5-20-99
Medications:
• Depakote 750 mg
• Wellbutrin 150 mg
• Zyprexa 2.5 mg
Comments and Complications: Had trouble sleeping, and was really concerned about weight after reading about Depakote and Zyprexa.
Article: What? ME? I'm Bipolar?
5-28-99
Medications:
• Depakote 750 mg
• Wellbutrin SR 300 mg
• Seroquel - ? mg
Comments and Complications: Seroquel proved too strong, and the lowest-dosage pill was too small to be cut in half. Problems with feet swelling.
Article: Oh, Those Meds!
6-22-99
Medications:
• Depakote: 750 mg
• Wellbutrin SR 300 mg
• Zyprexa 2.5 mg
Comments and Complications: I became extremely antisocial, but felt like doing creative writing for the first time in 20 years. Weight is still increasing, now 170. Cholesterol has gone near 300 due to this weight gain, so cholesterol medication added (not listed). I was enjoying being antisocial and doing writing, but conceded it was very unpleasant for everyone around me and not a healthy state of mind. Doctor made changes to address weight problem and crabbiness (a possible side effect of Wellbutrin).
Article: Creativity Without Sociability
I began walking 1-2 hours daily to promote weight loss. Note that there was no weight loss associated with this radical increase in exercise.
8-10-99
Medications:
• Neurontin 600 mg
• Wellbutrin SR 150 mg
• Trazodone 50 mg
Comments and Complications: I plunged into depression and nearly started smoking again. Started taking 300 mg Wellbutrin again without consulting doctor. Felt better but not enough. Creative writing urge completely died.
Article: Down, Down, Down
9-2-99
Medications:
• (Neurontin 600 mg)
• Depakote 750 mg
• Wellbutrin 300 mg
• Zoloft 50 mg
• Zyprexa 2.5 mg
Comments and Complications: Zoloft was added to treat depression. After four days on this mix, I informed doctor I was sleeping too much, and doctor switched me back to 750 mg Depakote. Puffy swelling in hands/fingers begins to be a problem.
9-14-99
Medications:
• Wellbutrin SR 300 mg
• Zoloft 50 mg
• Zyprexa 2.5 mg
Comments and Complications: Doctor said I was overmedicated and dropped Depakote completely.
Article: Round and Round and Round She Goes
I began experiencing hot flashes including profuse sweating. Hand swelling still annoying.
9-30-99
Medications:
• Wellbutrin SR 150 mg
• Zoloft 50 mg
• Zyprexa 2.5 mg
Comments and Complications: Hot flashes attributed to combination of Zoloft and Wellbutrin. Wellbutrin dose halved to see if that helps. It did. Puffy fingers problem continues.
Hot, Hot, Hot
10-19-99
Medications:
• Wellbutrin SR 75 mg
• Zoloft 50 mg
• Zyprexa 2.5 mg
Comments and Complications: Doctor prescribed 100 mg Wellbutrin to see if that would ease bloating in hands. I did not want to pay for a new prescription, had a lot of 150s left, so just cut those in half. Weight is now 185, in spite of continued daily walking.
Article: Diagnosis in Doubt
10-30-99
Medications:
• Wellbutrin SR 150 mg
• Zoloft 50 mg
• Trazodone 50 mg
Comments and Complications: Seeing no improvement in hands, and noticing depression getting worse, I switched myself from Zyprexa back to Trazodone and resumed 150 mg of Wellbutrin. In the next two weeks, I lost 7 pounds and hand swelling decreased by about 85%. However, I continued to slide into deeper depression.
11-16-99
Medications:
• Celexa 10 mg
• Trazodone 50 mg
Comments and Complications: Zyprexa now ruled out due to side effects; unfortunately the last two weeks made it obvious that Zyprexa had been helping with mood, and Wellbutrin/Zoloft were not working on their own. Celexa tried again at half the dose used before, along with Trazodone as before for sleep. Daily walking discontinued due to cold weather and discouragement over no results.
Article: On the Medication Carousel
12-10-99
Medications:
• Celexa 10 mg
• Trazodone 50 mg (or more)
Comments and Complications: My emotional state has improved only slightly. Since I suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, this undoubtedly is now exacerbating the situation. Therefore, the doctor doubled Celexa dosage from 10 to 20 mg and advised me that if I had difficulty sleeping as a result, I could increase Trazodone to 75 or 100 mg.
Article: Bah, Humbug!
A note: Celexa was recently excluded from coverage by my insurance company, which authorized instead Paxil, Zoloft or Prozac. Given my history with Prozac and Zoloft, the doctor is going to request an exception for me.
Medications in Bipolar Disorder: Trial and Error
• Prior to Diagnosis
• First Year of Diagnosis - May to December, 1999
• Second Year of Diagnosis - 2000
• Third and Fourth Years of Diagnosis - 2001/2002
• Fifth Year of Diagnosis - 2003
