Alcohol and Klonopin . . . decision time

I have been putting this off for a while. I have a nice lady who lives in difficult circumstance. She has struggled with addictions most of her life, whether it is food, drugs, and now, alcohol. Both her circumstance and her biology lead her to be tremendously anxious, depressed and to have mood swings that . . . → Read More: Alcohol and Klonopin . . . decision time

When is Lamictal Good for Regular Old Depression?

In our striving to provide our patients with the latest, the greatest and the newest treatments for one condition or another, many psychiatrists go out on a limb to try new things. Some of us go wwwwaaaaaayyyyy out on a limb. There are two sides to this, of course. You don’t want a shrink who . . . → Read More: When is Lamictal Good for Regular Old Depression?

Chronic suicidal thoughts . . . to be or not to be . . .

The presence of chronic suicidal thoughts is one of the more difficult issues to deal with in psychiatry. It is one of the issues that separates psychiatry from all other branches of medicine. When patients see my colleagues, they want to get better. Sometimes, when patients see me . . . they just want to . . . → Read More: Chronic suicidal thoughts . . . to be or not to be . . .

When is it time to go off the meds?

Joelle writes in with a common question:

I am on 600 mg of Lamictal and was prescribed this medication a year ago. My doctor increased my dose from 50mg slowly taking me to 600mg over a period of 4 months. It took this much to feel less suicidal and even balanced in my mind. Recently . . . → Read More: When is it time to go off the meds?

Ak-ak-ak-ak-akathesia . . .the trouble with Abilify

Now . . . don’t get me wrong . . . I am a big fan of Abilify. Even if their over the top marketing binge is so financially disgusting to me that I want to reflexively run screaming into the night. I mean, really, how many prime time advertisements for this product do . . . → Read More: Ak-ak-ak-ak-akathesia . . .the trouble with Abilify

Dealing with the unsupportive partner . . .

I have had a rash of patients (a gaggle of patients . . . ?) who have had great difficulties with their significant others . . . ok . . . ok . . . all the patients are female and they are referring to their generally bull headed and unsympathetic husbands. I will admit . . . → Read More: Dealing with the unsupportive partner . . .

Physically sick from the meds . . . what to do . . . what to do

Leslie writes in with a question . . .

I have been taking Lamictal for a short period of time. My doctor added Abilify 10 days ago and I have had a low grade fever ever since. She says it’s flu but I now am certain it is the medication. The fever has also made . . . → Read More: Physically sick from the meds . . . what to do . . . what to do

Lamictal and acne

Red writes in with a common complaint about Lamictal . . .

I’m a 29 y/o female. I started Lamictal July of 07 (150mgs) and since then I have developed horrible acne along my jawline that takes weeks to clear up and new pimples develop every other day. They are painful. I also have pimples . . . → Read More: Lamictal and acne

Zombie children . . . what is the goal when stabilizing mood?

I can’t begin to tell you how often this issue has walked into my office. A kid and family who have struggled with symptoms goes to her doctor to discuss the pro’s and con’s of the current regimen and nothing is changed. Are her symptoms gone . . . no. Are there concerning side effects . . . → Read More: Zombie children . . . what is the goal when stabilizing mood?

Rapid-cycling Bipolar II–what to do . . . what to do

Jeff writes in with a common problem . . . feeling kind of crappy on the medicine:

Hey doctordan, I was in counseling for 11 months. Blah. The same questions over and over. Point being, I dont need to talk . Honestly. I’m a smart cookie. Now, ONTO the LAMICTAL I have been diagnosed with . . . → Read More: Rapid-cycling Bipolar II–what to do . . . what to do