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Originally Posted by DyingTonight I started both of these today. Depakote (bipolar) and trazodone (insomnia) were added to my daily wellbutrin (depression). Does anyone have any experiences with the depakote or trazodone to share? I've been battling depression for the past decade and things have been spiraling out of control lately. I never would have guessed I should have been in treatment for bipolar these years. Some things make more sense now, others don't. |
Hi hon.
I'm sorry you've had such a hard time for so long before finally getting a proper diagnosis.
Bipolar fucks with your perceptions, your energy levels, your notions of what you "can" and "can't" do, your energy & desires for social interaction (or NON-interaction desires, in the case of my sister-in-law Jen, sigh) --- and about a bazillion other things, it seems. Like you don't already know all this, right? My apologies....
Like damn near everything else on the planet, it's highly,
HIGHLYdependent upon the specific individual, their circumstances, and, yes: Genetics as well. Fortunately I've never known anyone to get ALL the possible variants of BP manifestations in all their possible combinations all at the same time,(Nor has any one else I've ever know or worked with!) so there is that at least.
Bipolar is like all brain-based disorders: It can take some fiddling to get the right meds for YOU, in the right combination and dosage. My bro's wife is bipolar, and so is her son, my nephew. As you said, there are certain things that began to appear in a different and more understandable light after each of their diagnoses. Nephew, only 19 at the time I believe, was diagnosed years before his mom, but unfortunately that was down to the fact that he was away at school 2000 miles away at the time of Dx, & got a fabulous Nueropsychiatrist at the U of Az for both his diagnosis and his further treatment (he lives there now, bless him.). My s-i-l unfortunately got a
QUACKof the "Quickest Prescription Pad In The West" type of gunslinger, here in town. This is a Univ. city as well but this doctor...ACK.
6 years (!) later she has gotten a real Neuropsych and is on the proper med regimen FINALLY!! It took a bit to get everything properly adjusted. She also has panic attacks, for which she takes Xanax in small doses.
Depakote is used for seizure disorders as well. It;s amazing how many anti-Sz meds are also effective as mood stabilizers in treating bipolar. It makes sense though I suppose: In both conditions, there's something organically &/or chemically wrong with the way the brain processes information &/or electrical and perceptual signals.
Tell you what, I just thought of something re the Wellbutrin, which you said was doing absolutely nothing helpful so far as you culd tell when you were taking it earlier, right? (Don't worry, it's not a biggie, I just need to ask Dr.Z a dumb question.
)
I'll try to get back to you today or tonight, K?
Meantime, the Trazadone -- It didn't work well for me; made me groggy but not really letting me sleep, if that makes any sense. it worked for JB for a short while but aparently he built up a tolerence to it. He was on a rather large doe, however.
Try not to worry too much, hon. There are (thank god) a wide spectrum of meds out there now for BP, Sz, and many other Neuro & Neuro-Psych problems. It can be a pain in the drain shuffling them till one gets the proper combo in the proper dose, but it's so worth it.
Something I hope might make you smile a bit: Jen, the s-i-l, denied for years that she could possibly EVER in a million years be bipolar. Eventually -- and she was much older than you are now, so you're miles ahead !! -- her doc smacked her into hospital and guess what.....Yup.
Now she is so utterly amazed. She says, and I quote, "Omg it's like coming up from under water!"
Much luck and support to you.
Chyia, late for Physical Abuse I mean, er,
Therapy!!! 
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