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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Angielala on December 22, 2003, at 15:11:07
Hi all...
I really have no one to turn to that understands. You know how it is- your loved ones can only understand so much.
I am Bipolar and have ADHD. I have been on Paxil CR and Depakote ER for the past year and a half. I want on it after a long cycle of mania. While, like most others, I completely enjoyed feeling so good during my mania, I ended up falling into a depressive state.
I can tell a difference with the meds, although I'm really really starting to think that their side effects are causing me more grief than the ups and downs I had before.
My thoughts now are to start cutting my depakote in half and ask to be put on Welbutrin. I have heard that Welbutrin has a lot less side effects and it gives you some energy and help s you concentrate. I have heard great things about Adult Bipolar and ADHD people that have been treated with Welbutrin, and the majority have said that it's a godsend after going through the cycles of trying different stuff to find that proverbial "balance" we are supposed to achieve.
Truth is, before I was put on the Depakote and was just on Paxil, the only side effect I felt was a lack of a sex drive. The Depakote has made me gain about 30 very un-needed pounds, I get slight tremors now, I can never get enough sleep- I feel like a complete zombie. The thing that has suffered the worst is my career. I have gone from being the #1 employee for 3 1/2 years to being a person that can barely get out of bed and to work on time. I don't have my drive to do well anymore.
I'm starting to wonder if I can try alternate methods to battle any kinds of mania I may encounter if i get off the Depakote. Any ideas that have worked for any of you? I'm also wondering what kind of side effects I should watch for from the withdrawl.
I am in constant contact with my Psych and will be seeing him next week to take to him about all of this. Yet I'm weary of docs... not thta I don't trust them, I just think that they believe that a lot of patients want to stop their meds only because they are feeling better and think they are fine all of a sudden. I don't believe I belong in that Catch-22. I believe I would be better off out of this fog I have been living in.
Is it better to live and feel emotions, or is it better to be numb to the world?
Sorry for the long post. I really need some support and advice. All my friends and loved ones think I'm better off without- yet they don't understand what that means really... I know I need an anti-depressant, I just am starting to think that the mood stabilizer (Depakote) has sucked all the good out of me. I used to be extremely energized, well spoken, and upbeat. I could put my mind to anything. Now I can barely get out of bed in the morning.
Thank you so much for listening- I really appreciate this board!
Posted by Susan J on December 22, 2003, at 15:55:08
In reply to Advice on weening off meds..., posted by Angielala on December 22, 2003, at 15:11:07
Hi, I don't have BPD, so I don't know much about the meds...
> Truth is, before I was put on the Depakote and was just on Paxil, the only side effect I felt was a lack of a sex drive. The Depakote has made me gain about 30 very un-needed pounds, I get slight tremors now, I can never get enough sleep- I feel like a complete zombie.
<<Hmmmm, that's exactly how I felt on Paxil. How long were you on Paxil before the Depakote? I was OK on Paxil about 3 months, and then everything just went to heck....> Is it better to live and feel emotions, or is it better to be numb to the world?
<<Well, this is probably wrong, but I'd vote for numb if it kept me away from the horror of depression.See if you can try Wellbutrin. It is activating for me. Definitely.
good luck,
Susan
Posted by Angielala on December 22, 2003, at 16:00:24
In reply to Re: Advice on weening off meds... » Angielala, posted by Susan J on December 22, 2003, at 15:55:08
Geez- I never thought that maybe it was the Paxil too... I am definitely going to see my doc about the Welbutrin.
I think I was on Paxil for about 5-6 months before the Depakote... so perhaps it's the both of them. The Depakote seems to keep me in a depressive state. When I was just on the Anti-Depressant, I was a lot better, the depression felt as though it was going into a remission... and yet the doc claimed I was become manic.
Ahhh... it gets all so confusing.
Thank you so much Susan
> Hi, I don't have BPD, so I don't know much about the meds...
>
> > Truth is, before I was put on the Depakote and was just on Paxil, the only side effect I felt was a lack of a sex drive. The Depakote has made me gain about 30 very un-needed pounds, I get slight tremors now, I can never get enough sleep- I feel like a complete zombie.
> <<Hmmmm, that's exactly how I felt on Paxil. How long were you on Paxil before the Depakote? I was OK on Paxil about 3 months, and then everything just went to heck....
>
> > Is it better to live and feel emotions, or is it better to be numb to the world?
> <<Well, this is probably wrong, but I'd vote for numb if it kept me away from the horror of depression.
>
> See if you can try Wellbutrin. It is activating for me. Definitely.
>
> good luck,
>
> Susan
>
>
Posted by shar on December 22, 2003, at 16:33:42
In reply to Re: Advice on weening off meds..., posted by Angielala on December 22, 2003, at 16:00:24
I take Wellbutrin (unipolar depression) and it is activating for me also. Plus, my BPII beau takes it, and he has to watch for signs of mania, so you might also. He takes a lower dose than I do.
I'm with Susan on the being numb part.
Shar
Posted by Angielala on December 23, 2003, at 14:06:59
In reply to Re: Advice on weening off meds..., posted by shar on December 22, 2003, at 16:33:42
Thank you so much... I think they have me try a different moodd stabilizer... Depakote is making me more depressed than I was before...
> I take Wellbutrin (unipolar depression) and it is activating for me also. Plus, my BPII beau takes it, and he has to watch for signs of mania, so you might also. He takes a lower dose than I do.
>
> I'm with Susan on the being numb part.
>
> Shar
This is the end of the thread.
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