Bipolar Disorder Forum - Bipolar treatment : why is Dr. mixing medications ?

Mental Health > Bipolar Disorder Forum > Bipolar treatment : why is Dr. mixing medications ?

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Q: Bipolar treatment : why is Dr. mixing medications ?

asked by: DoctorQuestion on May 30th, 2007

I have been on depakote for three and a half months. After two months of being on it, my doctor started me on prozac. After being on the prozac for a month, I felt completely lifeless, and I had no energy. After telling my doctor this, he took me off prozac, and then decided to start me on wellbutrin after a two week wait. So, ive begun taking the wellbutrin just recently and I have a few questions...

My doctor told me to take 75 mg's a day, but everywhere I look on the internet says that 300-400 mg's a day is required for depression, and there never seems to be any mention of it being a gradual process to get to that level. Does the fact that i'm mixing this with depakote mean that I should be taking less? Isnt taking 75 mg of something that usually starts out at 300 mg kind of pointless?

Thanks,
matt

Replies(1)

DoctorAnswer Doctor Answer

replied on June 6th, 2007

Bipolar Disorder Answer A2866

Bipolar disorder is also known as manic-depression or manic-depressive illness. During this condition, a person goes from manic behavior at one extreme to depression at the other. Bipolar disorder can be managed by using several group of medications, such as: medications for regulating the mood (Lithium), anti-seizures medications such as Depakote, Lamictal, Topamax, and antidepressant medications as Wellbutrin (bupropion), fluoxetine ,paroxetine etc..Your doctor has combined anti-seizure medicine( Depakote) and antidepressant medication (Wellbutrin) as the best possible match for your body. It may take several weeks before the medications reach their full effect... that's why probably he began with lower doses of the Wellbutrin.

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