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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by owenus32 on February 4, 2007, at 21:25:58
I went to a new doc seeking benzo's which I'm glad I didn't get bc they make me depressed while curing anxiety. Anyway, the new guy heard all my symptoms, asked questions and said he thinks that I seem bipolar but it's a spectrum and he isn't sure yet. I aid that my last doc didn't diagnose me and he said well, sometimes when a doc gives lamictal with and ad, it's c they suspect bipolar but she wouldn't necesarily diagnose me. What do you think of his ideas? I don't care if I am but am curious, would a doc not come right out and tell you?
Posted by med_empowered on February 4, 2007, at 22:15:58
In reply to Doc said if I was given Lamictal I am bipolar..., posted by owenus32 on February 4, 2007, at 21:25:58
If they ever come to a firm conclusion, they should let you know. They may suspect a hint of it and medicate accordingly, if for no other reason than to make the AD work better and possibly prevent AD-induced mood episodes.
Good luck!
Posted by UgottaHaveHope on February 4, 2007, at 22:54:49
In reply to Doc said if I was given Lamictal I am bipolar..., posted by owenus32 on February 4, 2007, at 21:25:58
Well, only your doctor is going to be able to tell you what he is thinking, or perhaps you can peek at look at your medical records, or even request a copy.
I was given a trial of Lamictal for anxiety and depression. It was something different, and I appreciated the aggressiveness of my pdoc, even though it did not work. I am not Bipolar.
You never know about meds, though. One pill that could be like taking a placebo could cure cancer in another. Every med affects everyone differently, and I hope this one does well for you. Michael
Posted by Phillipa on February 5, 2007, at 11:07:33
In reply to Re: Doc said if I was given Lamictal I am bipolar., posted by med_empowered on February 4, 2007, at 22:15:58
Med you get mood disorders from ad's? I didn't know that. Love Phillipa tried it made to 50mg then excess salivation uncommon side effect had to go off it. Love Phillipa
Posted by Bill LL on February 5, 2007, at 12:56:26
In reply to Re: Doc said if I was given Lamictal I am bipolar. » med_empowered, posted by Phillipa on February 5, 2007, at 11:07:33
About 60% of people diagnosed with bipolar were first mis-diagnosed, usually with having depression.
In my opinion, it's not realistic for a doctor or for a patient to think that they can necessarily get a reliable diagnosis early on in their treatment. The simple reason is that there is no reliable blood, urine, or spinal fluid test for mental illness. Nor are there any widely accepted imaging tests.
It's all trial and error. If Ritalin alone fixes you and improves your concentration, then you can be diagnosed with attention deficit. If an antidpressant alone does wonders, you will probably be diagnosed as having depression. If a mood stabilizer alone such as Lithium or Abilify makes you feel and perform a lot better, they will probably label you as bipolar.
I don't think it's a good idea to rely too much on a diagnosis because for mental disorders since it's only a guess. If you rely too much on it, that might preclude a doctor from trying a different class of medications which might actually be the best one for a given patient.
Posted by lcat10 on February 6, 2007, at 22:29:06
In reply to Doc said if I was given Lamictal I am bipolar..., posted by owenus32 on February 4, 2007, at 21:25:58
I took Lamictal, 100 mg. for depression for around four months. It didn't really help. I have been diagnosed with severe depression and was in the past as well. No one has ever viewed me as Bipolar. Lamictal is sometimes used now for depression as well as for bipolar.
Posted by Crazy Horse on February 8, 2007, at 13:33:14
In reply to Doc said if I was given Lamictal I am bipolar..., posted by owenus32 on February 4, 2007, at 21:25:58
> I went to a new doc seeking benzo's which I'm glad I didn't get bc they make me depressed while curing anxiety. Anyway, the new guy heard all my symptoms, asked questions and said he thinks that I seem bipolar but it's a spectrum and he isn't sure yet. I aid that my last doc didn't diagnose me and he said well, sometimes when a doc gives lamictal with and ad, it's c they suspect bipolar but she wouldn't necesarily diagnose me. What do you think of his ideas? I don't care if I am but am curious, would a doc not come right out and tell you?
It's total B.S. Lamictal is often used as an augmentation agent to other AD's. I took it for a year in 2002 and i am definitely not bipolar
-Monte
Posted by Phillipa on February 8, 2007, at 19:22:00
In reply to Re: Doc said if I was given Lamictal I am bipolar... » owenus32, posted by Crazy Horse on February 8, 2007, at 13:33:14
I'm not bipolar either. Although I could use a bit of hypomania . Anyway anxiety/ depression my diagnosis and lamictal was given to me to augment antidepressants at low doses. Love Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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