racing thoughts

[DianeLT]

For over four years I've delt with racing thoughts which I didn't have with lithium.  I had to go off lithium because of kidney damaged.  I'm currently taking 350 lamictal and 600 seroquel.  I've tryed over 20 different medication for the the thoughts but they haven't helped.  If it would be helpful I could list them.  How do I deal with racing thougths and what medicines will help?  My thoughts center around a to do list.  One thought triggers another and another and another etc.  Do you have any ideas how to stop the first thought before it snowballs?  Also, my mom has had bipolar for 40+ years.  Two years ago she got so depressed they had to do the shock treatment.  It worked well for about a year.  But now it doesn't work and she's starting to cycle more and more.  Any ideas?  I don't know all the medicines she has tried.

[monkeyc]

I could see 20 or 30 in a lifetime yes, but 20 in 4 years seems very excessive, beyond that it almost looks like experimenting by a doctor who does not know what they are doing.

I am just wondering if this is a psychiatrist or not?

[GeorgiaAnnie]

racing thoughts.  must drive you crazy.  i'm med free, and still have highs and lows.  sleep well,  healthy if introverted for months on end.  Cannot recommend any scripts as none helped me.  Tired right now.  Make me a friend.  I type fast, might be able to help converse in rapid response...:)
Ann

[ILADVOCATE]

True and untrue. I've been on over 30 mood stabilizers in the course of a life time. Its not easy for some people to find the right fit. I don't think this experience is uncommon. If someone has done well on Lithium, Depakoate or Lamictal then they are fine but if not the others are less used and have varying rates of efficacy. I understand about not reccomending particular medications but if there's one thing I could reccomend it would be a psychopharmocologist or a mood disorders specialist such as one (whom I have no association with) on the site "Depression Central" (which I posted as a resource).            
    Sometimes bipolar is hard to treat but I don't believe its ever untreatable. Either there is a medication to treat it or there will be. But there's no exact way for any psychiatrist to know which one to choose after the commonly available ones fail or a person can't tolerate them. But a person's options should never be limited by their provider's knowledge. I really didn't get the care I needed and deserved until I saw a psychopharmocologist and that was my decision to seek one out and the most important step I made. I know coverage for that can be an issue but that's another discussion.

[monkeyc]

20 meds?

What does your psychiatrist say?  Have you tried a second one?  I guess this just concerns me and doubly so when I see questions that really need to be directed at your doctors posted here.

A good trusting relationship with a doctor is vital and if it not working...  To be honest racing thoughts are controllable and im frankly amazed at 20 medications with no change - on 4 years thats a lot as some meds take weeks to months to become effective.

[ILADVOCATE]

Actually I was taken off Lamictal by my psychopharmocologist because at higher doses it can worsen mania at times which is what happenned to me. Perhaps its time to ask about changing mood stabilizers. If you've tried all the common ones here's a list of medications that are FDA approved and used off label as mood stabilizers:
http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/meds/moodstabilizers.htm