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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Randal on November 12, 2002, at 20:10:12
Hi,
Would there be any interest in a quick and informal rating of mood stabilizers in a LIMITED number of different categories? For now, I want to leave off conventional antidepressants, but probably include atypical antispychotics. Clearly everyone has different experiences, but if everybody agrees that medication X has horrible side effects on top of little efficacy it might be worth knowing! I don't intend to tabulate all of this; it just might be worth seeing peoples' experiences and opinions. I'm sure I'm forgetting a few things! Again, mood stabilizers and antipsychotics only--but feel free to list more than one.
A) Best overall stabilization
B) Best antidepressant effect (mood stabilizers only)
C) Least side effects
D) Worst side effects
E) Worst cognitive side effects
F) Most weight gain
G) Little or no weight gain (or even loss)
H) Best medication overall
Posted by Randal on November 12, 2002, at 20:36:30
In reply to Mood Stabilizer Opinions, posted by Randal on November 12, 2002, at 20:10:12
I thought I should be the first to provide votes, since I posed the questions
A) Best overall stabilization: Lithium, Lamictal
B) Best antidepressant : Geodon (I meant to include antipsychotics here, only leave out "conventional" antidepressants).
C) Least side effects: Lamictal, Neurontin
D) Worst side effects: Geodon
E) Worst cognitive effects: Lamictal
F) Most weight gain: Lithium
G) Weight loss: Geodon
H) Best overall medication (either Lamictal or Lithium)
Clearly, my own experiences are limited and I did not take all of these meds in the right sequence so as to disentangle everything. As an aside, I would mention that for me at least the side effects for the mood stabilizers are on average actually LESS than they are for conventional antidepressants.
> Hi,
>
> Would there be any interest in a quick and informal rating of mood stabilizers in a LIMITED number of different categories? For now, I want to leave off conventional antidepressants, but probably include atypical antispychotics. Clearly everyone has different experiences, but if everybody agrees that medication X has horrible side effects on top of little efficacy it might be worth knowing! I don't intend to tabulate all of this; it just might be worth seeing peoples' experiences and opinions. I'm sure I'm forgetting a few things! Again, mood stabilizers and antipsychotics only--but feel free to list more than one.
>
> A) Best overall stabilization
>
> B) Best antidepressant effect (mood stabilizers only)
>
> C) Least side effects
>
> D) Worst side effects
>
> E) Worst cognitive side effects
>
> F) Most weight gain
>
> G) Little or no weight gain (or even loss)
>
> H) Best medication overall
Posted by catmint on November 12, 2002, at 23:05:43
In reply to Mood Stabilizer Opinions, posted by Randal on November 12, 2002, at 20:10:12
This is my opinion,
>A) Best overall stabilization:
Valproate
>B) Best antidepressant effect (mood stabilizers only):
Lamictal
>C) Least side effects:
Neurontin
>D) Worst side effects:
Lithium
>E) Worst cognitive side effects:
Olanzapine
>F) Most weight gain:
Olanzapine
>G) Little or no weight gain (or even loss):
Lamictal or small dose Valproate
>H) Best medication overall:
Lamictal
Bye, Amy
Posted by Eddie Sylvano on November 13, 2002, at 10:53:08
In reply to Mood Stabilizer Opinions, posted by Randal on November 12, 2002, at 20:10:12
> Would there be any interest in a quick and informal rating of mood stabilizers in a LIMITED number of different categories? For now, I want to leave off conventional antidepressants, but probably include atypical antispychotics.
---------------------------Nobody seems to use it nowadays, but I've found that tegretol has quite minimal side effects (I haven't really noticed any), minor weight issues (my weight hasn't changed), and good mood control. It's also dirt cheap. Or, as I'm sure someone will point out, there's also trileptal.
Posted by Lia Mason on November 13, 2002, at 11:06:23
In reply to Re: Mood Stabilizer Opinions » Randal, posted by Eddie Sylvano on November 13, 2002, at 10:53:08
Hi,
I'm very prone to sedation. Neurontin knocked me out. Topomax and Keppra were slightly better, but I still felt too groggy to continue. Lamictal was a dream med for me but gave me headaches. So... if I were choosing among these I'd choose lamictal.
Curious... if anyone want to give me an opinion. Any reason to think I'd tolerate Trileptal or tegretol given my sedation issues?
Lia
Posted by Golf4 on November 13, 2002, at 12:28:35
In reply to Re: Mood Stabilizer Opinions, posted by catmint on November 12, 2002, at 23:05:43
I totally agree that Lamictal worth to be checked BEFORE trying any other Mood S.,as the chances are very good,while the side effects are minimal
So,if it fails,you eventually haven't solved your problem,BUT neither have you suffered as while taking Litium for instance.
Golf4
Posted by Randal on November 13, 2002, at 12:44:43
In reply to Re: Mood Stabilizer Opinions-re:sedation, posted by Lia Mason on November 13, 2002, at 11:06:23
> Hi,
>
> I'm very prone to sedation. Neurontin knocked me out. Topomax and Keppra were slightly better, but I still felt too groggy to continue. Lamictal was a dream med for me but gave me headaches. So... if I were choosing among these I'd choose lamictal.
>
> Curious... if anyone want to give me an opinion. Any reason to think I'd tolerate Trileptal or tegretol given my sedation issues?
>
> LiaLia, my impression is that Trileptal has a reputation as one of the more "activating" Mood Stabilizers, yet I seem to remember the monograph lists sedatation as one of the worst side effects. Go figure--these all depend on the individual as it is. (I've only been taking Trileptal for 3 days so far, so I'm no help except that it definitely does not feel sedative for me). On the other hand, I was told that Geodon is one of the most activating. This guy knocked me out cold (alhgough I kinda like it when I'm conscious). So my guess is that except for the real outliers (those that sedate EVERYONE) it really depends on the individual and you may as well try it. Sedation is a much quicker test than efficacy!!.
Randal
Posted by Maximus on November 13, 2002, at 13:51:28
In reply to Re: Mood Stabilizer Opinions, posted by Randal on November 12, 2002, at 20:36:30
Note: I've tried them all, except of course APs, which i consider the ultimate last resort.
Also you should not consider Neurontin as a mood stabilizer.
A) Best overall stabilization: Lithium
B) Best antidepressant: Lamictal
C) Least side effects: Lamictal
D) Worst side effects: Valproate (Depakote, Epival)
E) Worst cognitive effects: TopamaxF) Most weight gain: Valproate
G) Weight loss: Lamictal (slowly but surely)
H) Best overall medication: Both Lamictal and Lithium.
Posted by Ritch on November 14, 2002, at 11:55:51
In reply to Re: Mood Stabilizer Opinions » Randal, posted by Eddie Sylvano on November 13, 2002, at 10:53:08
>
> > Would there be any interest in a quick and informal rating of mood stabilizers in a LIMITED number of different categories? For now, I want to leave off conventional antidepressants, but probably include atypical antispychotics.
> ---------------------------
>
> Nobody seems to use it nowadays, but I've found that tegretol has quite minimal side effects (I haven't really noticed any), minor weight issues (my weight hasn't changed), and good mood control. It's also dirt cheap. Or, as I'm sure someone will point out, there's also trileptal.
>I'm on a low-dose combo of Depakote + Trileptal + Clonazepam. The Trileptal seems to have an antidepressant and cognitive enhancing effect, but I can't take much due to nausea.
This is the end of the thread.
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