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

[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 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]

I thought that Stephen's Johnsons syndrome as an effect of Lamictal was a statistical rarity. That's unfortunate. As for ECT, it is done in a safer manner but can cause short term memory loss and in a certain percentage of people there is some long term memory loss. They are now studying a procedure trans cranial magnetic stimulation. Before recovery, I almost considered it but the procedure is still experimental and they haven't figured out exactly which area of the brain to target (at least at the time I almost signed up for the study in 2003) but it does not appear to have the impact on the brain in the negative manner that ECT does and when FDA approved might someday replace it.
  However, as I posted for anyone not responding to the standard mood stabilizers there are a large number of medications that are FDA approved but used off label. Psychiatrists will make a referral to a mood disorders specialist if warranted and they would know of these treatments if a person has been unable to tolerate existing medications.

[pdr7686]

I can figure out why my Psychiatrist would put me back on Budeprion when I plainly told her it had not helped me in the past. She was not my Psychiatrist at this time. Also, the last time I went to see her she talked about increasing my dosage and taking me off the Lexapro. I do not understand this.

[pdr7686]

I have tried Lamital and developed the rash you are referring to. Therefore, I was taken off it. Also, you mentioned you were on Lithium. I have tried that and had to be taken to the ER because I got so I could not walk and had no use of my legs. I was taken off it even though my Psychiatrist had been having my levels drawn. I have been tried on all the medications you are on plus alot more. I was at one time doing the ECT you were referring to and it did not help. I have a Therapist. I feel as though I am a helpless case.

[pdr7686]

I have tried Lamital and developed the rash you were referring to. Therefore, was taken off it. I have been tried on several AD with my mood stablizers. In the past, I have tried Budeprion and it did not seem to help. My Psychiatrist decided to try me on it again. I guess because nothing seems to be helping. Over the years I have tried to commit suicide 8 or 9 times.