Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Medications
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD) , bipolar disorder , dementia , electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) , learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) , panic , personality disorders, phobias , post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) , schizophrenia , stress , transitions, and work problems.
Medications
by Tina Frank, Dec 28, 1999 12:00AM
I was diagnosed with bipolar about one year ago. I am currently taking Nuerontin and Zoloft. For some reason it is no longer working. Are there alot of differnet medications to choose from? or am I going to run out of opptions? I dont have any energy or my feelings have gotten worse. I dont want to do anything but stay in bed. Im tired all the time. I have no desire to have sex. Am I going back to the Bipolar in full swing again? Please help. Tina
Doctor's Answer
by HFHS.MD-AJ, Dec 29, 1999 12:00AM
Tina,
It must be difficult suffering with the symptoms you describe. Worsening mood, lack of energy, amotivation, withdrawn behavior, and loss of interest in sex are all possible symptoms of depression, which may be present in bipolar disorder. Your doses of antidepressant (Zoloft) and mood-stabilizer (Neurontin) may have to be increased, or trial of other medications considered if your current medications are no longer effective.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Zoloft, Paxil, and Celexa are usually considered as first-line antidepressants, while Depakote and Lithium are usually considered as first-line mood-stabilizers. I urge you to discuss your concerns further with your treating physician/psychiatrist, and to consider referral for some form of psychotherapy (such as cognitive-behavioral therapy or interpersonal therapy), as some studies suggest a combination of these with medications as being the optimal form of treatment.
It must be difficult suffering with the symptoms you describe. Worsening mood, lack of energy, amotivation, withdrawn behavior, and loss of interest in sex are all possible symptoms of depression, which may be present in bipolar disorder. Your doses of antidepressant (Zoloft) and mood-stabilizer (Neurontin) may have to be increased, or trial of other medications considered if your current medications are no longer effective.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Zoloft, Paxil, and Celexa are usually considered as first-line antidepressants, while Depakote and Lithium are usually considered as first-line mood-stabilizers. I urge you to discuss your concerns further with your treating physician/psychiatrist, and to consider referral for some form of psychotherapy (such as cognitive-behavioral therapy or interpersonal therapy), as some studies suggest a combination of these with medications as being the optimal form of treatment.
