[shutterbug]

BigBook12....ummmm....that's not a proper assessment as to if something is working for a bipolar II or not. And...having trouble concentrating doesn't mean that we can't write a full sentence about a single thought. Sorry. I hope i don't upset you by my saying that.

Antara, I pray for your successful recovery from alcohol, but please be aware that drinking is a cover-up for many mental issues and when stopping...they often start showing their giant, ugly heads. I guess, I'm saying that there need to be several other things in place to help you be successful in your recovery. Group and individual mental health therapy, stress management techniques, vitamin D suppliments daily (1,000 IU), daily journaling....ect. You are going to need aLL the ammo you can find to stay in recovery while facing depression.

So, at least keep ECT treatments in the back of your mind b/c it works fast for major depression.

Lucie, there's actually a class-action suit of some kind going on right now over Seraquel causing diabetis in some...so i'm surprised your doctor prescribed it.

Are you seeing a true psychiatrist, i pray?
I'd suggest asking him/her why they chose to start you on it.

I just went off Lamictal. I was up to 100mg/day and hadn't connected my blurred vision to it (because of other eye issues I have), but it wasn't bad enough to keep me from working as a photographer each day. I seemed to do much better on 50mg than 100mg (i think it interferred with my monthly ECT treatments also).


So let's look at which mood stabalizers have you tried?

Luvox?
Topamax?
Depakote - you said yes (I didn't do well either on it)
Seraquel - your on now (I too gained 30-40 pds on it from craving sugar)
Lithium? - It works for so many people, (but I couldn't even stand up).
Lamictal - clearly didn't work for you.
Geodon - I know i tried it at least once, but can't remember stopping it (or starting it....just one problem with having amnesia)

I can't think of any others at the moment, although I think Halodol might be another one or perhaps it's an anti-psychotic, can't remember.

Anyway, I think the biggest thing us bipolar II's have to lookout for is the sleepy/fatigue side affects. Most of us struggle with that issue enough on it's own...and we especially struggle with it during a major depressive episode!!!

I also asked my psychiatrist to prescribe me Provigil. My old one who was an idiot said, "No, you don't have Narcalepsy." My most recent, highly intelligent and caring pdoc, didn't hesitate. I mean, it can be addictive for some, but when taken once a day in the mornings it shouldn't be an issue (...i'm very leary about addictive meds b/c of my family history and my biological probablities for addiction).

Anyway, Provigil was created to treat Narcalepsy, but the stupid doctors don't understand how closely related symptoms of a major depressive episode can be to Narcalepsy. I only learned of Provigil because of a hospital stay. I kept begging them to let me go back to my room and sleep, instead of eating or excersizing or doing whatever it was they wanted me up doing. So after a while of that....they started adding the Provigil to my meds without even telling me. i think i found out a couple weeks later.

It's not like an upper and it's not like caffiene either. I can't even notice if I've taken it or not....other than when i forget to take it....i start falling asleep at my computer about an hour after getting there. And unlike caffiene, it doesn't wear off in 2 hours. It is made to last all day. In fact, if I wake up a couple hours before I need to...then i try to remember to take it b/c it makes it MUCH easier for me to wake up when my 10 alarms start going off to get me out of bed (and my body doesn't hurt or feel that typical heaviness either).

Just some personal thoughts and experiences.

Hugs,
Jenna