am a bit nervous about that all together, is there any other new depression drug out there that may go with these that may be ok I may beable to bring up to him? I am just kinda of scared to go off my depression drugs he tried takibg me off effexor before and i really crashed. i am on 175mg of them a day. i know that i have to come off them slow. wow...that will throw me for a loo loo again, but i see him tomarrow a.m. but just thought i might ask you all? thanks Juliewi.. thanks again

have a great day.

goody2shuz · 07-18-2006, 06:54 AM

Hi, Julie

I am not Bipolar but have been researching the drugs for my daughter who has recently been diagnosed. From what I have read, Wellbutrin is one of the antidepressants that does not have the possiblility of throwing somebody who is Bipolar into a manic episode. Whether that is going to help you is another thing??

Also, some of the antiepileptics/anticonvulsants have a tendency to help with the depression as well. I believe risperdal and seroquel are two of them. Suprisingly my daughter has tested positive for Major Depression and the pdoc started her on Risperdal trying to avoid the SSRI's that should be avoided since they have also diagnosed her with Bipolar.

I hope this helps and I am sure that others with far more experience will chime in as well.

Good luck....I know finding the right med combination is the key to doing well when you are Bipolar. I am in the midst of that for my daughter and it takes alot of patience ant trial and errror which I am sure you already know.

~ Goody

GatsbyLuvr1920 · 07-18-2006, 09:19 AM

As long as you're on a mood stabilizer while taking an SSRI, and not just taking an SSRI alone, there really shouldn't be a problem regarding you being thrown into a (hypo)manic episode. Also, maybe it's not the Effexor that's the problem- maybe it's the mood stabilizer. A good mood stabilizer should be able to prevent both (hypo)mania and depression by itself. Are you bipolar I or II? If you're bipolar I, then Lithium may be a good choice. Bipolar II's don't have as much success on Lithium, and usually need the anti-epileptics, like Depakote and Tegretol, and/or an atypical anti-psychotics and an SSRI thrown in. Bipolar patients may do wonderfully on a mood stabilizer for the (hypo)mania and an SSRI for the depression; you don't have to totally avoid SSRI's as long as you're on a mood stabilizer because the mood stabilizer should be protecting against the (hypo)mania to begin with. That may be why your doctor (and goody's daughter's doctor) wants to avoid SSRI's- because they're not sure if the other "bipolar" medications, like the Abilify and the Lamictal are working properly yet. However, if you're still depressed, I'd say that you need something extra, either a different SSRI, or as goody suggested, the addition of an atypical anti-psychotic. Good luck, God bless, and if you have any questions, feel free to ask!

-GatsbyLuvr1920-

goody2shuz · 07-18-2006, 10:14 AM

Quote:

I hope this helps and I am sure that others with far more experience will chime in as well.

Hehehehehehehehe....just as I said and knew I could count on GatsybyLuvr to bail me out!!! Yes....the SSRI's are okay with a safety net in place such as the mood stabilizers. It takes a long time to figure this all out and I am the baby around here as far as that goes and the first to admit that!!! Oh...and by the way I am such a humble soul.....humility is my biggest strength!!!

Thanks, Gastby....you're an angel

and I still love how much knowledge and wisdom you possess!!!

((((HUGS)))) ~ Goody

coffeegirl2 · 07-18-2006, 10:32 AM

Hi Julie

I am sorry to hear that you are having a rough time right now. It is scary to hear things from a pdoc, like when they say they want to take one off of certain meds and a person isn't ready to do so. That is very easy relate to, and my heart goes out to you a bundle. ((hugs))

My meds include: Topamax (mood stabilizer), Abilify (antispychotic), Wellbutrin XL (antidepressant), and Buspar (anxiety). So far, things have faired quite well for me with this combo mix. However, with each individual every drug effects a person differently. Wellbutrin is an antidepressant that has low side effects and has been quite effective for me. That is just my case scenario.

I've tried the SSRI's and they were horrible for me. They all caused me to go manic. That was my experience with them. That was when I only took an antidepressant; period and the doctors didn't know I was bipolar either. Now I'm so much better off.

If you feel that you are leary of the situation you are in then tell the pdoc, and tell him that you want to try a new antidepressant before throwing in the towel completely with them. It is your life and mental state; not theirs.

Take care Julie. You have a terrific name.

Hugs

Coffeegirl