Carbamazepine
Yep, yet another new drug. I am actually starting to sound like a monopolar depression drug dictionary, so they’re trying me on one for bipolar depression. Originally used as an anticonvulsant, carbamazepine also has a very good record as a mood stabiliser, especially for people described as “rapid cyclers” (more than 2 cycles of depression a year). I am a rapid cycler, so we’re augmenting the Sertraline which I am currently taking with a low-ish dose of carbamazepine, to see what happens. Antidepressants can sometimes be augmented by the addition of a modd stabiliser, and produce a dramatic improvement within weeks. That’s what we’re hoping for!
The side effects aren’t too bad so far. Headaches, tiredness, the usual. But they are helping me to sleep better, which is a huge bonus. So I guess I’ll let you know how it goes.
I also had to go to the dentist this morning (I hate the dentist *so* much), and I have to go and have a filling. I think my Mum might actually have to physically drag me there… It needs doing though I guess.
July 12th, 2005 at 9:59 pm
Good luck Jo – hope it works out.
July 14th, 2005 at 5:13 pm
yeah, like david said - good luck ^_^
im sure one day you will find one that works really well!
January 23rd, 2006 at 9:47 pm
well whatever
im bipolar 1 ultradian cycling(i switch within hours)… im taking lamotrigine (Lamictal) ;seroquel and edronax … maybe wanna chat?you got my msn so we’ll see 
March 25th, 2006 at 2:35 am
I’m not a health-care professional, so what I say her is nothing more than me musing aloud. But I would be interested in knowing if anyone else thinks this way.
I can understand using “mood stabilizers” in “rapid cyclers” if their affect goes from depressive to hypomanic/fully manic to depressive again. A priori, it would tend to make sense that the less extreme the range of “mood hyper-elevation” is, the less severe will be the depression that tends to ensue later.
But what if the “high-mood” that the person experiences isn’t so much manic or hypomanic as it is a state of just being “less depressed”? If this person’s mood alternates between “a little” and “LOTSA” on the depression scale, but never really gets into the manic spectrum, are mod stabilizers like Carbamazepine or Lamictal, or Valproate really of value?
Sorry if I sound too technical. I’m trying to be brief and non-technical terms tend to prolong messages.
Any info, whether clinical or from personal experience, would be appreciated.
Cordially,
Kosh
March 25th, 2006 at 11:14 am
Mood stabilisers have a proven effect called “Augmentation”, which means that when taken with an antidepressant, they can boost the action of that antidepressant somehow. They do not know how, but it’s been tested etc.
The choice of mood stabiliser to use is pretty much random, except that basing it on how many episodes someone has a year is one way to attempt to ensure it will be effective.
I’m currently on Lithium, as the rest of this blog will show, which is the most common mood stabiliser used for augmentation.
And don’t worry about using technical terms. I’m a uni student of biochemistry, and I have done a lot of personal research into depression medications.
I try to write in a fashion that is accessable to all.
March 14th, 2007 at 3:57 am
I have been having multiple mood swings daily for many years, but there are
no cliniicians that can diagnose and authinticate this fact. Can you help me?