Cycling on meds

Avatar for kdvaleski
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-10-2004
Cycling on meds
3
Wed, 12-29-2004 - 5:42pm

I remember when I was first diagnosed and I was SO upset/discouraged at the thought that I would/could still cycle even when I am on meds that I actually considered not bothering to take them. What a loopy thought that was!

I'm starting to cycle down, but have a call in to my pdoc to up my meds a bit to nip it in the bud. That's how this whole thing is supposed to work. We stay tuned in to our moods and keep our docs up to date on changes, and then we work together to keep the balance of medications right so we can stay on as close to an even keel as possible. Nice when it works that way. When things work like this it's not even so bad being bipolar. I know that the symptoms abate pretty quickly when my meds are adjusted. Now, if I could only stay focused enough to clear out some of this horrible backlog of work that I have, I'd be very glad.

I hope y'all are having a good day.

Kristen

Avatar for kdvaleski
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-10-2004
In reply to: kdvaleski
Thu, 12-30-2004 - 5:43pm

So, we're leaving the Prozac alone. Pdoc cited studies that show it's safer to tweak the doses of mood stabilizers than the dosages of antidepressants in bipolar folks, or perhaps, just bipolar folks who are cycling/beginning to cycle. Whichever. Anyway, we upped the Lamictal to 350 mg, and we'll see if that helps. She wants to get a Lamictal level soon...go figure! No one has ever suggested getting a Lamictal level before. She said that sometimes bipolar patients who are starting to cycle down can be thrown into a more irritable-type upswing by raising the dose of antidepressant, so we're messing with the Lamictal first. Whatever works.

I do like this pdoc, though. Much better than the ding dong I had before.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-04-2004
In reply to: kdvaleski
Thu, 12-30-2004 - 9:15pm

Jeez - my pdoc never mentioned getting Lamictal levels either - and I'm up to 450 mg/day. I wonder if it is something the neurologists do when they are using it as an anticonvulsant.


SO, my pdoc is continuing to tweak the Lamictal upward (I think 500 is going to be the max) and the Celexa downward in case it is contributing to the upswings. I don't know ( and sorta don't want to know right now) what his next step will be if the Lamictal does not stop the cycling. He mentioned Topomax, which would be a good thing for my weight loss program, not sure how effective it would be as a mood stabilizer. I'm a rapid cycler, and getting very tired of it. This

peace and love,

just_a_big_kid

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-20-2004
In reply to: kdvaleski
Thu, 12-30-2004 - 9:20pm

Dear kdvaleski,

Hi! I'm glad to hear you're doing better. Sounds like your pdoc is a smart lady. Congratulations on having a pdoc you like. I think it makes a huge difference. Take care of you and keep us posted on how you're doing.

Love,

Jamie

Love,