Expert: Ivan Goldberg, M.D. - 10/26/2010

Question
Bipolar, hypothyroid, adult growth hormone deficiency, and fibromyalgia are my diagnoses.  

I have too many diagnoses (from highly credentialed doctors) that it's hard to see the forest from the trees. I'm on 200 mg. Lamictal, 7.5 mg. Lexapro, 5 mg. of Dexedrine (will be raised to 10 mg. soon) and an endocrinologist is following me for the hormone treatments. Is it possible to balance these medications so that I feel like I'm not on a roller coaster?  I've been trying to feel balanced for a very long time.  (The good news is that despite all, I accomplished left and right brained work, metaphorically speaking ... but eventually wasn't able to continue and had to stop working).  Thanks very much Dr. Goldberg.  

Answer
Hi, DeeDee . . .

The only question I find in your query is, "Is it possible to balance these medications so that I feel like I'm not on a roller coaster?"

The process of arriving at the proper treatment for someone with a mood disorder is part science and part art. The most important part of the process is arriving at the correct diagnosis. People with mood disorders often also have anxiety and/or attentional difficulties. Sometimes they have personality problems that must be treated psychotherapeutically .

Adjusting medications often involves a good deal of trial-and-error and that process is very frustrating.

The bad news is that mood disorders can seldom be cured. The good news is that they can nearly always be controlled.

Best regards . . .

Ivan
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