A Lot of Meds

[pdr7686]

I was diagnosed with Bi-Polar, Major Depression, Panic Attacks, and Paranoia several years ago. I am on alot of meds right now. I am on Depakote 500mg x 2 @bedtime, Gabapentin 100 mg x 2 capsules 3 times a day, Lunesta 3mg for sleep @ night, Clonazepam 0.5mg 3 x a day, Lexapro 20mg x 2 @ bedtime, and Budeprion 150mg every am. I went to my Psychiatrist yesterday and because I stay depressed she was going to take me off the Lexapro but did not. She did not take me off of it but did say if I come back next month as depressed she was going to take me off of it because she did not think it was helping. She did mention putting back on an anti-depressant in place of it. Therefore, I am confused on all this. Just wondering if anyone has a comment on all this. I have tried alot of meds. If anyone could help I would certainly appreciate it. God Bless.... Pam

[pdr7686]

I guess I ended up being the rare case with the rash. I have never heard of the trans cranial magnetic stimulation you were referring to. I tried looking up the sites you mentioned but the one about mood stabilizers would not come up for me. I am so bad my Psychiatrist is not going to allow me to go through Hep C treatments because of suicidial ideaizations. She is afraid it may send me "over the hill". Therefore, I consider myself a helpless case. Thanks. God Bless.

[ILADVOCATE]

Google "List of all mood stabilizers in developments". Its the 2nd result.
You can find "Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation" on Wikipedia. Its still a highly experimental procedure but its showing promising results and in the long run may prove to be safer than ECT but has to go through all the phases of testing first. Clinical studies for that are ongoing though. As for the experimental mood stabilizers listed since they all approved medications but used off label a mood disorders specialist would be legally allowed and perfectly willing to prescribe them now though I don't want to reccommend one over the other as each person reacts differently to different medications.

[pdr7686]

I have been reading and you can have a rash without it actually turning into Stephens Johnsons Syndrome. Well, I had a rash where my Psychiatrist told me after observing the rash to go off it and "Do Not Go Back On It For NO Reason." I read about the "Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation." "Do you not think I need the AD with Mood Stabilizers"

[ILADVOCATE]

No. There your psychiatrist was correct. The beginnings of the rash are mild but after it turns into Stephen's Johnson Syndrome (technically an allergic reaction to medication) it can turn deadly even if the medication is discontinued. If someone has bipolar a good mood stabilizer should control depression as well as mania. It does in me and I have schizoaffective. Some people need an adjunct anti-depressent depending if their depression is still not controlled but they can push a person into mania at times. There are new anti-depressents and medications used for that purpose as well and a mood disorders specialist would know about both mood stabilizers and anti-depressents.

[pdr7686]

Thank you for all your info. I have noticed you have help to get someone there disabilty on some site, I think. How did you do this? I applied for my disability and at that time was told it would be May 2009 before I could consider getting a hearing. Am I right?

[ILADVOCATE]

Yes it takes a year or more to recieve a hearing date. In the meantime, have good documentation from your psychiatrist about how your disability prevents you from working. I have given people information but do representation as a volunteer through a non profit in the area I live. However, your local independent living center could probably represent you or at least have a comprehensive list of free legal referrals. Here's a list of the ones in North Carolina:
http://www.ilru.org/html/publications/directory/northCarolina.html