Drug mix or ECT?

[Tothen29]

I was reading another stream and saw that others have been put on wellbutrin and lamictal. I am bipolar 2 with rapid cycleing, anxiety disorder and a few other things related to those. I have been put on those same meds and xanax for anxiety. I was wondering how well they seem to be working for anyone else on them. Also I am very medication tollerent. I have been on more meds than I can remeber (most antidepressants, the bipolar 2 dianosis is fairly new) all of witch have had at best very limited sucess. I am considering ECT (shock therapy), any feedback on that would also be great.

[braccio]

I can definitely relate to what you're going through.  I've been on a number of medications--Depakote, Cymbalta, Lamictal and Geodon.  The combination doesn't seem to help no matter how much my psychiatrist raises the dose.  In my case, I have no insurance, so I just have to be patient.  It's hard after feeling this way for 3 years.  If I were you, I'd give it some more time, because I've heard that ECT makes you lose your memory, etc.  Let me know how you do.

[Tothen29]

Thanks, I am really at a last resort point. Like I said I have been on so many meds and none seem to work. I have a high tollerance with most meds not just meds for the psyc stuff. Thank you for the information. I am still hopefull that this current coctail will help, but loosing confidence

[ILADVOCATE]

As a person with bipolar Lamictal worked well for me. I know Wellbutrin has been helpful for people I know with depression as well. ECT is generally considered last resort when all medications have failed to work. I do know that trans cranial magnetic stimulation is one option that is safer than ECT and being FDA approved now is starting to be put more into practice but like ECT would be generally be considered when standard medications have not been shown to help and a person has treatment refractory depression.