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Suggest Treatment For Mood Swings Despite Suffering From Depression

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Posted on Wed, 21 Jan 2015
Question: I AM 31 NOW AND AM Bipolar patient for abount 18 yrs.
I have an episode of depression since Septmber and am on Nexito xr 20mg, bupropion 300mg,
for about 2 months now.
Though symtomps of depression subsided now i have weekly mood change (rapid cyclig) and doctor prescribed amisupiride 200mg (100mg morning and 100mg evening).I am taking this for about 10 days now. Still thre is not much improvement. I feel sleeppy during day time and
not able to my office work properly.I forget things done the next moment and not able to coordinate office work and some times i feel unsecure and am feeling afraid. Please advise.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Chintan Solanki (46 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Lithium or lamotrigine can be used or re-evalution of diagnosis

Detailed Answer:
Hello Mr XXXXXXX

Thanks for writing to us.

I just gone through your query in detail. You have been diagnosed bipolar disorder at age of 14 years.You have been suffering form episode of depression since 4 months which has been improved with nexito and bupropion.

Now your problem is frequent mood changing.And you are feeling sleepiness with amisulpride.

Please understand some points.

In bipolar disorder mainstay of treatment is a mood stabilizer drug.
It can be lithium,lamotrigine or sodium valproate.
Lithium or lamotrigine is specifically used for treatment of bipolar depression. In any case if specific antidepressant medicine like nexito or bupropion is used ,it is with cover of mood of stabilizer.
If antidepressant medicine is used without cover of mood stabilizer, it can precipitate episode of hypomania or mania.

If your diagnosis is confirmed bipolar, lithium or lamotrigine is the best option for your treatment as well as to prevent relapse of depression.

Amilsupride is an atypical antipsychotic medicine. It is used in bipolar treatment when psychotic features are present.It is also used when depression in bipolar is not responding to mood stabilizer.
In your case at present no mood stabilizer is given. You are also not able to tolerate amisulpride and feeling side effects like sedation.I suggest to ask your doctor for stopping amisulpride and start mood stabilizer depending upon your history and past medicine records.

If you have not been given any mood stabilizer in past 18 years,it is not bipolar likely. Reevaluation is needed in such case by same or another psychiatrist(preferably). For reevaluation, your detail history and mental status examination as well as past medical records needed.

Hope I have answered your query,I will be happy to help further if needed.

Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Dr. Chintan Solanki

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 2407 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Mood Swings Despite Suffering From Depression

Brief Answer: Lithium or lamotrigine can be used or re-evalution of diagnosis Detailed Answer: Hello Mr XXXXXXX Thanks for writing to us. I just gone through your query in detail. You have been diagnosed bipolar disorder at age of 14 years.You have been suffering form episode of depression since 4 months which has been improved with nexito and bupropion. Now your problem is frequent mood changing.And you are feeling sleepiness with amisulpride. Please understand some points. In bipolar disorder mainstay of treatment is a mood stabilizer drug. It can be lithium,lamotrigine or sodium valproate. Lithium or lamotrigine is specifically used for treatment of bipolar depression. In any case if specific antidepressant medicine like nexito or bupropion is used ,it is with cover of mood of stabilizer. If antidepressant medicine is used without cover of mood stabilizer, it can precipitate episode of hypomania or mania. If your diagnosis is confirmed bipolar, lithium or lamotrigine is the best option for your treatment as well as to prevent relapse of depression. Amilsupride is an atypical antipsychotic medicine. It is used in bipolar treatment when psychotic features are present.It is also used when depression in bipolar is not responding to mood stabilizer. In your case at present no mood stabilizer is given. You are also not able to tolerate amisulpride and feeling side effects like sedation.I suggest to ask your doctor for stopping amisulpride and start mood stabilizer depending upon your history and past medicine records. If you have not been given any mood stabilizer in past 18 years,it is not bipolar likely. Reevaluation is needed in such case by same or another psychiatrist(preferably). For reevaluation, your detail history and mental status examination as well as past medical records needed. Hope I have answered your query,I will be happy to help further if needed. Regards, Dr.Chintan Solanki.