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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by sjb on February 25, 2004, at 11:56:42
Has anyone tried going off caffeine to help manage BP?
PS - I scoffed at BPII diagnosis for a long time, thought it was over-prescribed, but latest PDoc got me thinking I do indeed have some mood disorder. Just started Lamictal again (tried it for 2 weeks a couple of years ago, didn't like it - headachey and lethargic). She really wants me to stick with it for at least 6 weeks until we get up to 150mg. I'm kinda scared, I don't have the most patience in the world.
Posted by Sad Panda on February 26, 2004, at 6:52:16
In reply to BP IIs or Is - does going off caffeine help?, posted by sjb on February 25, 2004, at 11:56:42
> Has anyone tried going off caffeine to help manage BP?
>
> PS - I scoffed at BPII diagnosis for a long time, thought it was over-prescribed, but latest PDoc got me thinking I do indeed have some mood disorder. Just started Lamictal again (tried it for 2 weeks a couple of years ago, didn't like it - headachey and lethargic). She really wants me to stick with it for at least 6 weeks until we get up to 150mg. I'm kinda scared, I don't have the most patience in the world.
>
>Hi,
I've never tried giving up caffiene, nor am i BP, I think. What symptoms do you have?
Lamictal has a reputation for being a good med for BP.
Cheers,
Panda.
Posted by lauram on February 26, 2004, at 20:10:21
In reply to BP IIs or Is - does going off caffeine help?, posted by sjb on February 25, 2004, at 11:56:42
I started Lamictal four months ago. My Pdoc has had me increase the dose by 25 mg's every two weeks to my current dose of 175 mg's. I am working up to 200 mg's, 100 in the morning and 100 at night. I didn't notice much of a difference until I reached 175 mg's. Then I began to feel much better and less depressed. My moods have also leveled off. I don't know if this is the med for you but you have to go very slowly and give it a chance to work if you stay on it. Hope this helps. Good luck.
Posted by sjb on February 27, 2004, at 10:15:14
In reply to Re: BP IIs or Is - does going off caffeine help? » sjb, posted by lauram on February 26, 2004, at 20:10:21
Thanks to both. Of course, I meant to say that I believed BPII was over-diagnosed, not over-prescribed. ("Oh, excuse me Dr. can I please have some BPII.")
Yes, I've committed. As a distance runner, I'm concerned about be too-mellowed, but PDoc thinks this is a good med for athletes. I'm still drinking coffee, but trying to cut back.
Posted by Ilene on February 27, 2004, at 11:06:22
In reply to BP IIs or Is - does going off caffeine help?, posted by sjb on February 25, 2004, at 11:56:42
> Has anyone tried going off caffeine to help manage BP?
>
> PS - I scoffed at BPII diagnosis for a long time, thought it was over-prescribed, but latest PDoc got me thinking I do indeed have some mood disorder. Just started Lamictal again (tried it for 2 weeks a couple of years ago, didn't like it - headachey and lethargic). She really wants me to stick with it for at least 6 weeks until we get up to 150mg. I'm kinda scared, I don't have the most patience in the world.I don't have a formal BP diagnosis--I look like a unipolar depressive but there are hints in my personal and family history of a bipolar spectrum disorder. I also have GAD and have poorly understood (but mild) autonomic problems. My pdoc said to me just today that she was going to start treating me as if I have BP because ADs are just not cutting it.
It's certainly not going to hurt if you stop drinking coffee. You can run the experiment on yourself. I just think caffeine's gotten a bad rap.
I drank coffee for decades until about a year ago, when I was unusually stressed and anxious. Then it started making me jittery and dysphoric. However, when it doesn't do that it makes me feel better. I've been gradually tapering up my caffeine intake. I think it helps. Since I take Klonopin fairly regularly I can counteract the jitters.
Lamictal didn't do anything for me, but it's actually a fairly safe drug. The Rash is *rare*, and apparently shows up gradually.
I.
Posted by jdgjdg on February 27, 2004, at 21:47:42
In reply to Re: BP IIs or Is - does going off caffeine help?, posted by Ilene on February 27, 2004, at 11:06:22
I would say that it could possibly make a manic episode worse. If you are already feeling very active and "buzzing around", the last thing you would need is a stimulant like caffeine. Jenn
Posted by sjb on February 28, 2004, at 7:54:05
In reply to Re: BP IIs or Is - does going off caffeine help?, posted by jdgjdg on February 27, 2004, at 21:47:42
No, I'm not feeling very active, and I am using coffee to help get me going in the morning. Right now, left to my own devices, I would sleep and eat primarily. The darn lightbox didn't do a thing for me. I digress.
I'm anxious to get up to theraputic dosages on Lam, but know it's slow goin'. My new PDoc wants to titrate more slowly this time. (I tried Lamictal before under another PDoc as was told to take 25mg for the first 4 days and then go to 50mg. I only lasted 10 days total due to headaches and nausea.)
She really wants me to stick with it this time as she thinks it's the best thing for my symptoms and lifestyle. I'm to stay on 25mg for two weeks.
This is the end of the thread.
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