Where do I begin?  This is the first resource I have found that I think might actually be able to help me.  I was diagnosed with depression at the age of 15 (I am now 26).  I started taking prozac which worked for a while and then stopped working.  I took wellbutrin, along with numerous other drugs.  To know avail.  Some would work and then quit working, some would not work at all.  In fact wellbutrin made things worse. When I was a sophomore in college (19) I had a nervous break down.  My sister took me to the emergency room where the doctor on call referred me to a psychiatrist in the area.  He then diagnosed me with bipolar disorder.  So I finally thought we were making some head way.  As I am sure you know, some people who are bipolar do not like to take there meds.  Well I am one of those people.  For a very long time I hated taking meds.  This psychiatrist prescribed Zoloft along with lithium (eskalith).  When I took it is seemed to work.  However, I rarely took it correctly.  Then when I decided to take it more seriously, because I thought I was going to kill something, the lithium made me very sick.  From 1996 until about a month ago I was "self-medicating" with pot.  My mother's husband has a friend who is a pharmacist and he researchs bipolar a lot.  He told my mother that I should try this new drug depakote.  He said it helps bipolar even though it wasn't made for that.  So I got my Family Practice doctor to prescribe me Zoloft and Depakote.  I have been taking them faithfully (which is a first) for over 10 months now. And the last two months I have noticed that it is once again not working.  I think the depakote is a God send.  I think it is still keeping me even.  However, I think the Zoloft is failing and I don't know what to do.  My mother told me that her pharmacist friend says that zoloft is not good for bipolar.  I have gone to every psychiatrist,physiologist, psychologist, therapist, even hypnotist to help me with this problem.  I live in Salt Lake City Utah and I can't find anyone who can help me.  I am desperately seeking help.  Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Hi Allison -- 
Welcome to the club, so to speak.  As you learn more you'll see how many folks are going through just what you are.  So many, in fact, that I finally decided I ought to just write down all the stuff I was saying to one patient after another.  I think it might be the next set of info' you're looking for; I hope so.  Try this website.  Write when you've read most of it, if there's something that you haven't found covered. 

Dr. Phelps



Published December, 2001