posted
I have been suffering with Bipolar Disorder 1 for over 10 years now and then I was recently, November 2012, diagnosed with Lyme by an IGeneX lab test.
My doctor who is treating me for Lyme with Ceftin and Tindamax is concerned with my other meds I am taking during my treatment. I got off of Adderall and Latuda (an anti-psychotic) and I will be changing my dosage of Vyvanse from 70 to 40.
The problem is my psychiatrist, who is very supportive and Lyme friendly, has been research other medications to help with my moods but said there are not a lot when being treated for Lyme. He is thinking about Abilify. Has anyone used Abilify for depression? Any other suggestions?
Posts: 27 | From Jacksonville, Florida, USA | Registered: Nov 2012
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Cass A
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11134
posted
Withdraw slowly from these meds, under close supervision. Perhaps taking B vitamins will help with this process
You have probably "needed" them due to Lyme. This is a very, very common situation.
Psychiatric drugs have many nasty side-effects on their own, as well as masking actual disease symptoms.
Not an easy course to plot, but the end result will be YOU.
Best,
Cass A
Posts: 1245 | From Thousand Oaks, CA | Registered: Feb 2007
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posted
I haven't heard of Abilify but my brother does well on Klonopin and Depakote for Bi-polar. Don't know if you've already tried those.
I took Seroquil several years ago(antipsycotic)and it worked for me- but I didn't have to take it permanently.
Like Cass said- Do be VERY careful if you are changing benzodiazapines.
The withdrawals can be dangerous. Make sure your to let your doctor know if you develop any withdrawal problems or scary symptoms!!
Posts: 428 | From Midwest | Registered: Dec 2012
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posted
For a more natural approach, I took lithium for awhile and it really did help. Specifically I took 120 mg lithium orotate once a day. Got it from supersup.com.
I would also warn about taking SSRIs antidepressants that are similar to Prozac. All or most of those crazy shooters are taking them and they obviously didn't help.
Posts: 705 | From WA state | Registered: Jul 2011
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
My husband never had lyme, but he has bipolar. He takes lithium and zyprexa. And, in the winter, for depression, he uses a Day Light each morning and lowers the zyprexa.
His psychiatrist is one of the top bipolar docs in the country. He is the doctor who discovered Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), otherwise known as "the Winter Blues."
You should be able to take lithium while being treated for lyme. It stops both depression and mania.
And, the Day Light (light therapy) should be perfectly fine with lyme meds. The light really works! Hubby notices a change in his mood while he is sitting in front of the light!!
These treatments have been all he has needed for depression. You can order the Day Light over the Internet. It is a vital part of depression treatment for bipolar people.
Finally, you can do a search on LymeNet to see if anyone has ever talked about Abilify in previous posts. Just click on "search" near the top of the screen, and enter the search term "Abilify."
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Cass's reply rings loud and clear and mirrors my experience. Some of these drugs are so very toxic and cause more damage in many ways.
My best advice is a nutritional one. B-vitamins, fish oil, magnesium, neuro and adreanl support. Adrenal support can make a world of difference to balance mood shifts.
Liver support, as well, as so much of the mood stuff can be from a toxic liver and a toxic brain.
Explore Lithium OROTATE, low dose. It has helped many with lyme. The light is a good option, too. Gradually.
I had been misdiagnosed as bipolar and the drugs nearly killed me. I did not have bipolar but lyme. I did much better gradually weaning off the drugs.
Still, you need help finding what is best for you, considering lyme and how to find the right treatment for YOU.
You need to find LL psychiatrist. Lyme "friendly" will NOT cut it.
A LL ND may also be a very good option. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Ask your LLMD about all this, see if they have a suggestion for a better psychiatrist or plan.
Ask if they can recommend a good adjunct doctor, too.
Integrative / Holistic M.D., etc. (Be aware that those in this category can have various levels of formal herbal &/or nutritional education, perhaps even just a short course. Do ask first.)
Links to many articles and books by holistic-minded LL doctors of various degrees who all have this basic approach in common:
Understanding of the importance of addressing the infection(s) fully head-on with specific measures from all corners of medicine;
knowing which supplements have direct impact, which are only support and which are both.
You can compare and contrast many approaches.
BASIC HERBAL EDUCATIONAL & SAFETY links,
BODY WORK links with safety tailored to lyme patients, -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
THE REQUIREMENTS OF PROTEIN & AMINO ACID DURING ACUTE & CHRONIC INFECTIONS
Indian J Med Res 124, August 2006, pp 129-148
- by Anura V. Kurpad
Fifteen pages of text.
Excerpt from abstract on page one:
. . . In general, the amount of extra protein that would appear to be needed is of the order of 20-25 per cent of the recommended intake, for most infections. . . . -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- A gluten-free diet greatly improved my mood shifts. Many LLMDs suggest this for their patients for a variety of good reasons.
Certain processed foods can cause bipolar symptoms, too. Why it's best to avoid ALL Food additives:
Excitotoxins; MSG; Aspartame; & "Natural" Flavors; -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- MAGNESIUM
From CarolinPA's past posts: ---------------------------
There are some good brand of liquid magnesium. Cardiovascular Research (brown glass bottle) is one.
If you buy liquid (anything) it's best in GLASS rather than plastic.
Magnesium citrate (as in NaturalCalm power you put in water) is best 3 x a day.
Some like magnesium glycinate better. Citrate and Glycinate have slightly different effects so if one causes too loose bowels, switch to the other form.
Never take the full day's dose of magnesium at one time as that can stress the kidneys. It should always be taken 2 - 3 times a day and,
yes, on a daily basis. Magnesium helps the liver, helps nerve fibers . . . and so much more. It's one of the best support supplements for lyme treatment.
You would take it to bowel tolerance, some take about 200 mg 3 x a day -- but many do better with up to 1,000 mg - or even 2,000 mg a day (especially those with neurological issues).
Take up to the point of loose bowels and then back down a bit.
Calcium and other minerals need to be in balance, too.
Magnesium Glycinate choices -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- FISH OIL
I'd like to think that both your doctors already have you taking magnesium and fish oil. And, I assume you've been taking both as both are absolutely essential for anyone with lyme and for anyone with mood shifts.
However, maybe these have not been on the table for you or you may do better with different brands.
I've not explored fish oil a great deal but can give you at least one link to get you started if you have not yet gone this way. Many report excellent results with:
Abilify made my friend with bipolar have muscle shaking. This can become PERMANENT. Whenever he saw the doc they were very interested in ANY effects.
He felt like a research subject at the clinic he went to (I'm not saying this is what you're psychiatrist is like, this is his experience).
Abilify is a newer drug. Personally, I don't think it's been on the market long enough to know all the dangers.
A lot of time a drug is put on the market with a minimum of testing, some of them get pulled within the first few years after dangers become known.
I wouldn't take a drug that hasn't been on the market for awhile unless you're okay with experimenting.
I've met two people with bipolar and Lyme. Their bipolar got better with treatment of Lyme. It didn't go away, but they could go waaaaaaay down on drugs and they are still in treatment for Lyme so who knows, hopefully it will go away all together someday.
Posts: 2839 | From California | Registered: Jul 2012
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Those links above are excellent.
However, one suggests Phenylalanine. Be VERY careful with that as it can be far too stimulating for someone with lyme. Far to excitatory.
Same with L-Glutamine or Glutamic acid. And Aspartate, too.
Best to avoid all three of those when lyme is in the picture - unless they are very well balanced with others.
posted
A co-worker was on Abilify for severe depression for a few months. It worked well for her. I'm not sure why she stopped taking it, but it could have been weight gain, though she is still on, and will always be on medications.
Of course there are side effects of all these medications, but being bi-polar is a very serious condition, whatever its cause and needs to be treated with proven therapies, at least alongside whatever other treatments you are on.
Apart from thyroid medications and HRT, none of the naturals have ever helped me, though judging by the answers here, they seem to have helped others.
Sue
Posts: 226 | From Princeton | Registered: Oct 2010
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Judie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 38323
posted
" I'm not sure why she stopped taking it, but it could have been weight gain"
Yep, my friend who had the muscle twitch gained A TON of weight. He was working out like crazy trying to get rid of it when he was on Abilify. It didn't work, the pounds just kept coming.
lymednva
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9098
posted
I have a son who has Bipolar Disorder. He was switched from Zyprexa to Abilify and we got our son back. His personality was no longer dulled by his meds.
He probably has congenital Lyme and co-infections, since I have traced my Lyme back to my childhood, so obviously had it when I was pregnant each time.
He is unable to take antidepressants as they cause him to become manic. He now has his BD under control with meds and works as a peer recovery specialist with the local mental health services.
He is also able to work a second job, which is necessary because his field is new and he isn't paid what his experience is worth. Luckily he loves both jobs, and they love him!
-------------------- Lymednva Posts: 2407 | From over the river and through the woods | Registered: Apr 2006
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posted
I made a mistake on the dosage that I'm taking. It is confusing the way that it is written on the packaging. It says that it contains 120mg of lithium orotate but on the supersup website it says that the potency is 4.6 mg and that apparently is the actual dose to go by. Confusing but I now remember checking into that to make sure my dose would be low. The brand is Advanced Research.
Posts: 705 | From WA state | Registered: Jul 2011
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linky123
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19974
posted
Klonopin as well as other benzos such as ativan, valium, xanax, librium are highly addictive.
The doctor will probably tell you they are ok; at least that's what my md told me. He lied. They just about killed me.
Some antidepressants can help and not be so addictiive.
Good luck.
-------------------- 'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.' Matthew 11:28 Posts: 2607 | From Hooterville | Registered: Apr 2009
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